Microsoft announced the full specifications of Project Scorpio yesterday and it’s undoubtedly a huge leap ahead of any other console. While this means that owners will get the best-looking games at the highest possible resolution and frame rate, what about sales and developer support? Today, gamers got an answer to both of these questions due to statements made by Xbox’s Mike Ybarra and The NPD Group.
In an interview with Eurogamer, Mike Ybarra said the company is striving to “win developers back” after it lost support after the Xbox One reveal. Ybarra clarified:
“With Xbox 360 we had the absolute best platform for developers, with Xbox One we sort of lost that in a 2-year time frame, so we said how do we win the mindshare of those developers back? We want the best games running on our box and there are tools…to win the developers back. So that was a big priority for us as we approached this product.”
By allowing programmers to create the best versions of their games on Project Scorpio, Microsoft will make it the ideal place to develop. One of the reasons why PlayStation 4 is so popular is because it allows for this. Now that there’s a new incredibly powerful and easy-to-develop-for device, it’s understandable why Ybarra believes it will win over those who left.
The NPD Group is responsible for tracking sales in the United States and they believe that the launch of the console will push Xbox One sales over PlayStation 4 in the country. The group’s analyst, Mat Piscatella, said that excitement around Project Scorpio could enable the Xbox business to outsell PlayStation this year. Piscatella added:
“I remain bullish on the Scorpio in the United States market, particularly in the launch year. I think Scorpio has the potential to push Xbox One sales ahead of the PlayStation 4 in the United States in 2017. Adoption among the core gaming audience could be significant…while this is a niche audience to target, it’s the niche which is necessary to put the Scorpio on the path for longer term mass market adoption.”
Hopefully both of these predictions will come true because Microsoft needs to get back in the game. The Xbox One reveal and subsequent “resolutiongate” controversy caused a lot of damage to the brand. Project Scorpio needs to have an affordable price point and a name that distances itself from the Xbox One. The company has perfected the specifications and capabilities, now they need to focus on a public relations push by starting anew with the upcoming device.
