"Xbox One: How to Save Microsoft's Console" - GR

http://www.gamerevolution.com/features/xbox-one-how-to-save-microsofts-console.

- Cut the Xbox One's Price... Drastically

- Offer a Kinect-Less SKU

- Don't Try to Counter Sony's Sales Announcements Unless You're "Winning"

- Bring the Focus Back to Games

- Stop Treating "Games With Gold" like a Joke

- Establish and Nurture New Studios for New Franchises

- Stop Putting Everything Behind a Paywall

- Refrain From Mentioning the "Power of the Cloud" Unless It's Really Needed (or Warranted)

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What do you think about the points above? Is the Xbox One in need of saving? Many people have said that the launch sales are healthy, but launch sales don't really dictate long term success. Every system has a core fanbase willing to support the console from the beginning. I think the author brought up some good points, but nothing that hasn't been mentioned before. I think the best answer for MS is to go back to the 360 mentality they had which was all about the gamer experience. Promoting it as an all around entertainment box was a bad idea. Adding shows and TV features are ok, but the Xbox brand should communicate that it's a gaming machine above all else. I also wouldn't assume a price cut and dropping Kinect would make the system number 1 again. Give people a good reason to pay more.

No.

Especially considering we're only 6 months into the gen.

#1 should be driven by the by gamers for gamers mantra like SONY is.

Been saying that myself for a while now, but I get attacked by fanboys for doing so.

A kineckless sku would make a difference, but I can't imagine that happening.

and end thread

u would have a better chance to save the titanic than x1, and that ship sinked 100 years ago

Surely there is a clear distinction between needing to be saved and not winning. X1 doesn't need to be saved, but there are things you could argue that MS could improve upon and I think slowly but surely MS are doing that.

For the sake of explaining the difference, the Wii U is however in a desperate situation and does "need saving".

But it's nice to know the guys at GameRevolution spend a lot of their time on internet forums like system wars... if GR staff are reading this, hi guys, never heard of your site before but good luck with it and all that.

- Stop Putting Everything Behind a Paywall

This has always been a deal breaker for me.

Doesn't need saving

"Dead Risingset Overhype will save the Xbone!!!"

You cannot save what must be destroyed.

You're so funny.

Your entire premise hangs on the idea that games are the priority this gen with MS....they are not. The entertainment box is. Thus...they aren't going to do what you want them to do.

Not if you're complacent to sit at a distant second place all gen.

Saving means the console is in deep shit, like not selling and that's not what's happening.

And they are focusing on games....Phil Spencer keeps stating it over and over and that will show at E3.

"Bu but Phil Sphincter said!!!"

Yeah, yeah.

I agree. People act like the console is not selling well. Its not selling as well as the PS4, but its not all about who sells the most consoles, its about which company accomplishes their sales goals. I'm willing to bet that the Xbone is doing better than MS projected, and the PS4 is doing way better than Sony projected.

MS should drop the price, but they should not get rid of the Kinect. They haven't done a good job showing the value of the Kinect, but that will likely change with newer games. Dropping the price where the Kinect is basically free would be a strong move that would likely cause them to break even on console sells for the next year.

The kinect gives the Xbox an experience that Sony can't replicate and one that Apple and Google are focused on. Separating it from the Xbone would be a short sighted regrettable move.

I have to wonder if it'd be more productive to cut their losses and auction off their gaming studios and IPs

Yes great new IP's and great sequels....enjoy the HD remakes of games that were already HD :P

Yeah Kinect and the X1 go hand in hand....I use Kinect on a daily basis and couldn't imagine not having it.

Man the one is so amazing gaming sites aren't even above begging.

Sunset must have blown their minds.

Ditto. I came close to jumping on the 360 bandwagon last gen, but this I just could not stomach as a consumer.

All good points.

I can see the Microsoft Defense Force is already here telling us the Xbox One doesn't need saving. They're probably right. The last two Xbox consoles were in second place, and there were plenty of good games on them. When the Xbox One reaches second place this generation, it will do just fine.

Waggle games, CGI trailers and rehashes. Thank you Phil Spencer!

And you'll still claim they did well. :)

Can't wait for E3

Yeah they seem like they will always be number two, which is fine for them. They have fun games now and in the pipeline, and when I play them, I won't be thinking, "But it's not the best selling console!" in the back of my mind. If I was concerned about the lack of graphical prowess every time I played a game, I wouldn't own any consoles. I'm sure they would like to be number one (or number One, as it were), but considering their profits, I'm sure they are sleeping just fine. And I'm glad Sony is doing so well with the PS4... with their TV, handheld and PC business going down the drain, if they didn't have some revenue stream I would seriously worry about their continued existence.

kinectless xbox would be nice and bring some sales in....but as much as i have clamored for both price cut/kinectless sku....its not in ms best interest to do both since they are selling a lot of xb1 themselves (not as much as ps4s)

Cutting the price is more important that getting a Kinect-less sku IMO.

That being said, there are MANY deals out there for people looking to buy either console. I just ordered my X1 with Forza 5 for $440. To me that is an AWESOME deal that out of the box gives me more than what many out there see.

@SolidGame_basic: The Xb1 does not need saving, it's doing just fine.

you cannot save something that is already dead

A year and a half on the market and only sold 6 million? That may need saving. 6 months and 4-5 million sold? Probably not. But Cows had a rough gen in terms of sales, last gen and they weren't used to it. So now they feel like the kid whose Dad came to pick him up just as the bullies were picking on him.

There's some rumblings microsoft is gonna reverse that policy very soon.

Can't wait to see how people say it was ok for things to be behind a paywall all this time.

I don't know dude....the PS3 and 360 were both about the same sold though PS3 was one less year. I'd call it basically a tie with no clear winner.

@SolidGame_basic: You should be more worried about how to save sony.

Sorry, I don't follow. I was referring to the WiiU being out about 18 months and the X1 6 months and not far behind. Isnt that what cows chanted all last gen? Year head start and look how fast its catching up? Cows didn't bother with sales with the Wii because it was crushed. I don't see the problem at 6 months in.

Oh yeah...the Wii won last gen though it might be to their detriment this gen. You can't really rely on casuals to continue buying consoles. Better to concentrate on gamers. I really hope Nintendo gets back in the game....hate to lose them as we did SEGA. Though I always think their consoles should be a companion to whatever brand(s) one buys.

a $100 price drop bundled with Halo 5 would make it #1 in America but not so sure about the rest of the world.

Whats not to be sure of? Xbox will probably never be number 1 in the world.

Agreed. How to save what doesn't need to be saved. The PS3 needed more saving 6 months after launch then the XB1 does. The XB1 will be fine, especially after the price gets to be the same or less then the PS4. Once more exclusive content is released, gamers will get one.

outside of US. it isnt selling......

Oh really? 0 sales that blows.

You and other Xbots need to get it through your head that Xbox One isn't PS3. Xbox isn't as popular worldwide as PlayStation is. With PS4 outselling Xbox One in US, what territories does Xbox have to fall on? Also, PS3 was outselling X360 worldwide from the get go.

The PS4 is all hype and time will prove that.

Care to prove that the PS3 was outselling the 360 from the start? After all, it's only taken the PS3 almost 8 fucking years to pass the 360 in sales. Anyway, that's not how I remember it.

@SolidGame_basic: Just price cut to 399.99 or less and keep the Kinect bundled. A kinectless X1 would take too much away from the system.

There is no way to save it. PS4 is cheaper with better hardware, superior multiplats, better first party studios and exclusives, better indie/Japanese support, better controller, better design, better online service, remote play, VR headset in development.

Xbone has TV shows.

This, plus when most people hear about the xbox one they automatically have a negative view of it to begin with. Everyone says PS4 is better.

PS4 factually has MORE exclusives.

The PS4 factually has the superior multi plats on top of that,

And the PS4 has the higher rated excusives to boot..PS4 is still the best place to play...and given Sony's stellar first parties you know PS4 will really start to dominate in exclusives and never let up

Even then ... EVEN IF the xbone goes on to get 20 of the best games ever, I and the majority WOULD never buy an xbone for 2 reasons.

Reason #1:

The PS4 remains 100$ cheaper, 50% more powerful, more focused on gaming with better gaming features, offers a much better online service that offers far more value, and has the way better first party studios i.e so better exclusives on a consistent basis

PS4 does everything better for less. There is no reason to get an xbone.

You would have to be a moron to buy a weaker, more expensive xbone that puts gaming as a secomdary focus and comes with a spy cam and locks all its basic features behind xbox live pay wall fees. Its so anti-consumer. Its despicable what Microsoft does.

Reason #2:

Continuing on about how anti-consumer Microsoft is, the FACT Microsoft tried to commit mass murder against consumer rights with their henious unforgivable Always online DRM xbone schemes

No matter what I will NEVER GET an xbone because Microsoft showed its true colors there. Microsoft only backed down AT THE LAST SECOND due to losing pre order sales

Mean while Sony has NEVER ATTEMPTED to do anything a fraction as bad

Sony with their actions prove time and time again that they care about the gamer and are for the gamer

Microsoft with their actions prove time and time that they are against the gamer and against the consumer

If you are a gamer you must NEVER support Microsoft other wise you are a detriment to gaming. Sony PS4 all the way. The PS4 saved this gen from Microsoft's BS. Thank you Sony