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Which Console Maker is Totally Clueless?

Which Console Maker is Totally Clueless?

Earlier this week, Microsoft held its annual Xbox Gamescom media briefing in Cologne, Germany. After wowing audiences worldwide with new gameplay reveals for Quantum Break , Crackdown 3 , and Scalebound , now it looks like the Xbox One is firmly on track to have a phenomenal 2016. As a longtime fan of both platforms, I’m personally enjoying all the blood, sweat, and tears that Microsoft is putting into repairing its image and making its console more competitive with the PS4.

With all that said, it’s still very hard to ignore how Microsoft handled the messaging behind the Xbox One prior to launch. The strict DRM policies and focus on entertainment instead of games is a big reason why many people probably won’t buy an Xbox One anytime soon. While the upcoming games do show a great deal of promise, there are at least a few cautionary signs that suggest Microsoft may be reverting back to its original plans for the system.

The first evidence of this fact lies in the well-received, time-shifting third-person shooter known as Quantum Break . When this title was first announced, Remedy set out to make both a game and an interactive TV series. During Gamescom, it was revealed that the game’s narrative would focus on the protagonists, allowing the villains to take center stage in the live-action show. While this concept sounds clever in practice, it essentially forces the player to participate in both mediums to get the full story. Those who only want to use their console for games and not TV shows will more than likely pass on this title regardless of how immersive it truly is.

Another example that suggests Microsoft may be shifting things around stuck out like a sore thumb during the Crackdown 3 presentation. Series Creator Dave Jones mentioned that by using the power of online cloud computing, players would be able to destroy virtually everything in Pacific City. Alternatively, anyone who doesn’t decide to play the game online won’t be able to create quite as much destruction as they would if they were logged on. This blatantly suggests that in order to get the best experience from the game, you’ll definitely need to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription. This might not seem like a big deal to many, but this concept is certainly reminiscent of the online-only practice that Microsoft tried to implement a few years ago.

Which Console Maker is Totally Clueless?

The third and final piece of evidence comes from the simple fact that Microsoft is still actively signing third-party deals with publishers for early access to betas and DLC content. Xbox Boss Phil Spencer has said on record numerous times that he wants all the focus to be on developing first-party titles. The simple fact that he would say one thing while Microsoft does another is totally contradictory to both the message and the practice. While I would never personally blame Phil for his involvement in the Tomb Raider exclusivity deal, the fact of the matter is that this should be the final deal of its kind before all the attention shifts towards first-party titles. The verdict is still out on whether Microsoft will abide by these rules, but I highly doubt they will if Sony continues to outsell them.

After all the examples I gave above, it’s important to remember that this is a fluid industry and therefore changes can and will happen most of the time. Microsoft has a track record of changing things up and at least for now they are in a favorable position. Will they stick to their guns and deliver on everything they have promised up to this point or will they fall short of those goals and revert back to their old policies? These questions and more will be answered soon enough.

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