Microsoft: 'We Think the Future is Without Console Generations' - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 18 August 2016 / 22,651 Views
Xbox marketing chief Aaron Greenberg believes that it is the end of console generations. The console gaming market will still see new hardware, however, games will be compatible with newer and older hardware.
Microsoft is releasing the Xbox One Scorpio, a more powerful Xbox One console, in 2017. Sony has also announced it is working on a more powerful PlayStation 4, the Neo. The Neo is expected to be revealed on September 7.
"For us, we think the future is without console generations; we think that the ability to build a library, a community, to be able to iterate with the hardware -- we're making a pretty big bet on that with Project Scorpio," Greenberg told Engadget. "We're basically saying, "This isn't a new generation; everything you have continues forward and it works." We think of this as a family of devices.
"But we'll see. We're going to learn from this, we're going to see how that goes. So far I'd say, based on the reaction, there appears to be a lot of demand and interest around Project Scorpio, and we think it's going to be a pretty big success. If the games and the content deliver, which I think they will do, I think it will change the way we think about the future of console gaming."
Greenberg was also asked how Microsoft was going to close the gap between the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
"We're focused on a few things," said Greenberg. "I'd say first we're focused on growing the user base of our games, bringing our games to as many gamers as possible; that's why you see a lot of our big franchises on Windows 10. That allows more gamers than ever before to play titles like Gears of War, Forza Horizon, etc. From a console ecosystem standpoint, we're seeing really healthy console sales and really healthy engagement. Year over year, for the month of July, we saw Xbox One usage up 18 percent, so also really healthy.
"Sony's had a lot of success as well. I think what you're seeing is that the console market is really healthy, console sales are doing really well in general, software sales are strong. It's been a good industry for both of us, and we're innovating in different ways. We're innovating in a way where we know a lot of gamers are multi-device gamers -- they don't just buy one system -- and so we want to be able to have the same types of experiences on Xbox Live, the same games, the same friends, both in the living room on their console or at work, on vacation or at school on their PC. You should be able to stay connected, and play the same games through things like Play Anywhere. That's really been where we've been focused."
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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For that to be the case we need a clear definition of what a console generation is. Because if a new console generation is just "a new cycle of consoles from the console manufacturers", then they will never go away, just become more frequet and with smaller power jumps.
But considering Microsoft wants to fuse their PC and console videogame bussiness together, they really don't care about console generations anyway.
Sounds like the manufacturers are headed in the same direction. A family of devices rather than standalone generations.
It makes sense, and apple was the first to really do it right. Their hardware continues where the last left off and most software keeps being compatible even with older models. It's the right way to go.
Nem, they already followed suit. Haven't you really heard about the Playstation Neo??
@Nem Developers take yearss to make a game and release it, wouldbe a shame if, in that time-frame, we needed to purchase several hardwares.
So they will keep releasing hardware that will share the same games.
As Xbox fan I never believe crap he says
The key word here is "we".
And Sony.
Sounds like what I thought they'd do with the Scorpio, it's powerful enough to be considered both a current gen upgrade AND a next gen console, so when this "generation" ends, they will simply keep selling the Scorpio as their next gen model, since there's little it won't be able to achieve even then. Not to mention it allows them to inflate their sales and revenue through sheer brute force.
It's also cheaper and Sony's already in, so yeah, they are right, since Nintendo just left the home console market.
I'm pretty sure there will be new console generations, they will have b/c, the older consoles won't be able to play their new games, and there will probably be a new OS major version only for the new generation. For both technical and marketing reasons.
A bit as it happens with mobile phones anyway, where the older phones don't get the new OS upgrades. This after the Neo and Scorpio.
Ehh, it's just changing the definition of a console cycle, IMO. Making consoles more fluid like much tech is today as opposed to big leaps every 5-7 years.
and im think they are right, we will see a change from an hard brake too an soft brake and scorpio is a soft one
The Scorpio is basically a generational leap in specs, the next model will be the same. I like this route they are going.
Frankly, its no different than before except we expect BC.
No different? It's a 3 year upgrade cycle. The Xbox One S isn't just a slim Xbox One. What they're attempting is to making people buy consoles in a similar way to smart phones... forgetting that home consoles are a luxury and smart phones are viewed as necessity.
Pretty simple way to look at it. There are more differences. One point is that accessory is compatible as well. And you can easily play online against Xbox One, Xbox On S and Scorpio players... Maybe even PC players. And the game you buy for Xbox One (S/Scorpio) comes with a free PC version. And your save games will be transferred easily.
As a gamer I really like what they are doing and don't get why people are hating on it.
AlfredoTurkey, what's rong with a 3 year upgrade cycle if anybody can stick with their Xbox One if he can't afford a Scorpion yet? And he will be able to play all upcoming games except VR.
I think this is a great thing for consoles. Much like in the PC world the most dedicated gamers can buy the more expensive console version to run games with better graphics, while those who don't want to spend as much Money will stick to their Xbox One for years to come.
And the Xbox One S is exactly a slim Xbox One. The 7% faster graphics is just a little bonus you get from the improved process technology.
@DirtyP - Yeah, the biggest difference is games are going to work on both old and new specs. Eventually I'm sure games won't even work on OG X1s. But as long as the OG specs get supported for like 8 years, there isn't much to complain about.
We all knew the gap between game console and PC was closing and the way its being done is appealing.
Should the Scorpio have exclusive content, then I don't believe we can look at it as a refresh, but would definitely have to view it as a new generation (in spite of what MS says). Same thing applies to Sony's Neo. If there's no exclusive content, it's a premium model. If there is, it's a new generation.
Is this a surprise? They THOUGHT the Xbox One would be online all the time, the DRM business etc, but got it all wrong. HOWEVER, they are right. The day will likely come when games are streamed like movies and music are. Playstation Now in all its imperfections is proving that. That service will only improve I'm betting. Heck, I've reconciled I'm going to die so my huge collections are doing me little good, plus generation after generation the systems and games keep piling up. I'm 44. I've been along for the ride since Pong and more practically the 2600. One day have a service where I pay a fee and can access any and all games, once it's seamless, sounds great. My reference to me dying was that I can't take all my horde of games with me so I might as well embrace streaming media. I think it's a boon waiting to happen. If they can get the logistics down, imagine cloud based gaming where graphical, physics, and AI advancements are done on the developer and server side! We as the consumer just play the games. Also imagine one day, if it happens, having the entire Neo Geo, Sega Saturn, GameCube etc libraries available online to play whenever you wanted! That sounds tantalizing to me!!
The idea of console "generations" are far from dead when console manufacturers don't have plans to truly supplant the old hardware iterations with exclusive games for the new hardware iterations. There will come a time where they'll have to settle a new baseline for hardware in order for new software to shine. Surely they must know it's too early in this console cycle to expect mass adoption of a hardware refresh among the common user base since the vast majority want to get as much software support as they can for their current hardware ... (Continuously burning out your customer base by more frequently introducing new hardware with exclusive software is a bad idea when we take a look at Sega.)
Right until Playstation 5 comes around, and it has newer technology, able to do things the PS4 cant, and thus they make a new generation. Once that happend Xbox will follow suit, because they too want to take advantage of newer graphics technologies, to stay competitive.
It seems to me like Sony wants to move away from traditional generations as well. That's why Neo exists. I think we'll see iterative hardware from both Sony and MS moving forward, as opposed to traditional console generations.
Steam, that's the reason for you.
That's vgc for you lol.
went to the wrong comment, but steam just shows that the demand digital purchases are there, sure the sales defiinitely help.
You misunderstood, Microsoft is eyeing on Steam.
Oh never mind you already said that. Anyway, think Microsoft will make hardware every 2-3 years pretty much like PC, I still don't get why they're deciding it, perhaps PC is pretty huge install base.
This is just more useless MS PR. Notice how they have not even given actual specs for Scorpio but they are selling people an idea that they will back track on like always. A year ago they said Xbox and Windows was a separate thing. We seen what happened after that. MS has as bout as much credibility for the future of videogame consoles as a broke man does in a game of black jack.Zero!
Bullshit.
They're gonna have a field day trying to separate themselves from PC. Not unless it's all part of the plan to force more people in Windows 10 and turn Xbox one library into something Steam-esque.
This is gonna get dirty.
No, X1 and PCs are still very different devices. Sharing 1st party software doesent change that.
