Topic: Xbox finally has good news... is it too late?

[KaZudra]

First up Microsoft announces that Live Gold is no longer need for Netflix or other apps you already pay for, I find it funny because they shouldn't have done that in the first place (it was a major reason why I gave up on Xbox).

Second, Xbone will be released without Kinect, which, again, should have been done in the first place (in my opinion), the pricing will lead up to £350 or $400 (rounded).

Right now it seems microsoft is doing a ton of damage control over it's past decisions, Win8.1 being updated for desktop, Finally no longer double charging for netflix, Win8.1 phones becoming credible, and Xbone ditching it's glorified "way of the future" which nobody really wanted. To me it really brings the question, how threatened is their position? Are they really trying to turn a new leaf and give a damn? It's still amusing how hard they are trying to fix everything, maybe MS can win us over again like Sony did with the PS3, who knows?
but at least it is nice that Microsoft finally hired someone that is listening to customer feedback for a change...


what are you guys' thoughts on the matter?



http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/13/microsoft-drops-xbox-live-gold-hbo-go-netflix/
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/05/13/xbox-one-no-kinect/


EDIT: Corrected a statement

[X]

I have heard that Netflix is a big proponent of Net neutrality. So if they heard about all the s**t Microshaft is doing with the XBONE 180 then they probably told them to knock it off or they would pull out of whatever deal they had with them. This is only a guesstimate on my part.

[Kingshango]

Xbox 180 indeed.

Sunset Overdrive was the reason the Xbone had my curiosity. Now with a price drop and Kinect less sku and no more app's behind a paywall, the Xbone now has my attention.

[Flame]

FULL
DAMAGE
CONTROL

I'd say it's too late when they need to fucking drop the "Xbox-One-will-never-come-without-kinect" mandatory peripheral

[KaZudra]

Phil Spencer was appointed head of Xbox as of March. The man who appointed him was Satya Nadella; who was appointed on February as CEO. It now makes sense that Microsoft is doing so many improvements so recently, It's more amazing on how fast things are getting done. 2014 may be the year that modern Microsoft would start to be taken seriously, but time is to tell on that one....

[PFG9000]

Microsoft lost my support when they tried to make the Xbox One always-on and anti-rental.  Obviously they pissed off a lot of people, but I don't care if they withdrew those features - the damage is done.  The fact that they tried to pull that shit in the first place killed any desire I ever had to give them my money.  And it's a shame, because I would rather have gone with Xbox over PS4 and WiiU this generation, since that's what all my friends are playing.

[JR]

Microsoft lost my support when they tried to make the Xbox One always-on and anti-rental.  Obviously they pissed off a lot of people, but I don't care if they withdrew those features - the damage is done.  The fact that they tried to pull that shit in the first place killed any desire I ever had to give them my money. 

Exactly what I was thinking.

I really started to get weary of the Xbox brand a few years or so ago, after they hiked the price of Gold, added a crapload of ads, completely dropped the ball on Game Room (not 100% their fault, but I digress), not being able to remove a credit card number from their system without giving them a new one, etc. Add other little nitpicky things like their interface change and play-and-charge cables not working correctly after like 6 months or so, and it just became way more annoying than it should be to play video games.

I know Sony has their share of screw-ups too, but dear god, Microsoft takes the friggin' cake.

[X]

It must be a chocolate cake then. Even just a small slice will defeat you 

[Viskod]

Oh wow they finally did the obvious thing that everyone told them they were going to have to do and they kept insisting it was impossible for them to do.

I just remember that this time last year, around E3 Microsoft just couldn't stop talking about how the Kinect was super duper integral to the XB1 and just couldn't be used without it.