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 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.

Xbox Hardware Will Focus On Capabilities

Microsoft Has Excelled With Power And Performance

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 hardware that will offer the most optimal experience for their library of games.

Microsoft has recognized the importance of this element to console appeal, applying it to Xbox hardware. While the PlayStation 5 Pro may have taken the top spot, the Xbox Series X|S remains a powerful home console that's more than capable of running many of the most demanding titles with ease, while being a much more affordable option compared to Sony's most powerful hardware. In this respect, Xbox continues to excel, and Phil Spencer's assurance of Microsoft's commitment to hardware in the podcast means that its consoles will only improve in of capabilities.

Games Are The Main Appeal Of Consoles

The Lack Of Exclusives Is Hurting Xbox Series X|S's Success

While power and performance do hold some importance to a console's overall appeal, Microsoft's sole focus on this aspect of Xbox hardware has resulted in the company neglecting the most important factor in a console's success: the games. A console's capabilities pale in comparison to the appeal that game offerings provide, while exclusivity serves as the key to convincing players to choose one system over another. Microsoft's recent move away from console exclusivity in favor of power and performance has been detrimental to Xbox's hardware success compared to its competitors.

For example, while the Nintendo Switch may be far less powerful than the Xbox Series X, the hybrid has managed to build a huge library of titles from the company's most popular franchises, including Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. Meanwhile, the base PS5's similar capabilities to Xbox Series X has meant that both consoles share a wide range of hugely popular titles with similar performance. However, the PS5 is also home to some of the most critically-acclaimed titles of this console generation, from God of War: Ragnarök to 2024's GOTY, Astro Bot.

While not on the same scale as Xbox, certain PlayStation 5 titles have been ported to PC, including God of War: Ragnarök and Spider-Man 2.

The lack of exclusives has harmed Xbox Series X|S's potential success as it has made it harder to justify a purchase. Many players who choose Xbox will end up missing out on a wide array of games, while Microsoft fails to offer something distinct to make its console stand out. This is especially the case when considering the PS5's capabilities, allowing the console to play the same highly-demanding titles, making Microsoft's focus on power and performance less of a major selling point.

Microsoft is more than capable of crafting a stellar lineup of exclusive titles for Xbox. The company's multiple acquisitions of hugely popular and critically-acclaimed studios means that Microsoft is often providing some of the biggest games of each year. Making more of these titles exclusive to Xbox would be a huge boost to hardware success, yet Microsoft instead places focus on a less important aspect, affecting the appeal of Xbox as a console and contributing to the lackluster sales of Series X|S compared to PS5 and Switch.

Microsoft Will Only Continue Its Multi-Platform Strategy

It Calls Into Question The Need For Dedicated Xbox Systems

Microsoft is showing no signs of slowing down its multi-platform strategy, as the company continues to create as big an outreach as possible. The latest Xbox Developer Direct was proof of this, with South of Midnight being the only title in the presentation that is not planned for release on PS5. Meanwhile, Phil Spencer has also confirmed for the Switch 2, further increasing the outreach of Microsoft's games moving forward. This rapid expansion not only lessens the appeal of Xbox hardware, but it could also call into question Microsoft's place in the console market.

The multi-platform strategy is undeniably beneficial to players. The greater outreach means players will be able to experience some of the biggest and best titles without having to own a certain console, breaking down the barriers to entry that previously impacted them. It's abundantly clear that the "games first, not platform first" approach Phil Spencer mentioned during the Gamertag Radio podcast has been the driving force behind Microsoft's efforts over the past few years, further propelling Xbox's appeal as a widely available gaming service.

Players are likely to question the need for a dedicated system when Xbox is already everywhere.

However, this desire to make gaming more accessible makes the prospect of an Xbox console less of a necessity, even with its impressive power and performance. With Xbox being widely available through services like Game and Cloud Gaming, players are likely to question the need for a dedicated system when Xbox is already everywhere. Even the development of an Xbox handheld is difficult to justify when Cloud Gaming already fulfills its primary purpose, allowing players to access titles from almost anywhere they desire on a variety of devices.

With a number of systems already on the market, some of which are able to run the most demanding titles with ease, Xbox hardware could fall further into obscurity as it fails to stand out among the crowd. Even then, Microsoft remains committed to hardware, maintaining hope that its offerings will continue to thrive. If the company wants to maintain success with Xbox hardware, then a new approach must be taken to stand out among its competitors, rather than relying on capabilities alone.

Source: Danny Peña/YouTube