Business practice

MS is investing lots into games. They do need to put out some unique stuff though. Something better than the titles on the Sony side... Really should be possible. Final Fantasy for example... analyze all the past reviews, strengths and weaknesses, and then
try to make something better.

Anyway, this looks like a multi-year strategy situation. Aim to win in three years.

-----

I remember Sony wasn't planning to take a loss on price this time. I wonder if they had a secondary plan for what price to announce based on what MS announced. There are advantages to playing second... you can see where your opponent is moving.

I'm fine with the price for what I'm getting hardware and software wise. What I'm not fine with is all of the restrictions and requirements that Sony will not have on their machine. Sony's price point is aggressive (but realistic, considering these machines
are basically PCs now and the parts are not one-off), obviously wanting to undercut MS and they will win a bunch of sales from people that were on the fence just because of the cost of entry for sure. $100 is $100 that can be spent on games and accessories,
or PS+ subscription for online play.

-

MS has not only priced themselves above the bar, they now have to justify that price. The only issue with justifying that price is that the competitor's machine that will ultimately be able to do almost everything the Xbox can do and will have virtually
the same well known blockbuster titles comes with much more consumer freedom.

-

My guess is that heads will be rolling at Microsoft today and this week. Their market analysts have effectively taken a huge gamble and Sony has called their bluff pretty bluntly. I don't expect a price drop, but I would suspect MS will do some backpedaling
on their DRM and online requirements in the very near future (or at least that's what I would hope they'd do). They're also going to want to beat Sony to retail, even if only by a week or so.

Also, a comment on the used game market and new limitations. Fact is that if people are going to accept you putting limitations on them, they have to either like you, or you need to have power over them... or you have to give them something for it. Maybe
Apple can pull off putting up annoying restrictions, but Apple has a very different kind of cred than Microsoft does. Microsoft is not well liked, few people will appreciate more demands being put on them from Microsoft until MS has changed its image.

-

Sell the XB1 has the iPhone of TVs... Sell the naturalness and convenience of the experience. Sell games in every household and for every kid. Sell, Sell, Sell!!!

The Wii U launched at about £300 and people complained it was too much. Sony were wise to release at £350 Microsoft are insane to release the basic model at £429.