Xbox is not the same as it once was. Over the past few years, Microsoft has made a concerted effort to change players' perception of the Xbox brand, transforming it from a console competitor to something much more. Whether it be through the introduction of Game Pass or Cloud Gaming, Xbox has carved itself a unique identity in the gaming industry as an accessible and widely available service, all the while its stance in the console market begins to fade further into the background.
That being said, Microsoft has repeatedly assured players of their commitment to Xbox hardware, despite its clear shift in focus. Yet, because of the campaign to make Xbox as widely available as possible, the company has chosen to take a certain approach to make its hardware more appealing to a general audience. While this approach has its merits, it's precisely the wrong choice to ensure the success of Xbox consoles, and could call into question Microsoft's place in the console market going forward.
Microsoft's approach to Xbox hardware was clarified in a recent episode of the Gamertag Radio podcast. When asked about the worth of purchasing an Xbox console amidst the company's multi-platform release strategy, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer mentioned hardware capabilities as a major selling point. He explained his desire for "...people to pick hardware on the capabilities...and how that fits into the choices that they want to make about where they want to play", while emphasizing the multi-platform approach Microsoft is taking.
It's understandable that Microsoft is choosing to focus on hardware capabilities, as power and performance play an important role in a console's overall appeal. By continuously pushing for more powerful hardware, it gives greater freedom to developers and studios in creating software, benefiting the quality of more ambitious games. There's no doubting that power and performance are important factors for many players in choosing to purchase a console, as they seek
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