I am pretty sure they will stick to hardware for years. It is just important to have some hardware device of your own. They learnt that hard way (pun) with the whole Windows Phone situation. But I think starting the next generation the price will increase to be less of a loss leader.
Yeah, but increasing the hardware price on future devices to be profitable off the jump only makes sense if the value is there.
And that value...well...you already know, it can only be had by completely changing the business model. Preferably as one that synergizes with Windows and other device divisions better, taking all their strengths and shedding their respective weaknesses, streamlining everything.
But let's just say people like TimDog and Boomstick XL, or Hargeet Chani, would be very mad about that.
The medium says a lot about the message. If this was for a mainstream audience they wouldn’t use a podcast, this is intended for core gamers. I guess in their terms they’re aiming to reassure “the fans” (aka the loonies like Timdog) who might be upset about games going to other platforms. It also means the message is going to be a bit less dramatic than some people seem to think it’s going to be.
That doesn't make any sense. If it were true, why not just do the Developer Directs and Showcases as podcasts? Those are also heavily targeted at core gamers, and we see that content on places like IGN and Youtube before & after anyway.
My take is, if it's an audio-only podcast or a scripted video podcast, they want to mitigate spread of whatever news is delivered as much as possible from the onset. Less people will watch a podcast vs. an upfront Direct, Showcase or similar type of presentation, meaning less eyes initially to pick up on certain details and spread them out. This actually feels more like how they would handle an investors call with shareholders, if done for a public audience.
You don't think they give their shareholders fluff information do you?
you all been played 
A podcast 
