What you need to know
- Xbox lead Phil Spencer just had a new interview with Bloomberg, discussing a range of topics.
- Therein, they seemingly confirmed interest in building an Xbox handheld, something that has been rumored for quite some time.
- Noting that any product was “years away,” Spencer said the firm wants to analyse and research what’s already out there before moving to full deployment.
As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in the gaming industry, I’ve seen trends come and go, from the rise of home consoles to the mobile revolution. The latest buzz surrounding Xbox’s potential foray into handheld gaming is a testament to the evolving landscape of our beloved industry.
Over the recent periods, Microsoft has experienced substantial decreases in year-on-year sales for its Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. As this console generation nears its end, manufacturers like Xbox and PlayStation are finding that many users prefer to stay on the older versions. Games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continue to be playable on previous-generation consoles without any updates being lost, causing the distinction between console generations to become less clear. This situation might represent a “smartphoneification” of the console market, where games and services generate revenue instead of hardware upgrades driving sales. However, this doesn’t mean that Xbox is abandoning its hardware development altogether.
In a recent conversation with Bloomberg, Xbox Chief Executive Officer Phil Spencer elaborated on the company’s strategies regarding an exhilarating segment in current video gaming – portable gaming devices.
Ever since the introduction of the Nintendo Switch, companies have become more aware that gaming systems can deliver an experience comparable to high-end consoles. Devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, equipped with the Z1 Extreme, offer experiences on par with the PS4 and Xbox One in certain instances. This has sparked speculation that both Xbox and PlayStation might be considering bringing their console games to the handheld market. In fact, there are official whispers that Microsoft is now actively exploring this possibility.
During the interview, Spencer mentioned that Microsoft is adopting a methodical strategy when it comes to handheld devices at the moment, experimenting with multiple designs. He expressed enthusiasm for future product development but emphasized the importance of learning from current trends and gaining insights before jumping in. Any practical application resulting from these investigations would not be available for several years.
It seems we’ll be waiting a fair while to play our Xbox games natively in our hands
As we approach 2025, Xbox is poised for greatness with hits like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and anticipated games such as STALKER 2. Furthermore, strategic partnerships with Genshin Impact on Xbox Game Pass are set to strengthen the platform’s closing months. To sweeten the deal, Microsoft has dropped the price of the Xbox Series X by $50 for the holiday season, making it an attractive option for shoppers during Black Friday and Christmas sales.
It seems unlikely that the pattern of decreasing quarterly sales for Xbox consoles will reverse until they introduce new models. I’m not convinced that even the upcoming Xbox Series X “Digital Edition” will generate significant sales boosts. Instead, PlayStation has become the go-to console worldwide, as Microsoft’s marketing strategies to attract consumers beyond their usual demographic appear ineffective.
It’s disappointing that the rumored Xbox portable device might not arrive for several years, but at least we can expect it to materialize eventually. I am confident that it will play a significant role in shaping the future of Xbox as well.
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2024-11-13 19:39