
We've heard a lot about the downsides of Xbox this year, even though there have been many positives along the way, and that's primarily because of the controversy over various first-party titles jumping to PlayStation (and Switch).
Microsoft has clearly started implementing new strategies for the Xbox brand, as evidenced by the big "This is an Xbox" marketing campaign that kicked off a few weeks ago, However, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella argues that because of these changes, the future is "actually looking pretty bright" for the brand right now - despite the controversy.
Speaking to GamesRadar recently, Piscatella pointed towards Xbox's impressive sales on PlayStation, as well as the focus on expanding Xbox's reach beyond console, as signs that the brand is setting itself up for a successful future.
"If you look at what's going on now in the sales, you look at like the PlayStation sales chart, you see a lot of Microsoft on there. And the more that they can broaden the appeal of their products, their IP across other platform holders, why not do that?"
"You look at their results in their earnings reports, and you go, okay, that looks pretty darn good, even though they recognize that console sales themselves are lagging for them."
The analyst went on to suggest that if you "look at it that way", things seem pretty positive for Xbox's future success. However, he also acknowledged that it's been a difficult couple of years for the brand without a doubt.
There's more in the full interview if you're interested (we'll leave the link down below), but yeah... we're generally in agreement with Mat here at Pure Xbox. Microsoft is clearly doing what it feels is best for the future of the brand, but the problem is that by seemingly ditching exclusives in the long run, the public perception will change and more disgruntlement will inevitably set in. Then again, does that even need to be a concern for the folks at Xbox anymore?
It's an interesting question to ponder, and we're certainly intrigued to see how things develop over the coming years...
[source gamesradar.com]
Comments 61
There’s a typo in the article title. You misspelled ‘Microsoft Gaming’ as “Xbox”.
@Balaam_ Microsoft Gaming is an Xbox...
@Balaam_ @themightyant You're reading this article on an Xbox
Xbox's best days are ahead. I'm excited for their future.
More like a rough decade 😬
It’s funny Microsoft thought they were doing a wonder with the series S. Holding the industry back and saving publishers a fortune. Except the series s became the gamepass machine and PlayStation 5 became the primary.
Now they need to sell on PlayStation just to save their skin!
To clarify everyone has accepted fate and is happy Microsoft messed up big time!
Maybe because the fanboys are getting too worked up about it
@Mincey0 or you’ll taking it more seriously than it should, because playstation is doing it too, and eventually they’ll be doing the same
also, i think everyone is still stuck in the past
@BacklogBrad i agree, i wish people don’t worry about it too much
@Mincey0 to clarify I do not think they messed up big time and they’re doing just fine and is needed to give PlayStation some competition
The one thing here is it fixes a strength. Software sales aren’t the problem for Xbox. It’s hardware sales.i know Jez Corden said next gen may see others make Xbox’s. Sure an Asian company maybe like Samsung making an Xbox may give more appeal in that region. But with that many spread out brands, how well will the games be optimized for them compared to just one PS SKU and then 2 SKU’s when they launch the PS6 Pro. Thats the part i am a little iffy on. If MS could fix the Hardware sales to a decent number then they are by far and away the leader in gaming. Cause the software they own prints money. Putting it on all devices print even more money.
yes , bright as in heaven because Xbox is dying 😛
it’s a good joke , please don’t delete
The analyst went on to suggest that if you "look at it that way", things seem pretty positive for Xbox's future success
Pfft, shut the back door with that kind of talk in here.
We're coming for the Xbox doomsday prophets, not for positive takes😉😅..
@Mincey0
How are you really still trying to run with the Series S is holding the industry back argument??
Sounds like you are a PlayStation gamer, and that is fine.... But how have you not become aware that 50% of the PlayStations userbase is still playing on the PS4.
That is what is "holding the industry back", the platforms unwilling to fully leave last gen and its massive userbase behind.
I have no doubt it is bright as a brand - Call of Duty by itself will secure that, and as long as they put out quality titles like Indy they'll do fine.
What is disappointing is that the console is definitely become a side collateral. I used to buy all my multiplatforms on Xbox while I would have my PS5 exclusively for Sony exclusives. Given that the console doesn't seem to be at the top of their priority list, this year I haven't bought a single game on Xbox - all of my purchases were done on PS5 including multiplatform (DD2, DA Veilguard, etc) which I would have otherwise bought on Xbox. Why invest on a platform that is no longer Microsoft's priority? It will continue being my GamePass machine, which is all paid up until mid 2027, but for actually purchasing, my money will go to Sony (even if I decide I want to buy Microsoft games like Indy, I would do it on PS5 despite enjoying it on GamePass).
@Stoned_Patrol
By the middle of next year people like @ Mincey0 will probably start blaming the Series X for holding the game industry back.....just because it's not selling like the PS5 does.
Gotta love these new accounts popping up to share some Sony festive cheer 😄.
Fire the current Xbox president
Stop charging for internet
Actually make good games and stop giving them to your competitors
Win the console war.
If you care about "console wars", then Xbox is at an all time low. Personally, I do not care if people who purchased the "other" console can play the games I am playing, Game Pass has been awesome for me, and I have all my games and friends on Xbox, so Xbox is better than it has been in my book.
Not my money so it's not my problem but I wish Xbox well all the same 👍
Atari also has a bright future as a hotel chain. Go, Atari!
This is almost backhanded praise, highlighting how "Xbox" has a bright future because it's found a way to exist outside its platform. Like Sega's bright future. Which is amazing. Unless you've got a library of Dreamcast games and nothing to run them on. If if you just don't want to be left with Sony's pay to play scheme which is all that will remain if you don't want to join Nvidia's pay to play scheme.
@NEStalgia
Sony's pay to play scheme which is all that will remain if you don't want to join Nvidia's pay to play scheme
That sounds wonderful!
What about Nintendo's scheme, anything worth mentioning there?😉
@Sol4ris well, xbox is doing well as a brand, it’s just the console fans who are angry, it’s true that console sales are important, but sega was in a much worse position when they stopped making hardware, and xbox is doing better than ever, so it’s really the loyalists who are dooming and glooming.
i’m saying, we shouldn’t have to worry about xbox’s future everytime they do something the fans don’t like
@donv2135 Name one game PlayStation has released on Xbox.
You’re taking my comment too seriously, it’s a comment on a topic engage or move on babes.
Xbox has released games on pc for a long time, Sony releasing games on pc is not the same as releasing his of war for Xbox series. If you can’t understand this then just move on! Or think and engage in the topic your choice boy!!
@Stoned_Patrol If you can’t understand then simply don’t comment.
As along we still have gamepass, and not everyone cares about console exclusives
Microsoft Gaming has a (great?) future, Xbox is dead.
@Prestige-worldwide At this stage Nintendo are more competition to PlayStation then Xbox
@Mincey0 don’t call me a boy, i’m a fully grown adult just like you, and i’m tired of people like acting like you know everything.
@donv2135 fair but think don’t just say but Xbox does it. It’s not the same and you know!
Plus, I wonder if a small reason Sony came to pc was to take advantage of the power and show of its graphic further.
@Mincey0 you’re acting like a playstation fanboy, you don’t want to admit that playstation doesn’t have anything worthwhile right now besides Astro Bot
@IOI you got a problem?
If I have a backlog so vast that I’ll never get through it and more is coming fast and furious then how can it get any better than that?
Lot's of tears in this thread. Like it or not, MS is positioned well for the future. If you don't like it, don't buy an Xbox. Use another platform. Stop cyring about it and enjoy playing games.
@FraserG no wait I AM an Xbox reading this on an Xbox😏
@Mincey0 I think it's because they develop all their games on PCs, it's an easy business decision
@Sol4ris Nintendos scheme can only be paid for in gold coins, which can only be obtained at one of their 2 global theme parks which then have different values depending on the day of the week. You buy outdated hardware for too much money and overpriced simple games. Yet the lack of recurring monetization still makes it a better value proposition to the other options, inexplicably.
@NEStalgia
Brilliant! 😅👏👏
I think I'll just extend my GP Ultimate into the 2040's, then start saving for one of Ninty's global theme parks....damned gold 🪙.
I’m blackpilled on Xbox’ future, but I already have a large digital library and a profile since 2010, so I guess I’m along for the ride.
Thanks, almost forgot why I stopped listening to industry "analysts" and "experts." What a joke, so out of touch.
@HonestHick Always the voice of reason in the comments here and Push. Happy New Year to you and your family. I always look forward to reading your comments and perspective. Cheers!
I hope things pick up. As it stands today,.this very site haven't reviewed an Xbox game for 20 days.
If you go across to Nintendo and PlayStation sites, games are getting reviewed all the time.
The few people I know that also own an Xbox are all starting to regret it and game pass isn't the deal it once was.
Microsoft as a whole may do ok but I cant see Xbox retaining many current customers when new hardware comes out.
@PeteW I think game pass is actually the best deal it has been, ik the price has gone up but with how many games they’re finally able to release per year and the second half of 2024 they released good quality games that reviewed well. Before 2024 I wouldn’t say game pass was worth it with the inconsistency in releases and low quality even tho the price was cheaper.
I still think that the PS6 and next Xbox will be the last dedicated hardware from either Sony and Microsoft. As long as there's another Xbox, as promised, I'm fine.
Beyond that generation, I believe that everything will be an app or a service like Game Pass and PS+. There will be "disguised PCs" underneath our TVs made by multiple hardware manufacturers (similar to the laptop marketplace).
Sony are currently riding high on their console sales but this will be irrelevant when there's no console to sell.
At this point, PlayStation fans will be fully invested in the Xbox IP and will happily buy those games over and over.
@Casco Are we the same person? I could have written that exact post lol
Xbox set up for a bright future? Sweet!
That means nadella is stepping down! Right?
@Mincey0 I say it all the time. Series S was such a huge and unnecessary mistake.
Every week it seems there is an issue with a game not running properly on it, lacking power to handle features, etc.
@Secryt LOL, well if Microsoft doesn't prioritize their own platform, why should we, right?
That said, GamePass proved to be tremendous value over the last couple of months, I enjoyed the Black Ops 6 Campaign (my first Call of Duty game in probably a decade), STALKER 2 is great and of course Indy is incredible.
Software on many platforms is fine and broad so it's doing fine, hardware is a challenge and always will be but expected besides hardware dedicated audience for sure.
Marketing does ok I guess and if the games interest you sure but other than gamepass working for their 1st party/time it takes to make it understandable & third parties fill in gaps fine for gamepass or digital then sure.
But to me the OS sucks (get enough of it on Xbox One to know how it sucks), the games aren't appealing and PS5 means nothing to me either it's software sucks there too. The OS is just as bad with eh folders/library menu and eh OS details of buttons/icons all over the place it's a mess of navigation design.
The Xbox is for me to just use apps Sony and Nintendo don't offer and never will (regardless of how bad the Windows/Xbox/Microsoft store is, for a console it's great, for a PC we don't need it), games and back compat.
Quick resume is a good feature but clearly doesn't effect many people (other than those who need it or love the console and I can see why I really appreciate the feature, it's not the multi screens of Windows 8/Xbox one kind of did but gutted the feature in 2017, sigh I miss it, or what I wish Wii U could do but didn't) and they don't care as games matter to them which makes sense. But hardware/software gimmicks like that do matter to me at least, but it's not a common thing on Xbox nor do those features stay cough Xbox One features dead now, sigh.
As bland as Switch is it's kind of PS4 like to me so it's not as bad the up and down is pretty simple and consistent, not always, the eshops isn't so eh. PS5/Xbox it's icons all different levels and corners and I can't stand it besides again the bad bland looks of them. But navigation I find the worst about them.
PS4 it's at least visual info but not icons when it's showing something.
Unless they pick up better, I'm sticking to old gen and retro games, another 20+ retro games to fill in the 2025 year as well can't wait, 2024 was worth it for retro as it is. Was an eh year to me at least. Isn't for others and that's totally fine but for me it was a retro game year. Like skipping modern tv shows level of who cares.
Nintendo has done so well for themselves because they make (for the most part) quality exclusives that you can't play anywhere else. Sony understands this too which is why they pay so much money for exclusivity time with many third parties.
With the Zenimax/Bethesda purchase and now Activision/Blizzard, Xbox finally had a solid list of IP's that could have driven more gamers to the Xbox brand and finally really compete, but they decide to fully embrace being a multiplatform company essentially killing the Xbox Hardware brand to really drive what honestly Microsoft has always wanted, to not be in the hardware business.
While yes I know they will continue to make hardware, but really that is just to not lose customers that would buy their console and not play anywhere else. From a financial standpoint, I can understand their goal especially since their consoles are always sold at a loss, but really it's sad to many of us since the Xbox brand finally had titles like Diablo, Warcraft, Doom, Fallout as their IP which could have really sold consoles and solidified Xbox as worthy competition which is great for us gamers as a whole.
2 more console generations(lasting to at least 2050)and im okay with it.
@cburg Thank you so very much! That means a lot to me. Happy new years to you and yours as well. Wishing you all the best in health and happiness.
Yeah i try and be reasonable. I mean i like console gaming and have since i was a kid. Of course i want to see PS and Xbox do well. MS is just in a weird place right now saying this and that is an Xbox. A PC isn’t a Xbox cause a lot of the games don’t play on PC like it does a Xbox. PS5 isn’t a Xbox cause it has like 4 games from MS. So the only thing at the moment that is an Xbox is a Xbox. They would have a lot of compatibility and licensing work to do to truly move everyone’s Xbox- Series X libraries over to all these devices. Even if they pull that off that still beg’s the question as to how that helps their hardware. Software isn’t the problem after buying 2 large publishers and all the others. Time will tell, but Sony can sit back and collect 30% off MS games doing no work other than selling hardware. I’d like to think that’s a good spot to be in currently. Thanks again for the nice reply, it was really nice to read. I felt that one friend 😊
@GuyinPA75 Finally someone else understands the issue, sick of people who don’t understand the topic quoting the last gen transition as the issue or claiming fanboy at the mention of another system.
@Stoned_Patrol because the console has been cited time and time again for the reason games have not release on the Xbox.
Literally Black Myth WuKong a game not even developed for the ps4 cannot come to Xbox due to the series s.
Reference to above claim ;
https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2025/01/02/black-myth-wukong-director-laments-xbox-series-s-issues-contradicts-microsoft-again/
End of discussion if you don’t have a clue, just don’t comment. Damn how do you not understand the topic and still have an opinion.
@Sol4ris fyi lad. Maybe gain some knowledge in your hobby. Only fanboys I see here are you and some stoned guy who obviously wouldn’t have a clue.
because the console has been cited time and time again for the reason games have not release on the Xbox.
Literally Black Myth WuKong a game not even developed for the ps4 cannot come to Xbox due to the series s.
Reference to above claim ;
https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2025/01/02/black-myth-wukong-director-laments-xbox-series-s-issues-contradicts-microsoft-again/
End of discussion if you don’t have a clue, just don’t comment. Damn how do you not understand the topic and still have an opinion.
@Mincey0
Nah fella, you're alright 😅. You are clearly just as disingenuous as the post claiming that the current Switch is more powerful than Series S, or, your comprehension skills let you down spectacularly.
End of discussion indeed.
@Sol4ris someone upset because they can’t play black myth all because of the series s. Poor boy!
Nice to know the switch 2 makes you worry about Xbox as a whole now…. You’ll miss out on so much going forward black myth just the tip of it….
Heck considering how popular switch is compared to Xbox these days, you’ll miss out over a kids console. Poor lad.
@Stoned_Patrol another fine example for you dim-bum.
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/01/baldurs-gate-3-adding-split-screen-on-xbox-series-s-more-than-a-year-after-release
@Sol4ris another example for you dim-bum. Baldurs gate only release due to Xbox providing an exception to the parities clause.
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/01/baldurs-gate-3-adding-split-screen-on-xbox-series-s-more-than-a-year-after-release
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...