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Phil Spencer suggests Halo Infinite is not critcal to XBSX launch

Rolla

Banned
“Our pre-orders sold within hours, and that’s true of the competition as well. There is a high demand for gaming consoles right now, and we’re both going to build as many as we can. So I think the possibility of Halo Infinite launching beside Xbox was more of a brand and heartfelt moment for us than it was critical to the launch.

The Xbox Series X/S launch line-up is also bolstered by extensive backward compatible support and Game Pass.

“I think this is going to be a console that launches with thousands of games because of back compat, and hundreds of games that you’re going to get to go play day one,” Spencer said. “I remember the days when no compatibility was there. Xbox One was one of these: It had Killer Instinct, Ryse, Lococycle, and a few third-party games. But I lost access to everything I was playing on 360 for the most part. I like this world better, which is more continual, and gives people a lot more things to play.”



Personally I disagree. A title (even if it's cross gen) that showcses and/or gives your target audience a taste of what's possible would have been better in terms of mindshare, hype, and momentum going into next gen. XBOX has the most powerful console and without software that showcases that advantage, feels like a missed opportunity to me.
 
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quickwhips

Member
If it sells out to the new year maybe. I guess it depends if the demand is high until halo maybe. I'm excited for medium when I can find one but my friend was upset about halo not launching. I said no big deal can't find a console anyway.
 
I mean the console sold out. He's right that it's better than before with choice but it's not a great look to control the narrative.
 

oldergamer

Member
This is old news. He also said this months back in a different interview. He's right though, Halo wasn't going to help push any units at launch. They will automatically sell out to the hardcore gamers. halo coming next year with a bigger install base will only help sales when they get through this period of limited supply.
 

Danny 117

Member
“Our pre-orders sold within hours, and that’s true of the competition as well. There is a high demand for gaming consoles right now, and we’re both going to build as many as we can. So I think the possibility of Halo Infinite launching beside Xbox was more of a brand and heartfelt moment for us than it was critical to the launch.

The Xbox Series X/S launch line-up is also bolstered by extensive backward compatible support and Game Pass.

“I think this is going to be a console that launches with thousands of games because of back compat, and hundreds of games that you’re going to get to go play day one,” Spencer said. “I remember the days when no compatibility was there. Xbox One was one of these: It had Killer Instinct, Ryse, Lococycle, and a few third-party games. But I lost access to everything I was playing on 360 for the most part. I like this world better, which is more continual, and gives people a lot more things to play.”



Personally I disagree. A title (even if it's cross gen) that showcses and/or gives your target audience a taste of what's possible would have been better in terms of mindshare, hype, and momentum going into next gen. XBOX has the most powerful console and without software that showcases that advantage, feels like a missed opportunity to me.
He's right that it hasn't hurt the launch. It was gonna sell out everywhere regardless.

However, the longer Xbox goes without a good new first party exclusive, the momentum/hype of the console will diminish.

They need Halo before the end of March '21 IMO.
 
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Tmack

Member
In the long run it will hurt xbox sales. The idea (and it doesnt matter if its true or not) that xbox has no games stuck with consumers and will be much harder to reverse that, all because they didnt planned to have a couple exclusive games on launch, even crap games.
 

whitesugar

Banned
It's TRUE in terms of launch sales you dont need anything as you will sell well anyway. It's also true that selling out at launch means next to nothing -the Wii U sold out in places and sold well over its first holiday period

As for BC, it's nice and all, but not exciting. I think the Series X will be a success, but its launch feels incredibly dull, and that was reflected in some of the reviews
 

MrFunSocks

Banned
In the long run it will hurt xbox sales. The idea (and it doesnt matter if its true or not) that xbox has no games stuck with consumers and will be much harder to reverse that, all because they didnt planned to have a couple exclusive games on launch, even crap games.
That idea is not stuck with consumers, it’s stuck with list war fanboys. Go look at the top 10 selling games on PlayStation every year. Exclusives barely rate a mention. Joe Public couldn’t care less, and doesn’t think Xbox has no games.
 

Moogle11

Banned
You miss his main point which was that both consoles will sell out irregardless this holiday. He wanted it now, but considering capacity it can't sell more than consoles they can make.

It's spin but not incorrect. Neither console will be available this year.

Yep. PS4 was hard to find for months and that was with a mediocre at best Killzone and Knack as the main first party games. Xbox One wasn’t easy to find for a bit either, and that was with a broke AF Master Chief collection as the main exclusive.

Fanboys, diehards gamers and scalpers will buy up launch window stock these days so launch lineups sent terribly important.

They really need it out Q1 or early Q2 when that momentum has slowed though. Sony will likely have Ratchet and Clank and maybe GT7 first half of the year per their ad, and Horizon later half to keep their momentum rolling.
 

GHG

Gold Member
I mean the console sold out. He's right that it's better than before with choice but it's not a great look to control the narrative.

I mean the console is sold out everywhere. How would having halo have helped it?

Is it?


I can also walk in to every electronics store here and pick one up.

Meanwhile you can't get a PS5 preorder anywhere and when they occasionally become available again because of more stock allocation it sells out again instantly. People are talking about spiderman of all games.
 
“Our pre-orders sold within hours, and that’s true of the competition as well. There is a high demand for gaming consoles right now, and we’re both going to build as many as we can. So I think the possibility of Halo Infinite launching beside Xbox was more of a brand and heartfelt moment for us than it was critical to the launch.

The Xbox Series X/S launch line-up is also bolstered by extensive backward compatible support and Game Pass.

“I think this is going to be a console that launches with thousands of games because of back compat, and hundreds of games that you’re going to get to go play day one,” Spencer said. “I remember the days when no compatibility was there. Xbox One was one of these: It had Killer Instinct, Ryse, Lococycle, and a few third-party games. But I lost access to everything I was playing on 360 for the most part. I like this world better, which is more continual, and gives people a lot more things to play.”



Personally I disagree. A title (even if it's cross gen) that showcses and/or gives your target audience a taste of what's possible would have been better in terms of mindshare, hype, and momentum going into next gen. XBOX has the most powerful console and without software that showcases that advantage, feels like a missed opportunity to me.

Better? Without a doubt! Critical? Nope, sold out pretty much everywhere. Friends in Portugal which is and we call jokingly a Sonyland country can't find a console when before they could just stroll by launch day and pick a console up as there would be more than enough for everyone. I wonder how much has to do with amount of consoles allocated, XSS price and Gamepass.
 
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Elias

Member
Is it?


I can also walk in to every electronics store here and pick one up.

Meanwhile you can't get a PS5 preorder anywhere and when they occasionally become available again because of more stock allocation it sells out again instantly. People are talking about spiderman of all games.
It's sold out in markets that are most important to MS, don't be dense.
 

Hendrick's

If only my penis was as big as my GamerScore!
They are sold out, so obviously not. Critical to year one though. Needs to be out by next November at the latest.
 

Three

Member
I said the exact same thing in another thread:

The thing is that they absolutely would have released it in that state but it actually makes sense for them to delay becuase they don't need to count on it. the next gen consoles sold out regardless and they get your gamepass money and a boost to subs regardless without releasing games. They can delay without a definite date and this date will more than likely be when Xbox is back in stock and no longer selling out or when they need a boost in gamepass subs at some point.


You're paying for gamepass regardless of games releasing or not and you will get breadcrumbs to keep you subscribed if it starts losing subscribers.
 
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Im sure he is right. However I would be concerned in investing in the platform especially at launch if they can’t get their biggest IP to consumers without delays and drama.

And yes I understand many titles get delayed. However their 1st party in general seems to more of a negative than a positive since the end of the 360 era.
 

Arkam

Member
I wonder how many pre-orders (on both sides) are just re-sellers with no profit in them for MS/PS. If the console sale does not equal a GP sub or game purchases it has little value.
 
Is it?


I can also walk in to every electronics store here and pick one up.

Meanwhile you can't get a PS5 preorder anywhere and when they occasionally become available again because of more stock allocation it sells out again instantly. People are talking about spiderman of all games.

I don't have a firm grasp on the UAE market but would Halo:I have helped it sell out?
 
I mean the console is sold out everywhere. How would having halo have helped it?

They should've made Halo Infinite glorious and launched alongside Series X.

Don't know what sales or moving units have to do with it.

Would it matter how much it sold if it was good and you got to play it.



Imo he should just say "we are working on it so it meets expectations", or something like that. This tomfoolery is disrespectful to early adopters.
 

Naked Lunch

Member
The only Halo that was ever ready for an Xbox launch was Halo 1.
Halo 3 came out two years after 360 launched.
Halo 5 came out two years after xb1 launched.

For me, the launch of a Halo is when I buy an xbox console.
 

Coolwhhip

Neophyte
They are really going all in on playing old games eh? It is critical for the launch and the momentum to have system sellers dear Phil.
 

MrFunSocks

Banned
They are really going all in on playing old games eh? It is critical for the launch and the momentum to have system sellers dear Phil.
Again - the system is sold out until next year. How exactly is having halo at launch critical? Could it have sold out more than selling out completely?
 

Evangelion Unit-01

Master Chief
Launch demand is always crazy. Consoles will sell out. Xbox also has a compelling offer with Game Pass. Long term it looks like they'll have some exclusives lined up but nothing for the next several months.

They don't necessarily need Halo Infinite but they do need first party titles. Halo hasn't been an integral part of the Xbox brand in nearly a decade. Halo 4 and 5 were both disappointing and while they sold moderately well they failed to capture and retain an audience.

Right now Halo isn't even a core part of the Xbox brand. With the Bethesda acquisition it is not even Microsoft's biggest FPS title.
 
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saintjules

Member
The demand for the Console is there regardless. imo, Halo wasn't required to be a system seller to move units, but it does damper the lineup for those big on FPS.

If games like Halo Infinite, Scorn and The Medium were out at launch, plus all the Gamepass titles (combined Optimized for Series X games), then there's something to truly illuminate the Series Consoles day one.

It is what it is. I got mine and am happy with it so far. PS5 tomorrow (hopefully if Walmart comes through).
 
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Dude is lying or is way too USA centric.

Because of "sold out in hours" is not true at all, it took over two weeks to be sold out at least in some European countries for both S and X, and maybe they are still available on some places?

Now it just sounds like he compares their sales into PS5 sales, which really sold out on global level in minutes/hours.

maybe console doesnt have to be sold out in 100% of the market area, but when it is sold out on their home country and sell slowly on other areas = He should be honest and stop that stupid twisting of words marketing talk.

If he would be a honest man, he would have said:

"our product sold out in hours in our main area, USA, but it took weeks on Europe to be sold out, so we didnt manage to sell as fast as our competitor, but still pretty well!"
 

Flintty

Member
He’s right. Yeah it’s disappointing but it wasn’t critical. Only OG Xbox shipped with a Halo game.

That said, 343, please hurry the fuck up and get it finished 😎
 

LordCBH

Member
I somewhat disagree. These consoles were going to sell out either way, but your most recognizable franchise coming out with that demo looking that flat and then copping a currently indefinite delay isn’t a great look, IMO. Launch sales aren’t the worry with it, but future sales would be.

I think it’ll keep selling out either way, but the critical nature of halo infinite can’t be really determined as of yet.
 
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PhaseJump

Banned
Phil Spencer could pull cash out of his pocket and throw it on the table to buy Falcom or Sega like they were pizza; and then it would seal the deal. I would "know" that I won't be living through the past 7 years all over again, waiting for Xbox to get it's shit together so I can play JRPGs.


Until then, I will hold off on upgrading to the SX, roll my eyes at everything Phil says, laugh at Major Nelson's awful Tetris skill level, and say "No Craig, No Buy."
 
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Kumomeme

Member
It’s true though. Console sold out super fast and for months in advance.
the more of reason why he must claim this since it might affect the sales momentum later. at the launch, he definitely didnt want the competitor look better while gaining positive momentum and i believe he actually aware of the situation that they didnt have any launch game while sony has game like spiderman and also demon souls later.

so nothing he can do instead of 'pretend' to be 'everything is fine'. cant blame him. it cant be helped.
 
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ReBurn

Gold Member
He's not wrong. If Halo were a requirement to sell Xbox consoles people wouldn't buy Xbox consoles until Halo releases. In my opinion Halo is overdone. But that's not relevant I guess.

It is disappointing that there aren't any new games from Microsoft first party, though.

Imagine if Jim Ryan had said that, the howls of how "arrogant Sony is back" would be everywhere.

Since he didn't say it what's the point in playing "what if?"
 
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Halo is not what it used to be, so I dont think it would have helped much, also considering the poor showcase.

We are not in 2007 anymore.
 
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