I agree that launch lineup doesn't matter, I disagree that Holiday 2021 is what's important. Imo Q1 and Q2 are by far the most important postlaunch months to maintain demand. Looks like Sony has them covered, but there's no word from MS on what killer apps they'll have for that period.

Add to that that the games released at launch dont just disappear starting January. People picking a console on Q1 or Q2 will still have thuse games as incentive plus the others released at that point. 

I think we are gona see what happened last gen, both consoles sold out during the holiday, then after the hype dies down starting January sales drop for xbox and be overstocked everywhere while you still have to fight to the death trying to get a playstation. And the gap growing and growing.

Well i want add something in your saying, because you not alone on that, but as a question :

Do the Xbox series sold more on launch because this time that launched in more country and there was more stock or they really sold more in country that launched ?  that make a big difference and may be only a PR move and only sold 2 more console, just saying !

Now of course on launch every console is going to sold out, even the WiiU was sold out.... so its right to say launch exclusivity is useless for the console but, its good for the devs because they may not compete with other exclusive down the path and these game will still add weight for ppl who want play exclusive game.

Anyways that not really matter to me, i play microsoft game on my pc & sony on ps5, and my wife play on switch mostly !

let's see in 2021 the interessing fight even i think now they not really compete each other...

It’s an option, that’s kinda the whole thing with Xbox. I can see Xcloud breaking out in Asia if marketed properly. But it is also used to supplement console and PC gaming.

But hey, if you got a really loyal PS only gamer, your options are to stay salty, buy a Xbox or play the game on their current phone by subbing to Xcloud Game Pass. 

Don't need to do ALL this workaround tô defend Phill. Just ask yourself the question, If Halo Infinite launched with the console would be say It isn't important to have a good launch lineup? Since you know he wouldn't then it's quite obvious he is doing damage Control.

Phil is correct that they don't need a system seller at launch. But, they will need a system seller a few months from now. So, for their sake, I hope Halo isn't delayed beyond Q3 2021.

They are selling because it's a just released shiny new box meant to signal the start of their new gen. Just because they made more units to start off this gen than they did last gen means nothing at this point.  They said the same thing last gen even with the E3 flub..

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.xbox.com/en-us/2013/11/23/xbox-one-biggest-launch-in-xbox-history/amp/

How'd that turn out in the grand scheme of things?  

Of course he is. I don’t think anybody is disputing his spin. That said you have to agree a launch is more dependent on supply then killer apps. It’s both, spin and fact. Halo serves a greater good launching next year, though it sucks to wait. 

And at the same time you should ask yourself  one question, if Halo Infinite were launching with X|S and was phenomenal and rated 95 meta, how many more X|S consoles would be sold at launch versus what is being sold now? The answer of course, is zero. 

I doubt you read the interview, he was asked directly about the Halo Infinite delay and launching without a “marquee game” as a result. So yeah, obviously if Halo Infinite wasn’t delayed, he wouldn’t have been asked that question and thus wouldn’t have given that answer. That’s called common sense, not “damage control”.

Well your point ignores that Xbox One was weaker and $100 more expensive then PS4. Series X is on par with PS5 and has the power narrative. Series S is $100 cheaper. And Game Pass presents a value proposition Xbox One didn’t have nor something Sony can match. Also consider the PR backlash in 2013 to Xbox largely experiencing a renaissance of new studios now. There’s actually a lot of factors at play.