They should ask Digital Foundry, they were sure that Series X and S are stronger competition for PS5. But the article shows once again how bad today's journalism is. The Xbox was already superfluous in 2020 because there were no exclusive console games, but the media was busy with the console war.
In retrospect, it is also bizarre that someone like Phil Spencer, who contributed significantly to the downfall of the Xbox, was honored for his work. Some users saw this coming over 10 years ago. Canceling games like Scalebound, closing studios like Lionhead and from then on almost all Xbox exclusives for PC creates no incentive to buy a console and invest in the ecosystem. Then they re-educate the remaining customers with Gamepass and wonder why hardly any games are sold. Then Xbox buys massively thanks to the money from MS, but has probably forgotten that MS and the investors want to see profits. This was also a misconception of some Xbox trolls who thought that MS was not interested in console sales, they have enough money and could also make CoD Xbox exclusive.
As a counter, I always brought up Mixer. MS invested hundreds of millions in streamers like Ninja and Shroud, but Twitch was still the undisputed market leader and MS gave up on Mixer. The same could happen with Xbox in the medium term. MS could sell the package of studios, licenses, etc. to Tencent or the Saudis for a few hundred billion at some point. But I guess they're trying their hand as a third-party publisher first; Sea of Thieves and Grounded were obviously a success on Playstation.
Despite everything, I'll probably buy an Xbox next generation if it's a real console. I don't like playing on the PC and have been completely multiplatform since the mid-90s, but I also know that not everyone can or wants to afford multiple systems. That's why good journalism is important to advise players. When troll sites like IGN, with 2 of the biggest Xbox trolls ever, claim that the Series S could deliver better performance than the PS5 because it has the same CPU as the XSX, you shouldn't be surprised. Players' disappointment means that they won't buy another product from the manufacturer. Many 360 fans were disappointed by the One strategy, many who bought the One anyway felt they were ripped off by the PC strategy, many Series buyers now feel they have been ripped off because everything that could make money will probably be ported to Playstation and Nintendo.
If analysts like Pachter continue to be quoted and paid attention to, even though they have been wrong and talking nonsense for decades, it makes the whole dilemma perfect.
www.linkedin.com
www.resetera.com
www.gamesindustry.biz
