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Forums - Microsoft - How would Xbox One have fared without the initial fumble

EricHiggin said:
curl-6 said:

I think you're overestimating the importance of aesthetics in regards to sales. I very doubt a significant number of people passed on the Xbone due to its looks, the problem was more its toxic PR and being just a "PS4 but worse".

I wouldn't call "slightly hinders" overestimating, but that's just me.

I mean, how big of a sales reduction are we talking here? I wouldn't think it would measure in the millions.



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curl-6 said:
EricHiggin said:

I wouldn't call "slightly hinders" overestimating, but that's just me.

I mean, how big of a sales reduction are we talking here? I wouldn't think it would measure in the millions.

"80M give or take."

So then let's say 79.1M potentially due to the next gen VCR design.



PS1   - ! - We must build a console that can alert our enemies.

PS2  - @- We must build a console that offers online living room gaming.

PS3   - #- We must build a console that’s powerful, social, costs and does everything.

PS4   - $- We must build a console that’s affordable, charges for services, and pumps out exclusives.

PRO  -%-We must build a console that's VR ready, checkerboard upscales, and sells but a fraction of the money printer.

PS5   - ^ -We must build a console that’s a generational cross product, with RT lighting, and price hiking.

PRO  -&- We must build a console that Super Res upscales and continues the cost increases.

EricHiggin said:
curl-6 said:

I mean, how big of a sales reduction are we talking here? I wouldn't think it would measure in the millions.

"80M give or take."

So then let's say 79.1M potentially due to the next gen VCR design.

So 79.1 with the VCR design, but then how much would you estimate without it?



curl-6 said:
EricHiggin said:

"80M give or take."

So then let's say 79.1M potentially due to the next gen VCR design.

So 79.1 with the VCR design, but then how much would you estimate without it?

I was kinda joking based on your 'can't be more than a million' guess. I'd think 75M-85M would be the range.

Question is how many people cared more about first party XB1 games vs PS4 games? If you didn't like the VCR design you could just get an eraser instead and the only difference really would be the exclusives. *Actually you'd also need to consider silence or an indoor airport.

Also, cross play likely doesn't become a thing this gen either in this timeline.

Last edited by EricHiggin - on 09 May 2026

PS1   - ! - We must build a console that can alert our enemies.

PS2  - @- We must build a console that offers online living room gaming.

PS3   - #- We must build a console that’s powerful, social, costs and does everything.

PS4   - $- We must build a console that’s affordable, charges for services, and pumps out exclusives.

PRO  -%-We must build a console that's VR ready, checkerboard upscales, and sells but a fraction of the money printer.

PS5   - ^ -We must build a console that’s a generational cross product, with RT lighting, and price hiking.

PRO  -&- We must build a console that Super Res upscales and continues the cost increases.

EricHiggin said:
curl-6 said:

So 79.1 with the VCR design, but then how much would you estimate without it?

I was kinda joking based on your 'can't be more than a million' guess. I'd think 75M-85M would be the range.

Question is how many people cared more about first party XB1 games vs PS4 games? If you didn't like the VCR design you could just get an eraser instead and the only difference really would be the exclusives. *Actually you'd also need to consider silence or an indoor airport.

Also, cross play likely doesn't become a thing this gen either in this timeline.

The first party lineup was a pretty significant factor too; games like Halo 5 and Gears 4 weren't exactly beloved by fans, while PS4 exclusives like Uncharted 4, Horizon, Bloodborne, etc were more positively recieved.

In this scenario, that'd the arguably the only major factor separating the two, since we're eliminating power, price, and the PR handicap.



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curl-6 said:
EricHiggin said:

I was kinda joking based on your 'can't be more than a million' guess. I'd think 75M-85M would be the range.

Question is how many people cared more about first party XB1 games vs PS4 games? If you didn't like the VCR design you could just get an eraser instead and the only difference really would be the exclusives. *Actually you'd also need to consider silence or an indoor airport.

Also, cross play likely doesn't become a thing this gen either in this timeline.

The first party lineup was a pretty significant factor too; games like Halo 5 and Gears 4 weren't exactly beloved by fans, while PS4 exclusives like Uncharted 4, Horizon, Bloodborne, etc were more positively recieved.

In this scenario, that'd the arguably the only major factor separating the two, since we're eliminating power, price, and the PR handicap.

Yes. PS4 still clearly has the better exclusives and still wins this alternate gen. It wins bigger than PS3 did, but not as large of a gap as PS4 does in our actual timeline. Solid hardware and a strong start to the gen matters quite a bit in terms of momentum going forward. First party software matters, but not as much as third party. MS and SNY never really had non stop, heavy hitting, blockbuster AAA, first party bangers, one after another, until PS4. Most consumers wouldn't have known this until later in the gen, so it wouldn't have been as obvious to buy a PS4 for those reasons. Plus the casuals just really don't care much about exclusives and they're the largest and latest buyers on the systems each gen.



PS1   - ! - We must build a console that can alert our enemies.

PS2  - @- We must build a console that offers online living room gaming.

PS3   - #- We must build a console that’s powerful, social, costs and does everything.

PS4   - $- We must build a console that’s affordable, charges for services, and pumps out exclusives.

PRO  -%-We must build a console that's VR ready, checkerboard upscales, and sells but a fraction of the money printer.

PS5   - ^ -We must build a console that’s a generational cross product, with RT lighting, and price hiking.

PRO  -&- We must build a console that Super Res upscales and continues the cost increases.