For all the talk of beautiful pixels and 4K rendering, the Scorpio’s E3 reveal, a lack of purpose-built software for the console seems like a case of wasted potential. Because in reality, if the messaging of its shared ecosystem is to be believed, the 2017 release date firm, and the specifications accurate, Scorpio is just a slightly better PS4 Pro, without PlayStation’s stellar lineup of games in 2017. It might actually be the most frustrating piece of hardware ever conceived; a veritable powerhouse, shackled by the conditions of its release.
At the root of this issue seems to be the timing of Scorpio’s release. History suggests it isn’t far enough after Xbox One’s 2013 launch for Microsoft to fully commit to offering exclusive content for a new console. But these are changing times, where iterative consoles have rewritten the rulebook, and if Microsoft wants the reward, it probably should be prepared to fully commit to the risk.
But maybe it actually is after all? Should we really trust Microsoft and Spencer’s suggestion that Scorpio, a console with six times the power of the base Xbox One, will forever continue to operate with a ball and chain tied to its leg? As I see it, the only way for Scorpio to actually wrestle momentum away from Sony is to have its full potential unleashed, to offer a gaming experience that Sony simply doesn’t have the power to compete with. Scorpio simply must transition into the next console generation. It has the power to do so and Microsoft has enough cause to draw the curtains on Xbox One, the question is whether it is willing to gamble and take a chance.
Ultimately, Microsoft might have been better holding off on Scorpio until 2018, marketing the console as an entirely new generation. It would have given Microsoft the sort impetus that Sony currently commands; the Japanese giant having already enjoyed a successful PS4 launch and had the head start with PS4 Pro’s earlier release. It would give Microsoft a chance to kick off the next generation, get ahead of the competition and hit the ball firmly into Sony’s court. I’m afraid that if the half-hearted approach to Scorpio’s release is continued with, Microsoft is allowing Sony time to lay its plans for PS5 and once again dictate the pace and set the trend.
But then again, I don’t actually believe Microsoft will continue with this charade for much longer, anyway. Sure, it needs to stay consumer-savvy to appease current Xbox One owners and give this current generation a final push, but then it has to use Scorpio to pave the way for a full generational leap. A soft launch, if you will, to establish momentum before rolling out quality exclusive content that unleashes Scorpio’s full power that keeps it snowballing.
