As Microsoft transitions from one console generation to the next, it faces the challenge of balancing support for both its Xbox 360 and the newer Xbox One. Of course, it has a vested interest in bringing the latest and greatest games and features to its new console, but in doing so, it runs the risk of not doing enough – at least in the eyes of its customers – for the 360.
But Microsoft is firmly committed to supporting the 360, as the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, made clear today in an interview with the UK’s Metro newspaper. Asked why the company isn’t doing more to push new games onto the Xbox One – instead continuing to additionally support both last-gen and cross-gen titles - Spencer emphasised that Microsoft has no intention of abandoning 360 owners to focus exclusively on its new console.
“We have millions and millions of people on 360,” he said. “If you bought your Xbox 360 a year and a half ago, I think we have an obligation there.”
But it’s not just about supporting those that have already purchased the older console. As we have previously reported, Microsoft firmly believes that it will sell many, many more of them, and these customers too need reassurance that their consoles will continue be supported.
Spencer said: “We’re going to sell millions more Xbox 360s before this generation is done and when people make a £100+ commitment to us, they’re gonna come in and buy an Xbox 360, I want to make sure that there’s content for them.” He added that “not every game is going to go to 360, but I want to make sure the 360 has a healthy line-up of software from us and from third parties. And I think that’s important… not everyone bought an Xbox One at launch.”
But supporting two gaming platforms is only one of the challenges that Microsoft faces as it seeks supremacy in the console space, and Spencer is keenly aware of the threat posed by the company’s main rivals, Sony and Nintendo.
“It is competitive,” he said. “I want to win. I want to sell as many Xbox Ones as I possibly can. I know some people will buy all three consoles and some people will choose one console. And we’re going to win some customers this generation, and we’re going to lose some customers this generation.”
But as he also explained in the interview, Microsoft’s fight against its rivals will be won or lost not only on the strength of its games and content, but also in how it listens to its customers: “I’m gonna run Xbox connected to who our customers are and I want them to have a voice in how this product evolves.”
Source: Metro | images via Microsoft
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