For Better or Worse, MS is Listening

This past week at E3 Microsoft announced the existence of a new Xbox console that is currently in development.  This console, tentatively named "Project Scorpio", was touted by Xbox head Phil Spencer as being the most powerful home console ever created.  Many people were surprised and pleased by this news.  The idea of having a more powerful option and a console that rivals midgrade gaming PCs was appealing to some.  Other people though expressed concerns.  Even after Spencer's declaration that "no one gets left behind" and that all games and accessories would be backward and forward compatible many were still nervous and still uncertain.  This is completely understandable given how corporations tend to do business.  But one thing is definitely certain.  The existence of Project Scorpio proves that if nothing else, MS is still listening to it's customers.

The Xbox One was arguably one of the worst launches in home gaming console history.  It was plagued with poor messaging and poor marketing and it almost seemed as if MS was determined to ignore the will and desire of it's customer base.  It's actually surprising that a little over two years later MS has sold over 20+ million Xbox Ones given the terrible launch.  Still, they trail 2 to 1 behind Sony's PlayStation 4 in terms of global sales.  Fortunately for Xbox fans though, someone in MS had the good sense to put Phil Spencer in charge of the Xbox brand.  That move has proven to be the best move they could've made this gen and since then Xbox has been listening to their customers intently.

Since Spencer has taken charge just about everything fans have asked for has been addressed.  Fans wanted Kinect unbundled.  That happened.  Fans wanted the Xbox One to be affordable.  That happened.  Fans wanted backwards compatibility.  That happened.  Fans wanted a more streamlined UI.  That happened.  The Xbox One you are playing today is almost unrecognizable from the Xbox One that launched just two and a half years ago.  That's a good thing.  With a consistent flow of updates there isn't a single aspect of the Xbox One that hasn't improved since launch.  From small things like social, gaming, and broadcasting improvements to  larger more significant things like hardware and software improvements, Xbox is responding to their fans in a major way.

Now I have no doubts many of these great updates have been motivated by trailing their rival in sales.  This is still a business and businesses compete.  That said, when businesses compete customers win and Xbox customers are winning.

Which brings us full circle back to Project Scorpio.  While many of the differences between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have been negligible or slight, there IS a difference.  Many multiplatform games simply perform a bit better on Sony's console which has given many the impression that Xbox One is underpowered.  MS has listened here too and in 2017 Xbox gamers will have the option to purchase a console that, if what we're told is to believed, will be the most powerful home console to date.  No longer will Xbox be the "weaker" console. 

Now the only question is "Will this ultimately be a good thing"?  To be honest I don't know.  I know we've all been spoiled by the near decade long run of Xbox 360.  Still, it just seems so soon to be talking about another console, even if it's not going to show up before holiday 2017.  I will say this though.  We as gamers need to be sure of what we want.  Because for better or for worse, MS is listening and they are acting on the feedback they get.  That much is certain. 

Thanks for reading.

-Poppa Doc