- Former Blizzard CEO says that Xbox needs to figure out what to change and to do it fast.
- He says that they should ditch the hardware strategy and instead focus on becoming the largest entertainment publisher.
- Fans also debate whether to buy future Xbox consoles now that exclusivity is dead.
Recent times have been confusing for the Xbox fandom, especially with the gaming giant’s publisher route. As such, fans have been questioning why Xbox would still make consoles if the exclusivity selling point is now diminished.
Former Blizzard CEO has also stepped into the conversation to share his opinions. According to him, Xbox is confused about its identity, and it should focus on becoming the world’s largest entertainment publisher, ditching console strategy entirely.
Why it matters: Recent acquisitions by Xbox over the past five years have made it one of the largest entertainment brands ever. Completely going down the publisher route, akin to SEGA, would certainly guarantee unprecedented success for the gaming giant.
Mike Ybarra recently took to social media to express his disappointment over Xbox, saying that they need to figure out what to change and do it fast. Further in the thread, replying to a fan, he said that Xbox should embrace the publisher route and not be afraid of what to say.
In another reply to a fan, he said that from his perspective, he no longer sees Xbox as a console manufacturer, and that “straddling the fence is not a winning plan.”
Ybarra’s words do make sense, especially when Xbox is evolving itself as a gaming brand beyond a publisher, with collaborations amongst third-party manufacturers. As such, first-party hardware doesn’t make sense.
Reports also suggest that the next-gen Xbox will be a PC, and the way they’re merging the Xbox and Windows ecosystem, fans are raising the question of whether they should even buy a first-party Xbox device.
An Xbox founding team member also seems to share the same opinion. According to her, the gaming giant’s hardware is dead, and there’s no reason why gamers would buy their new ROG Ally handheld.
What are your thoughts on Mike Ybarra’s take? Please let us know in the comments below or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Staff Writer]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheerzahid03@gmail.com
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