"I personally don't think Sony's first party has been heaps better than MS this generation"

In what universe, good sire? I get that exclusive games are down to a personal taste or subjective but come on, Sony has been handing out first party titles (and the dreaded console exclusives) like it's their job, because it is. A vast majority get good reception and decent sales that merit continued focus on these type of exclusive experiences to the PS4 that hit just about every niche possible.

Basically, my take away is that MS is doing everything well (which I agree with wholeheartedly) BUT delivering experiences unique to its platform, which with XB1 been so similar to the PS4 in concept and performance, it should be priority numero uno.

Sounds like a request for a brief analysis.

This generation

Microsoft dug themselves a huge hole with their original vision for the Xbox One. Today they are only borderline competitive in their strongest markets, namely the USA and the UK. Xbox One is a non-factor in Japan and treading water in mainland Europe. An increase in the output of exclusive games would be largely to completely irrelevant to their sales performance in Japan and mainland Europe while the best case scenario in the USA and the UK is that they'll get beat by the PS4 by a lower margin than today. That's not a really nice position by any stretch of the imagination.

Next generation

When we are looking at a console that gets as comfortably beaten as the Xbox One, then an increase in the output of exclusive games isn't going to be enough to change the fortunes. Microsoft faces the challenge to convince consumers to switch brands, but consumers tend to stick with the brand they last owned, unless said brand starts to seriously piss them off. That's how Microsoft wasted the advantage the Xbox 360 had in the USA and the UK; had they not messed up so badly with the Xbox One, then Xbox would still be ahead of PlayStation this generation. This means that if Microsoft only offered more exclusive games, they would still need to cross their fingers that Sony seriously messes up with the PS5. A strategy that is reliant on the shortcomings of another company is not a really nice position either, because the most important factor for success is not in Microsoft's hands.

From here we could dive deeper and talk about other big issues the Xbox brand has, but I am not going to make an effort that is still uncertain to be appreciated. An entirely different factor, but a very important one, is if Microsoft still has business motivations to continue in the console market. The end of Xbox-exclusive games and talks about declaring the end of generations - when Microsoft is actually in a position that demands a generational reset to create a new and improved image - do not point towards Xbox 4 being a safe thing to happen.

Sounds like a request for a brief analysis.

This generation

Microsoft dug themselves a huge hole with their original vision for the Xbox One. Today they are only borderline competitive in their strongest markets, namely the USA and the UK. Xbox One is a non-factor in Japan and treading water in mainland Europe. An increase in the output of exclusive games would be largely to completely irrelevant to their sales performance in Japan and mainland Europe while the best case scenario in the USA and the UK is that they'll get beat by the PS4 by a lower margin than today. That's not a really nice position by any stretch of the imagination.

Next generation

When we are looking at a console that gets as comfortably beaten as the Xbox One, then an increase in the output of exclusive games isn't going to be enough to change the fortunes. Microsoft faces the challenge to convince consumers to switch brands, but consumers tend to stick with the brand they last owned, unless said brand starts to seriously piss them off. That's how Microsoft wasted the advantage the Xbox 360 had in the USA and the UK; had they not messed up so badly with the Xbox One, then Xbox would still be ahead of PlayStation this generation. This means that if Microsoft only offered more exclusive games, they would still need to cross their fingers that Sony seriously messes up with the PS5. A strategy that is reliant on the shortcomings of another company is not a really nice position either, because the most important factor for success is not in Microsoft's hands.

From here we could dive deeper and talk about other big issues the Xbox brand has, but I am not going to make an effort that is still uncertain to be appreciated. An entirely different factor, but a very important one, is if Microsoft still has business motivations to continue in the console market. The end of Xbox-exclusive games and talks about declaring the end of generations - when Microsoft is actually in a position that demands a generational reset to create a new and improved image - do not point towards Xbox 4 being a safe thing to happen.