Microsoft is now adopting a multi-platform strategy and bringing games to Sonys platform.
So what went wrong, and what happens next?
Over console’s lifetime Microsoft managed to shift 84 million units.
But success didnt come easy for Microsoft.
Compared to the PlayStation 2, which shipped over 100 million units, the Xbox was a failure.
It was also an important first step.
Xbox Live made it easy to add friends, meet people, and play games with them.
It handled game updates so that you didnt have to patch things manually.
It made matchmaking easy; join a lobby and play.
Lucas Gouveia / How-To Geek | Best Buy
Microsoft was even able to charge for the service, a move that Sony eventually adopted.
Sonys console had its issues, but Microsofts success was largely down to Microsofts strategy.
Unfortunately, this wouldnt last.
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Microsoft positioned the Xbox One as a multimedia rig through which owners were expected to watch television and movies.
There was an HDMI input for connecting a cable box.
The consoles unveil focused on this functionality first and video games second.
Microsoft
This didnt go well.
On top of this, every Xbox One was sold with a Kinect sensor.
Initially, this was to be connected at all times, but Microsoft quickly backtracked and removed the requirement.
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Microsoft also had a bold plan for how game libraries would work on the Xbox One.
The initial plan was to bind all games, including retail titles, to a users account.
Gamers and the gaming press didnt react well.
Halo: InfiniteTim Brookes / How-To Geek
Microsoft backtracked on this decision, but it was too late.
There were other problems too.
Compared with the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One was an underpowered machine.
The custom 8-core AMD Jaguar APU was lacklustre compared to Sonys machine.
This isnt to say that Microsoft was devoid of good ideas during this time.
The Xbox One saw the introduction of a backward compatibility program, making nearly 200 Xbox 360 titles playable.
Microsoft also introduced its wildly successful Game Pass subscription service in 2017.
The flagship Xbox Series X has best-in-class thermals and a modern monolithic aesthetic.
While even theredesigned slim PS5looks bloated, the Series Xs unapologetic fan-with-console design stands out.
But a console is nothing without games.
Upstarts likeGhost of Tsushima, theHorizonseries, and the occasional multiplayer smash hit likeHelldivers IIback up an impressive catalog.
Microsoft has overseen some excellent exclusives likeHi-Fi Rush,PentimentandHellblade: Senuas Sacrificebut these dont feel like tentpole releases.
The highest profile example isBaldurs Gate 3being delayed partly bySeries S complications.
The Future of Xbox
The good news is that Xbox still has a future.
There will be another Xbox, but what that hardware looks like remains to be seen.
The next Xbox may be an Xbox in name only.
Modern consoles alreadyhave a lot in common with gaming PCs.
A more open Xbox would allow owners to install almost anything they like, from game mods to emulators.
By doing this, Xbox can offer something meaningfully different to the competition.
Nintendo has its corner of video gaming sewn up, while Sony dominates in the traditional home console market.
For Microsoft, the halcyon days of the Xbox 360 are long gone.
But the game is far from over yet.
