Gaming console on its way out: A key developer has formally announced the Xbox's retirement
Former Xbox executive Laura Fryer, a renowned figure in the video game industry, has stirred up controversy with her recent predictions about the future of Microsoft's gaming division. In a YouTube video posted on Sunday, Fryer expressed her concerns about the direction Microsoft is taking with its gaming strategy, especially following the announcement of the partnership with ASUS to create the ROG Xbox Ally handheld device.
Fryer believes that the ROG Xbox Ally, a Windows device, could signal a significant shift in Microsoft's approach to console hardware. She suggests that the company may be moving away from investing in its own console hardware and instead focusing on software and subscription services, such as Game Pass and Xbox Anywhere. This strategy, according to Fryer, is a departure from Xbox's earlier focus on exclusive hardware and games.
Fryer is not alone in her concerns. Industry observers have also questioned whether traditional console hardware will remain a priority for Microsoft, given the company's plans with AMD for future gaming devices and a new console after the Xbox Series X. However, Fryer goes a step further, predicting that the future of Xbox may be a slow exit from the hardware business.
One of Fryer's main criticisms is the chaotic and hard-to-predict Xbox strategy. She points out that Xbox no longer does exclusives due to Xbox Anywhere, a move that has left gamers questioning the value of owning an Xbox console. Fryer also highlights concerns about the confusion surrounding which games can be played on Game Pass and Xbox Anywhere, and the fact that the Standard Game Pass subscription tier for console does not include day-one releases, unlike the PC version.
Despite acknowledging the value of Game Pass, Fryer expresses disappointment at the potential abandonment of what made Xbox great in its early days. She suggests that Microsoft is "betting their entire business on Game Pass and leaving hardware innovation to their partners at Asus," a move that could lead to the death of traditional Xbox consoles from her perspective.
While Fryer does not mention any specific upcoming Xbox console in the article, her predictions have sparked debate within the gaming community. Some agree with her assessment, while others believe that Microsoft still has a role to play in the console market. Only time will tell whether Fryer's predictions will come to pass.
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- Fryer's concerns about Microsoft's gaming strategy extend to the potential shift in focus from console hardware towards software and subscription services, such as Game Pass and Xbox Anywhere, on a Windows device like the ROG Xbox Ally.
- The partnership with ASUS for the ROG Xbox Ally, a Windows device, could indicate a significant departure from Xbox's earlier focus on exclusive hardware and games.
- Industry observers, like Fryer, have raised questions about whether traditional console hardware will remain a priority for Microsoft, given plans with AMD for future gaming devices and a new console after the Xbox Series X.
- Fryer's criticisms include the chaotic and unpredictable Xbox strategy, such as the loss of Xbox exclusives due to Xbox Anywhere, the confusion surrounding which games can be played on Game Pass and Xbox Anywhere, and the fact that the Standard Game Pass subscription tier for console does not include day-one releases.
- Fryer's predictions about the future of Xbox, including the potential abandonment of hardware innovation, have sparked debate within the gaming community, with some agreeing and others disagreeing about Microsoft's role in the console market.
- The value of Game Pass is acknowledged by Fryer, but she expresses disappointment at the possibility of Microsoft "betting their entire business on Game Pass and leaving hardware innovation to their partners" like Asus, which may lead to the death of traditional Xbox consoles.
