Yusuf Mehdi, who you might recall from the Xbox One reveal event and last week’s Xbox Media Briefing at E3, has spoken to a Spanish newspaper. It’s a little tricky to be sure of what he’s saying, but Google Translate does a good enough job to catch the gist and a user on NeoGAF has smoothed out the most pertinent points even further.
Basically, though, Mehdi seems to concede that Sony “won” E3 (for whatever that means). He’s not giving up the war though, adamant that “in the long run, our console will win.”
When pressed on whether the restrictive 24-hour check in was a little excessive, Mehdi insisted that it wasn’t. “It is a mere connection to check who the user is and what is in your account. It doesn´t require a powerful connection. Just use a mobile for the check.” That statement seems to assume that you have a data-connected mobile (and ignores the list of countries that aren’t supported by the console at all).
It’s odd to see Microsoft representatives repeatedly make statements that seem aloof or uncaring while most of their critical reception has been scathing. Mehdi’s claim that they showed 20 games and 17 of them were Xbox One console exclusives doesn’t exactly leap out as a fair representation, either. Even writing off the ones that are also coming to PC and/or Xbox 360, that number seems high.
They’re probably counting Minecraft Xbox One Edition but I’m still struggling to think of more than a handful of exclusives and I was in the room when they showed them. So, either they’ve made that number up or there’s a dozen console exclusives that have simply passed by me, despite being involved in the industry and at the Media Briefing. That’s a problem, either way, isn’t it?
Mehdi makes a valid point though, next generation will be decided by the consumers. By the way, did you see that CVG Poll this morning that said 71 per cent of their readers were getting a PS4, in comparison to 14 per cent getting an Xbox One (5 per cent said both). Consumers, eh?
yogh_wayne
This is the second time a MS exec says it’s sufficient to just connect a mobile for the daily control check. And here I thought the whole point of the online requirement was to ensure developers that every player has an internet connection and thus facilitate all those “experiences only possible with the cloud” (as we heard countless times during their E3 show). No? Oh, it’s really just for the DRM then.
Voolar
I think it’s the MS party line at the moment. It raises questions though. Is there a set time for the Auth Check? Can you manually kick off an Auth Check? I wouldn’t want to set up a permanent Teather on my phone…
Eldave0
Depends what he means by “win”.
If he means “produce the best console”, sorry Yusuf, I’m getting the X1 over the PS4 and even I know that probably won’t be the case.
If however he means “sell the most”, while COD and Fifa continue to be available on Xbox, yup, I would have to agree with that statement.
yiddo
Really? PS3 outsold the Xbox 360 yet that had a massive headstart at the beginning. The PS3 was expensive, and a year late. Now everything is in Sony’s favour and you think they will sell less? Personally I think Sony will wipe the floor with the One regarding sales this upcoming gen.
I’m no analyst (probably better than Pach though :P) but that’s what I see happening, personally.
Eldave0
I can follow that logic, but many see Xbox as the “go-to” console for games like Fifa and COD; games which sell brilliantly each year. As a result I can see the X1 shifting plenty of units – at my local GAME store, the X1 is currently outselling the PS4 in terms of pre-orders at a ratio of roughly 3:1.
Assuming Sony aren’t just saying all of this PR stuff at the moment to look good (I truly believe the PS4 will be just as bad in a couple of years – they’re a failing business in need of money), then obviously they deserve to outsell the X1. Only time will tell if that is the case I guess.
yiddo
On Neogaf there’s a thread detailing the pre order charts on Amazon.com, .co.uk, Best Buy, Gamestop and ShopTo (a few other places as well). PS4 is outselling the Xbox One on all of them, and in some cases, 8 PS4 items have been in the top 10 whereas only one Xbox One item has. On all of these sites too, the PS4 version of COD and FIFA is outselling the Xbox One version – by quite a few positions on the charts.
I am adamant that Sony will wipe the floor with MS regarding sales.
hazelam
can’t fault his confidence.
his sanity maybe, but not his confidence. ^_^
seriously though.
it’s getting to be less and less odd seeing ms representatives making statements that seem aloof or uncaring.
right now i’d say that’s exactly what people expect.
and these comments aren’t gonna change peoples minds about how out of touch ms are.
SleazyC69
So as well as controlling your cable box it can also turn up Hell’s freezer. Impressive. I’ll stick to the GAMING company in the meantime :-)
FluBBa
Yeah, he’s an optimist alright.
– “We think you can go broader than a game console, that’s our aim, and you can go from 400 million to potentially upwards of a billion units”
(about all next gen console though).
http://www.oxm.co.uk/54712/microsoft-aiming-for-100-million-xbox-360s-sold-and-one-billion-next-gen-consoles/
Tuffcub
Just on Xbox Juan: Project Spark, Sunset Overdrive, Killer Instint, Dead Rising 3 and thats it I think.
Certainly not 17.
JR.
Juan! We must keep this going.
ron_mcphatty
Definitely, it’s even better than XBox Terry Bull! Good work TC. And good counting.
hazelam
what about that Quantum thingy? the full name of which escapes me at the moment.
yiddo
You’re missing a few like Quantum Break, Ryse and Halo 5.
But yeah, I’m sure there’s not 17.
Amphlett
I’ll take a punt here and say that our PR friend is actually referring to exclusive Xbone games and DLC packages. That’s the only way he could have gotten that high number.
Eldave0
Quantum Break, Forza 5, Halo, Ryse.
Eldave0
Below, Kinect Sports.
gazzagb
In the long run, I can just see it getting worse. Vita has had poor sales and as a result, there aren’t many 3rd party Devs working on the console, and the same thing might happen with the One, or although not as drastically.
Also, Amazon did a poll too on facebook, and it was even more of a landslide with 94% in favour of the PS4 or something.
JR.
”Juan console to rule them all”.
Said Yusuf Mehdi and nobody else.
hazelam
followed by “there can be only Juan”
^_^
Dar-Kaus
fiddling while Rome burns.
wonkey-willy
douchebag!