I understand their strategy, I just don’t like it as a console player. I also don’t think it is a very good one from business perspective. For me it seems like they failed in the console (hardware) market, so they pivoted to the cross-platform software focus.

I know like/dislike is subjective, so I understand if others have different opinion. And business-wise, these strategic decisions will show their true impact over many years, so there would be no point in comparing current numbers, let’s see if what they plan pays off in the future.

I have a PS5 and a Series S, so I’m not partial to either of them, just to consoles as a hardware platform. I don’t like this Windows-ification of Xbox, as I moved from PC gaming to consoles around 2 decades ago, and I like my choice. I also switched to iPhone from Android, and happy to have lost all the headaches that came from the more open platform.

Again, these are personal preferences. Maybe I’m the “old” man (gen Y) screaming angrily at the clouds, or maybe the Microsoft MBAs are wrong. Manufacturers are going back on large touchscreens in cars, which was also celebrated as the FUTURE^TM years ago, yet it’s just cost saving that sacrifices the safety of the driver.

Very disappointing, with arguably misleading marketing and videos.

I was so hyped watching the reveal, then only realized from comments that this only plays Windows compatible Xbox games. I was hoping for a true Xbox handheld, where I can play all Xbox games natively.

If somebody is already deep into handhelds, this might be obvious to them, but I think many buyers will be disappointed when they realize this.

I saw a 10 min video of MS and ASUS team explaining the device, and they intentionally dance around the issue, diluting the original meaning of words like “Xbox”, which is a video game console. Not a PC, not a launcher in Windows, and not a meaningless branding for MS published games.

There is a reason Nintendo and Sony is killing it in their focus segments: they make a console and sell video games you can play on it. Sony might release PS games on PC for extra revenue, while MS is trying to do that as a main focus, because they didn’t sell enough consoles. MS really shit the bed with Xbox this gen (again). Gamepass is not going to save them, they were first to the market, but Sony is also selling subscription, but in addition (and not instead) of console sales.

Before anyone becomes too happy: the post’s title is inaccurate, the two people sent to jail are only middle managers:

It would be interesting to find out the actual reason Apple didn’t do this earlier. Maybe there was a low, but now it’s gone, or maybe there was a huge misunderstanding within Apple, and after a while nobody questioned it and just went with it. Would be strange, as Find my beings extra revenues through AirTag sales, so Apple was losing money on this for years.