A Microsoft gaming veteran has questioned the company’s multiplatform games strategy, suggesting that the Xbox hardware business is effectively “dead”. Laura Fryer, a founding member of the Xbox team and former director of the Xbox Advanced Technology Group, made these comments in her latest YouTube video.
Fryer expressed concern over Microsoft’s shift towards a cross-platform approach, citing its recent partnerships with external hardware companies such as ROG and AMD. She believes that this strategy represents a “slow exit” from the gaming hardware business for Microsoft.
The ROG Xbox Ally, a portable PC that runs Windows, is a prime example of this trend. Fryer thinks it offers little attraction to consumers, who instead prefer buying into the Xbox ecosystem through Game Pass subscriptions. This approach may be part of why Microsoft recently raised the price of Outer Worlds 2, highlighting the value proposition of its service.
However, Fryer also acknowledges that Xbox has a deep portfolio and can continue to make money by releasing older games. She questions the long-term plan for new hits and what will make people care about the Xbox brand in 25 years.
Microsoft is committed to releasing a next-generation Xbox console, but it’s unclear how this will differ from future devices like the ROG Xbox Ally. The company’s president, Sarah Bond, emphasizes its vision of providing gamers with flexibility across multiple platforms.
Source: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/i-think-xbox-hardware-is-dead-says-microsoft-gaming-veteran