Should Microsoft Be Worried by Sony and Nintendo This Year?

Games

Competition is what keeps the games industry going. Over the years, Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have all gained different footholds within it, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. With each publisher now having a shiny new (or new-ish) console to flaunt by the end of 2017, there’s going to be a lot of choices for consumers moving forward. Microsoft definitely has a chance to make 2017 a huge year, and some exciting things on the horizon.

It goes without saying that Microsoft hasn’t exactly started off 2017 strong. For them, January was pretty much enveloped in the news that they had decided to cancel Platinum Games’ Scalebound, a title that they’d been hyping up for years and even showed off at E3 2016. Since then, the Xbox publisher has been on damage control, explaining the situation to the best of their ability. The issue has only been compounded by the rather sparse lineup the company currently has for the rest of the year.

The only Xbox exclusive for the year that has a tangible release date is Creative Assembly’s Halo Wars 2, due out in late February. Everything else that Microsoft has planned that we’re aware of–Crackdown 3, Sea of Thieves, and Phantom Dust Remastered–has either a vague release date (PDR is said to come out “before” this year’s E3), or just straight up no release date. There’s likely Xbox exclusive games in the works, such as another Forza, along with a new season of Killer Instinct, but the expectations as is are more than a little muted. Hopefully, at least by E3, we can expect some big announcements.

2017 also marks the ten-year anniversary for both Crackdown and Halo 3, two games that helped define the Xbox 360 in their own special ways. Exactly what Microsoft has planned to celebrate the birthdays of each game is unclear, beyond possibly making Crackdown and its sequel backwards compatible. Halo 3’s celebration is going to be interesting, given that the game was granted an HD facelift with the Master Chief Collection in 2014, which didn’t exactly go 343’s way in regards to multiplayer. Time will tell on how Microsoft celebrates these two revered titles, or what other surprises they have in store for 2017.

Hardware

By the end of 2017, each of the Big Trio will have a new system out on store shelves. Sony kicked things off last October with the PSVR and the PS4 Pro, offering 4K support and improved performance, among other features. In a little under a month, Nintendo will be releasing the Switch, their new horse in the console race. Instead of a wholly new system, Microsoft’s taking a page from Sony’s playbook, and their planned big ticket this year is the Scorpio.

Much like how the Pro was intended to be a side console as opposed to a wholly new generation, will have native 4K support and continue to support backwards compatible games on the 360. Microsoft has been scarce on details regarding the system’s specs or price point, only promising the most powerful console on the market, and that it won’t be priced something crazy. We’ve also heard one developer calling the system “A full blown next-gen machine that’s just backwards-compatible to your current library.”

Being the last of the Big Three to put their console out gives Microsoft a slight advantage. They can learn from the mistakes that Sony and Nintendo made in regards to messaging and marketing, and put them to better use towards the Scorpio when it releases in the holidays. If applied correctly alongside a reasonable price, they can make the Scorpio a juggernaut later this year.

Timing

On the other hand, with so little that we know about on the horizon, Microsoft’s timing with their new game lineup and hardware is going to be key. If the Scorpio does indeed launch at the end of 2017, the PS4 Pro will have already been out a whole year, giving players plenty of time to jump onboard 4K and HDR gaming with Sony. At PlayStation Experience in December, Sony head Shuhei Yoshida even indicated the demand for the system was higher than expected.

On top of this, the Xbox One S will also have been out for a year, featuring HDR gaming and 4K streaming capabilities. Because of this, Microsoft really needs to bill the Scorpio as something new and exciting, and not the same thing you can get with the PS4 Pro.

The timing is a bit worrisome for the new system, especially as we don’t really know specifics about the console.  It may seem a little daunting to already have a powerhouse machine on the way, especially with a torrent of third-party titles hitting the current system. People may need to start saving up soon for the Scorpio, depending on how pricey it is, which means it’d be helpful to get a firmer release window and price soon.

Nintendo Switch is right around the corner, with a host of stellar looking first-party titles on the way. For some, the decision may come down to buying either the Switch or the Scorpio this year. Initial reports indicate that pre-orders are looking strong for the Switch, something Microsoft should definitely be wary of.  Because of this, it’s incredibly important that Microsoft gives us more details on its system in the near future, giving players a reason to start saving and skip out on a different console purchase.

The timing of everything is only compounded by the sparse lineup of software we have for the Xbox right now. PS4 gets two big exclusives in February with Nioh and Horizon Zero Dawn. Luckily, Xbox has Halo Wars 2 to compete on that front, but we don’t know when to expect anything else.

Sony has NieR Automata, Persona 5, the Crash Bandicoot: N’Sane Trilogy, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Ni No Kuni II, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and more all confirmed for either a specific release date or window in 2017. Microsoft will want to have some big titles to talk about throughout the year, and keep driving their exclusivity perks to give consumers a reason to pick Xbox over the competition. Luckily, we have at least heard confirmation from Phil Spencer that work on both Phantom Dust and Crackdown 3 is moving along.

2017 has a lot of potential to be a great year for Microsoft, something they can capitalize on with impressive new hardware and a diverse lineup of games. Right now, we just don’t have enough information on what to expect from the company for the rest of the year. With Sony and Nintendo both making some big moves, it’s time for Microsoft to show their hand.