Although Xbox One is still catching up on PlayStation 4’s worldwide sales, Microsoft hopes that its gaming console will come out on top eventually. Not only that, the executives are quite happy with Phil Spencer — who is spearheading the platform — and are eager to listen to user feedback to make the ecosystem better.
In a recent interview with CVG, Xbox UK marketing executive Harvey Eagle shed some light on how things are going inside the company, and where they think it’s all headed to. The Xbox team wants to bring more people to gaming, and win the console generation, Eagle said.
“There’s a few things I’d like us to achieve. If I take a long-term view, I want Xbox to play a role in bringing more people into gaming,” he said. “I think it’s incumbent on those who make console platforms to ultimately grow the market. Otherwise we’re just trading the same customers amongst each other.”
“Microsoft is a very ambitious company, and we want to be number one.”
Microsoft definitely eyes on dominating the market share. “There are other success measures, and market share is certainly a very important one. Microsoft is a very ambitious company, and we want to be number one,” he added. “We’re in this for the long-term and the company is committed to making that happen.”
Eagle understands that it is the company’s job to provide users with nice features and make them happy. The team welcomes feedback, and feels good when they are positive. “When feedback is positive, obviously we’re human and we get a nice warm fuzzy feeling,” he said.
He also praised the Xbox head Phil Spencer and credit him for bringing a “degree of consistency and focus” to the Xbox business. “We know where we need to get to, what we need to do, and we’re completely laser-focused on delivering great games,”.
Respawn Entertainment’s multi-shooter title Titanfall has been the most successful game on Xbox One this year. Eagle believes that it provided Xbox One an advantage.
“The change started to happen when Titanfall was released in March, it’s been a hugely successful title and the start of what I believe to be is the momentum shift,” Eagle said.
Eagle also talked about some key changes and improvements, including, Kinect-free Xbox One, price drop in the UK (which followed in the US as well), expansion of the Games with Gold program, and consistent monthly updates. “It’s the cumulative effect of all those things over a period of time that has seen this momentum shift for us,” Eagle added. “There’s still work to do to increase sales. The momentum shift is something to be encouraged by, but certainly there’s more work to be done. We do need to see this grow and continue over a period of time. With such a strong lineup of games coming out over the next six months, I think that’s going to increase momentum.”
The Xbox One team promises its commitment to listen to user feedback. “We won’t stop listening and responding. If that means we have to change in the future based on what people are asking for, then we’re completely committed to doing that,” he added.
