Microsoft: People More Satisfied With Xbox 360 Than PS3

[Alex Co]

Microsoft: People More Satisfied With Xbox 360 Than PS3

Microsoft Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Yusuf Mehdi explains why the PS4 has outsold the Xbox One so far, and also claims that Xbox 360 users have "less need" to upgrade to next-gen since they're more satisfied with the Xbox 360 than the PS3.

Quick show of hands, who among you bought both a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 before the current-gen (PS4 and Xbox One) started? Were you more satisfied with the Xbox 360 than the PS3? Apparently, people with an Xbox 360 are more satisfied with their purchase than those who bought a PS3 -- at least according to Microsoft Marketing and Strategy Officer Yusuf Medhi. Speaking to Forbes regarding the Xbox One's recent Kinect-less SKU, [http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2014/05/13/microsofts-yusuf-mehdi-explains-the-xbox-ones-split-with-kinect-2/] Medhi was asked about the PS4's sales gap over the Xbox One, and if the exec thinks this can be attributed to the PS4 costing less. Medhi claims it's mostly due to the PS4 being more available worldwide, and because Xbox 360 users are more satisfied with their consoles, so they feel less of a need to upgrade.


It's hard to really assess the gap in sales. They're in many more markets right now than we are. They're in 40+ markets, we're in 13. People have been more satisfied with the Xbox 360 than the PS3, so in that respect people have less of a need to upgrade in the short term due to regular updates for the Xbox 360. We could point to any number of things. That said, we've heard from a lot of our Xbox fans who say, "Hey look, I want an Xbox One, but at $499, I probably have to wait a little while before I can afford to get one." I do think we're going to get people now who move over, and then buy the Kinect later. So I do think the [price point] broadens the appeal and hopefully brings more people to Xbox One sooner.

Elsewhere in the interview, Medhi was also asked what he thought of Kinect moving forward, and whether it lived up to its potential.

The way I look at it is that you should take a five year vision. I think in five years, we will laugh at any computing device you can't walk up to and talk to. Voice is going to be there for all devices. We're a pioneer with Kinect in the living room. And it's not just voice, and it's voice and biometric ID. The ability to pioneer that, and with the success we've had so far with five million people, it's remarkable. We feel great about it. And look, we're going to learn a lot, and our partners are going to learn a lot, and our customers are going to learn a lot, and we're going to continue to shape it. But I think we're breaking a lot of new ground and we're delighted with the progress.

In related Xbox One news, just the other day, Medhi don't expect any freebies from Microsoft for being a loyal customer anytime soon. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/134509-Xbox-One-Could-Be-More-Powerful-Without-Kinect]

For those who own both a PS3 and Xbox 360, which console are you more satisfied with? And do you agree with Medhi's explanation that the reason the PS4 is outselling the Xbox One is due to it being released in more markets?

Source: Forbes [http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2014/05/13/microsofts-yusuf-mehdi-explains-the-xbox-ones-split-with-kinect-2/]

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[Worgen]

Wow, that guy needs a raise for being able to spin 'not selling as much' like that.

 

[Nooners]

"And I assure everyone in attendance that I can present this objectively without any sense of bias at all."

 

[dumbseizure]

Oh yes microsoft, you were a "pioneer" with the kinect! But oh the world was not ready for such an advanced step into the future!.

That, or people just did not give the slightest fuck about kinect and what it offers.

So the real question is, if people find what the kinect offers (motion control etc) useless or not worth it, are you really pioneers?

Also citation needed for the whole "people are more satisfied with xbox 360 than ps3" please, otherwise you are just talking out of your ass.

 

[Mr Fixit]

Sure.... whatever helps you sleep at night.

Anyway I really don't have any console loyalty, I own a 360 & have been mostly happy with it, but I'd buy a PS2 before I bought an xbone. I might pick up one of the kinectless ones in a couple of years if they ever get some games on the thing, but I'll buy a PS4 first.

 

[Jumwa]

That guy is a Grade A bullshit weaver. He takes the stuff and crafts it into majestic nonsense. Well done, bravo.

The way Microsoft twists logic and contradicts itself to make the Xboner sound better is a sight to behold.

 

[William Fleming]

"And I assure everyone in attendance that I can present this objectively without any sense of bias at all."

Pretty much what I was about to say there. He's apparently just saying this to appease Microsoft's stockholder's (who all apparently view the Xbox division as a money sink).

 

[PunkRex]

So he points out that the PS4 is cheaper and handles itself better as it hasn't got the Kinect leeching off of it then goes onto say it's down to the fact the 360 was better?

The 360!?

ARE YOU MAD!? I'll admit my Elite has stood up to the test of time but both my brother and two of my friends had to trade theirs in for new ones, one of my mates had to do it twice in a month!!!

 

[CriticalMiss]

I think in five years, we will laugh at any computing device you can't walk up to and talk to

Like calculators? Yeah, fuck calculators and their stupid, affordable and easy to use buttons. Only a caveman would want to use buttons.

 

[infohippie]

What is wrong with these marketing dickholes? "Voice is going to be there for all devices"? Fuck off. I feel like an absolute tool when I am FORCED to talk to a machine. You can take away my keyboard when you prise it from my cold, dead hands.

As for the PS4 selling better, that is largely due to the fact that Sony didn't come across as some evilly cackling monster just itching to slap a microtransaction fee on every five seconds of game time. Maybe they are that in secret, but at least they didn't publicly announce it on stage. On top of that, the PS4 at least will have weird, fascinating Japanese games that sadly never make it to PC, just like the consoles before it, whereas the Xbone will as usual have shooter after shooter after goddamn shooter.

 

[RJ 17]

Like the above nine posts, I agree that it's plainly obvious that this guy is talking a bunch of bullshit, but then again that's part of his job. What, did you really expect him to come right out and say "Why do I think the PS4 is doing better than the XBox One? Well obviously it's because we absolutely shat our pants with this ill-conceived idea. We originally wanted to make a console that gave almost all the power to game developers while absolutely railing the consumer's rights. People saw through our plots and didn't believe Don Mattrick's attempt to spin the details and facts. *chuckles* Poor Don, but then again you really shouldn't expect to do that well with sales when you out-right insult the intelligence of your target market like he did. No, the XBox One was our Icarus Wings...we tried to use it to elevate our profit margins but we flew too close to the sun and now we're falling...fast. That's why we've had to pull back on all the "features" that the market didn't like. DRM, no disc-drive, cloud storage, and now finally we've had to cave in and get rid of the Kinect. *chuckles again* But good lord, can you imagine what it would have been like if we DIDN'T get rid of all that stuff? Hoo-boy! We'd be getting outsold by the WiiU!"

He's not going to come out and say that because that would be the honest answer to the question and basically acknowledge that Microsoft fucked up big time with the XBox One. So rather than coming out and saying "The company I work for is an absolute failure" he has to make up some BS excuse to try and play it off.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

What?

So people bought the PS4 because they weren't satisfied with their PS3? But wouldn't that make them more likely to abandon the PlayStation and go for the Xbox?

It's been less than a year. We still remember the backlash when the Xbone was announced. WE KNOW why it sold less. WE EXPECTED it to sell less. It's not a surprise. It's never been a surprise. It's a shitty piece of hardware from a company that tried to screw over its customers.

 

[erbkaiser]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Okay, I have to admit, the PR bullshit coming from Microsoft is really inventive.

Maybe if the PS4 were backwards compatible, they could theoretically have a point, but who in their right mind, "disappointed" with the PS3, would "upgrade" to another Sony product losing the ability all their games?

Wouldn't this theoretical "unsatisfied" customer rather go to the competition instead?

I'm a happy PS3 owner, 4+ years now, and bought a PS4 not because I am "unhappy" with my PS3, but rather because I am happy with it, and was willing to give the next gen product by Sony a try as well.

If anyone appears to be disappointed, it is early Xbone adopters. They had to pay $100 more just to get a crappy add-on that Microsoft is now dumping themselves, and the console is about 30% less powerful than the PS4, which shows in many cross-platform titles.

 

[josemlopes]

I dont regret my 360 at all but the last few years have certainly been lacking when comparing to the PS3.

The start however was great for the 360, voice communication was the default (none of my friends that own a PS3 have ever played with a microphone) and the games were great with a lot of online interactivity (friends, parties, etc...)

Some may not have liked how Xbox Live was but overall it was a fun experience especially when with a nice group of people (it wasnt rare at all). The party chat that was added a bit later was also a great feature that made groups of friends tighter and silenced a lot of the trash talk.

So yeah, Sony did good by picking up the pace and Microsoft really needs to step up their game.

 

[Gorrath]

I think in five years, we will laugh at any computing device you can't walk up to and talk to

Like calculators? Yeah, fuck calculators and their stupid, affordable and easy to use buttons. Only a caveman would want to use buttons.

Pffft, calculators? In the future, computers will solve whatever equation I need them to just by me thinking about it. Buttons are for old people who still use their limbs for stuff. Get with the times, grandma!

OT: I join in the chorus of those commending this guy's grade-A level of bullshit. How you spin "we're getting hammered by the competition" into, "but it's because our products are better!" takes some serious nonsense.

 

[Darth Sea Bass]

Sure that's why when I can afford one I'm gonna get a PS4!

Microsoft I hate to tell you but only asshats stay blindly loyal to a corporation that has done absolutely nothing to earn it.

 

[BrotherRool]

"I think the reason people laugh in my face whenever I talk is because everyone else is so unfunny"

I mean spin will be spin, but you do also want your audience to believe that you can count to five without getting lost.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

Less satisfied? I'm thankful every day that I bought a ps3 over an Xbox and saved myself years of Xbox live fees just play one online game a year and use streaming video services. Not to mention the exclusives, the fact that I have yet to replace my 7 year old fat ps3 whereas every Xbox owner I know has owned at least 2, and I was able to take an unused 500gb hard disk out of my laptop and put in my ps3 rather than buy a marked up proprietary M$ hard disk

I think in five years, we will laugh at any computing device you can't walk up to and talk to

Like calculators? Yeah, fuck calculators and their stupid, affordable and easy to use buttons. Only a caveman would want to use buttons.

Pretty much what I was thinking. Some people in the tech industry have complete tunnel vision as to what's going to take off. See wearable laptops as opposed to smart phones. Talking to a computer isn't easier than pressing buttons most of the time. Nor do many people like talking themselves

 

[Something Amyss]

Like calculators? Yeah, fuck calculators and their stupid, affordable and easy to use buttons. Only a caveman would want to use buttons.

I can't even get my phone to recognise my girlfriend's name when I try and voice dial, and Microsoft thinks I'm going to want that on my computer?

Cue buzzer sound.

It's been less than a year. We still remember the backlash when the Xbone was announced. WE KNOW why it sold less. WE EXPECTED it to sell less. It's not a surprise. It's never been a surprise. It's a shitty piece of hardware from a company that tried to screw over its customers.

You ever watch The Daily Show?

You know how politicians will say something, and Jon will roll footage of them saying contradictory things, often recent contradictory things?

This feels like one of those situations. Except Microsoft isn't a single person, but....

I dont regret my 360 at all but the last few years have certainly been lacking when comparing to the PS3.

The start however was great for the 360, voice communication was the default (none of my friends that own a PS3 have ever played with a microphone) and the games were great with a lot of online interactivity (friends, parties, etc...)

Some may not have liked how Xbox Live was but overall it was a fun experience especially when with a nice group of people (it wasnt rare at all). The party chat that was added a bit later was also a great feature that made groups of friends tighter and silenced a lot of the trash talk.

So yeah, Sony did good by picking up the pace and Microsoft really needs to step up their game.

It still annoys me that you don't have standard voice chat and the like on the PS3, but yeah. I've been playing the PS3 more and more over the last couple of years. Microsoft got complacent.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

For those who own both a PS3 and Xbox 360, which console are you more satisfied with? And do you agree with Medhi's explanation that the reason the PS4 is outselling the Xbox One is due to it being released in more markets?

I owned both, I like my jrpgs and for a little while the 360 delivered wonderfully on those (Lost Odyssey, Tales of Vesparia), but those were very few and far between and the rest of the time, the thing gathered dust. The PS3 got the more millage in my family, we had Uncharted, which I enjoyed playing and my family enjoyed watching, the internet was free, Netflix didn't cost extra, I had a backward compatible version, which meant I could play most of my PS2 library and it doubled as a bluray player. Near the end of it's lifetime, the jrpg offerings really picked up with Ni No Kuni and Tales of Xillia, then there was also Journey.

My brother fell on some hard times and had to move back in with us, before he moved in, he loved the 360. During the time he lived with us, he used the PS3 since I had many many more games for that system, when he got back on his feet, he bought a PS3 and never looked back.

When my PS3 finally kicked the bucket a few months ago, I bought another one and I'm still using it because it still has things to offer. If my 360 dies, I can't say I'll do the same.

So no I don't agree, if anything the lack of backward compatibility in the PS4 is hurting the chance of me upgrading. I can't play my old games, so I need to wait for a suitable library before I think about spending that kind of money. I'm not going to buy the XBox One because I have almost no interest in the games they currently have on it, systems are notoriously buggy early in their lifespans, and Microsoft has done absolutely nothing to inspire confidence that I'll be getting a good product. I don't want any part of their delusional vision for the future they keep trying to make excuses for and ram down our throats (while at the same time backpedaling at every turn, but never actually admitting they were wrong).

As for which game consoles got an upgrade out of me first? I bought a PC and a 3DS.