While consoles sales may not indicate it, Microsoft believes that its Xbox One console is offering more than its competitors currently. During the Xbox One reveal, many fans felt Microsoft stumbled over its marketing pitch for the device (that’s putting it lightly). Microsoft later double-down on the same seemingly misguided message resulting in public backlash towards the company’s offerings. [pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Microsoft has chartered a course towards a more gamer-centric approach while carefully delivering the multimedia aspects it promised other users from the beginning.[/pullquote]
Since then, Microsoft has chartered a course towards a more gamer-centric approach while carefully delivering the multimedia aspects it promised other users from the beginning.
In an interview with GameIndustry International, Xbox executive Kudo Tsunoda, sat down to discuss some of the experiences that are only achieved with the Xbox One console. Kudo begins with highlighting the Xbox One’s ability to offer backward compatibility and how the team is using fan and gamer feedback to deliver.
“With backward compatibility, it isn’t something that we just think gamers might want, we know. We’re looking for and soliciting that feedback. It was the number one most requested feature for Xbox One by far.”
Kudo also touts the relationship the Xbox One and PC gaming will have in the future.
“For a long time we’ve had PC gamers and console gamers who weren’t able to play together,” That’s why cross-play is still such a powerful idea. You should be able to play what you love, and play together, regardless of what device you’re playing on. It’s about connecting people.”
While backward compatibility and cross play/cross buy within a platform are features helping distinguish the Xbox One from a PS4, at the end of the day it comes down to gaming. Kudo also takes the time to mention Microsoft’s upcoming lineup of Xbox One exclusives for the year. “We’ve got a lot more exclusive games than any other platform,” he stated. As the Xbox lines up Halo 5 Guardians, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Rise of Tomb Raider, Fable Legends and Sea of Theives, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
“There’s a reason we’re able to put on two shows of content together. We’ve got seven exclusives coming this holiday, and then everything coming in 2016. Not just the blockbusters, but the ID@Xbox games, the indie games. We’re giving people a lot more.”
Since the dreaded E3 of 2013 debacle and the console reveal earlier that year, Microsoft has steadily been working to rebuild the Xbox One’s reputation. As each update and feature rollout occurs, the conversation regarding the console is changing. For many, the discussion has shifted from blind hatred, rage and the spreading of FUD to cautious observation and optimism for the console.
