A Look Back and Forward: The Ins and Outs of Xbox One’s Launch and the Future of Xbox.
Nov 25, 2023
Mike Sampson and Mr. Amazing
Let's turn back the clock and revisit the launch of Xbox One - a launch that was far from smooth, filled with miscommunication, a steep price point, and fierce competition from PS4. Does the term "epic fail" ring a bell? That's right, Mike Samspon and I, Mr Amazing, are about to embark on a no-holds-barred assessment of this decade-old console. We'll share our thoughts on its unique features, compare it to the PS4, and even throw in a hilarious anecdote about a PS3 that changed hands between us.
Now, fast forward to the present day, as we scrutinize the Xbox's current standing in the gaming industry. Remember the recent Xbox live show and its lack of memorable games? We'll discuss that, plus we'll debate the potential of upcoming titles like Starfield. But it's not all doom and gloom - we see some glimmers of hope for Xbox. Despite concerns about the work culture within Xbox's studios, we believe in a promising 2024 for Xbox.
Let's turn back the clock and revisit the launch of Xbox One - a launch that was far from smooth, filled with miscommunication, a steep price point, and fierce competition from PS4. Does the term "epic fail" ring a bell? That's right, Mike Samspon and I, Mr Amazing, are about to embark on a no-holds-barred assessment of this decade-old console. We'll share our thoughts on its unique features, compare it to the PS4, and even throw in a hilarious anecdote about a PS3 that changed hands between us.
Now, fast forward to the present day, as we scrutinize the Xbox's current standing in the gaming industry. Remember the recent Xbox live show and its lack of memorable games? We'll discuss that, plus we'll debate the potential of upcoming titles like Starfield. But it's not all doom and gloom - we see some glimmers of hope for Xbox. Despite concerns about the work culture within Xbox's studios, we believe in a promising 2024 for Xbox.
Speaker 1:
Let's do this. Welcome everybody to another episode of the Game of Trafford show. I'm your host, mike Sassler, chillin' in my co-house, slippin' in my door today. Hey, buddy, good up. Mr Amazing, a change. Game of trafford show. These are one main topic show, our main topic show. Mr Amazing, what? The Xbox One? Yep, it's 10 years old as of November. Mr Amazing, I know you got a lot of positive things to say about the Xbox One launch which launched in November 2013. After a successful 360, mr Amazing, unfortunately, the Xbox One did not see the same success as the Xbox 360. I think under well, very, very, very woo big time under reform. I think it didn't reach over 50,000, well, sorry, 52,000,. How did we show 50,000 console sold?
Speaker 2:
50,000 console sold. That's on the street. You did it for real. Yeah, oh wow, damn, that's horrible, that's very horrible I mean, like you stated, that's about one launch in November 20th to 2013, following the success of the 360. It did bring in some innovative features like the voice command. That was a very good thing. I was wondering if that.
Speaker 1:
How long to use that?
Speaker 2:
I mean it wasn't used often, but it was innovative. And it was something that they brought to it and I guess. But the problem with Xbox One is it had to face the PS4, which just crushed it out the box, and that, so that didn't help. You was going to get a system like that. But, it did have some pretty good features in it. We had the Blu-ray disc in there, right? Where'd you get?
Speaker 1:
on PlayStation.
Speaker 2:
OK, well, we added a 360, though, right? What the hell man.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I mean, hey, go ahead.
Speaker 2:
It's amazing you had the connect sensors with it too right.
Speaker 1:
They added extra $100 to the console I mean.
Speaker 2:
then it came out with the Xbox One S later on. Some of the little things we think about. Then we have more streaming services. That would introduce to it as, eventually, what's other platforms Netflix and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:
Other platforms, I mean the key thing with the Xbox Series One is a miscommunication, and person in charge was Don Maverick, who actually I mean really screwed up the Xbox launch. Remember when I was doing that, that particular E3? That main focus was TV, tv, tv and sports.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, they were trying to make it an entertainment system versus just a video game system.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, it didn't work out. Yeah, I could go there to focus on.
Speaker 2:
That's what it was.
Speaker 1:
Oh, that's the main reason part it failed and also another thing of the problem with the price poison launch was 500 dollars. Could it fuse the seller without the connect? Yeah, I agree with that and that's the place that it came out with 399.
Speaker 2:
Oh and.
Speaker 1:
Pete, and that was a drop of Mike. Momentful PlayStation, I mean.
Speaker 2:
That's some decent stuff. That we could say the compatibility with PC and Xbox games that's an awesome feature.
Speaker 1:
I don't know you probably to get with it. They don't a gaming's the games coach? Yeah, they came to them.
Speaker 2:
They were compatible on that as well too.
Speaker 1:
But I mean, you know you're so kind of credit it didn't have to ring a death.
Speaker 2:
No, you have that. You're right. I mean they still had the time like Halo and use of war that dropped on there too.
Speaker 1:
I mean the original Mars model consists of what these triple a games Rises son of Rome, which I actually like, forza, motor sport 5 and killer instinct. Yes, and it came with some yo-yo Mars. A couple connect games which I came to my head while doing research. Also there rising three, which is the Xbox exclusive.
Speaker 2:
Yes, I agree.
Speaker 1:
I still have that game.
Speaker 2:
Did you know?
Speaker 1:
Yes, so I mean, and plus a lot of games that came out On first part with not great games, agree, I mean also it's a little gear I'm not gonna get, so it gives a war games all the great. Okay, I'm just my five-by-person opinion.
Speaker 2:
I think, honestly, the Xbox one Doing that time frame. You know I'm not taking shots at it, I think I'm just it's not between shots at you, just stating what it is. Yeah, and I think at that time it was part of the lease Played system, or at least popular system of the major system. Well, it's the numbers tell you. The number says it yeah, cuz you had you go get the PS4 and Nintendo's which I, they said I had the we, the Wii U at the time, right.
Speaker 2:
We're not looking to that, but either or I'm sure you were surprised whatever the pillow had what never says in the time.
Speaker 1:
So no, I think. I think they had the Wii U at the time we you want.
Speaker 2:
The Wii wasn't that good either. Well it was the Wii U, so I mean it is what it is.
Speaker 1:
I remember we use assessor is after it comes, before the switch.
Speaker 2:
Yeah. Yeah, which came out 2017.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, don't call the comeback and tell the said.
Speaker 2:
I mean they build the benefit years.
Speaker 1:
Yep damn skipping.
Speaker 2:
I mean I, when I think of the Xbox one beyond switch you, I call it epic fail. I'm sorry to say, but I'm saying it because I had no interest in getting it. When I wrote out with the 360, everybody tells you knows I did not mess with my ps3. I actually gave my ps3 away.
Speaker 1:
Tell the real story. This is a real story mr Basing. Real story I saw mr Basing, I got a ps3 slim. I saw mr Maze, my ps3, which was the fat ps3 original. It was, I wish, played ps2 games at the time. Yeah, original original. So yes, and he got it. For what? 100 bucks that, if that, probably, and mr Basing, then it's a famous cuz. They watch YouTube on it. They they, they read that they took a crap. That's why we hear that doesn't show you.
Speaker 2:
I didn't care about the PS3 because the 360 was so dominant that that's my point, though, man, and for me not to get an Xbox one.
Speaker 1:
Following up my house and play ps3.
Speaker 2:
That's why I go ahead, but that's my point was, like you would think, being that I was so dominant, that was my number one system at the time, I would have got an Xbox one. That's what most people thought. No, I skipped it, and what with the ps4? And I never look back after that, and I heard to say that the only thing that kept me in tune with the Xbox gives a world which I end up playing over mics. So you know I'm not taking shots, but these are facts.
Speaker 2:
You're just playing yourself Like it is and I mean I am intrigued by the, the X and the S series. I I do have interest in it. I haven't run a God one yet, as you guys know, ready you come to my house to play?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, but I am intrigued.
Speaker 2:
Unlike the Xbox one, I really wasn't intrigued, but I'm intrigued by this one. I just feel like that right game for me again is not out there yet. I thought Starfield would have been it for me, but it has it. But I would like to play it though, but we'll see. We'll see what the future holds.
Speaker 1:
I mean my thing with with the Xbox one. I bought it first. Why I bought a ps?
Speaker 2:
yeah, no, no, that's that.
Speaker 1:
That's the one.
Speaker 2:
Curry one XMS.
Speaker 1:
Xbox one when I bought it, I bought it, I got it from Walmart. I mean, yeah, walmart Got from on on launch day on our day. No, I don't think I did any. Had bundle pack at the time. So I bought that on the launch day. That's boxes heavy and I had a car the top of all tone with that. Yes for the mall. Green Vegas was cool to be plastic bag.
Speaker 2:
I wonder what was in it.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so you know what Mr Vase is? A damn crook. Let's let you know. Um yeah, I bought the first game. Of God was killing instinct.
Speaker 2:
Okay, okay, what you might never played.
Speaker 1:
I play killer state. I play killer state. I was. I didn't like it that much.
Speaker 2:
So what would you, what would you rank this of Xbox systems from Xbox original, the 360, the one, I guess, the XMS?
Speaker 1:
was just the relatively new. So, compared to the OG, xbox, xbox one 1660. I ranked that one.
Speaker 2:
Would you rank that between the? I guess was that for four generations, I guess.
Speaker 1:
Man, pause too long. I took too long, it's probably. It's just it could go last or next to last.
Speaker 2:
I put last Because, I would put it, the number one to me is a 360. I'm starting from the best of the least. The 360 is number one, the original Xbox to be number two. Why would I go to the mature, the rich?
Speaker 1:
because it's the original you gotta give the rich.
Speaker 2:
It started everything, man. Because your business thumb is your brother, the verdict is still out on the new one right now. Xms.
Speaker 1:
That's still.
Speaker 2:
I wouldn't but you know I'm, I'm a hey Michael's this after I'll put the 360 number one, I'll put the original as number two because it's the original. I will put the three as the new system right now that we currently have, which we should climb up that list with time. It's still early and I'll put the one at that last it's amazing.
Speaker 1:
It's the most powerful system, game system all time. You gonna just spectrum like that. Which one? The current Xbox I?
Speaker 2:
put it at three. I put it at three. But my thing is, you're powerful, yeah, but okay, we probably got meant to show up, to show off with, I mean, what? What are you sure we go, we can do this, we could do that, but we don't have the right game to show it to you guys. Yeah, good, that's what you're telling me, man. I'll give you an exclusive that does all that and I'm like, damn, this does knock me out the box. Oh, but what's yours? What were you making yours?
Speaker 1:
I Put 360, number one Okay so both agree with the current Xbox on our side? Yeah, the current Xbox series X and S. Okay number two, because the basketball probably bowl this most powerful console. What's? We make a big, big difference now.
Speaker 2:
I think if you go up my list, you know like I said, it pays.
Speaker 1:
Remember, it pays all the games, majority, majority, majority games of all generations. Okay, you know, say, and they wrapped up the graphics and frame rate or frameless of all the older games as well. So, okay, that's the last number. Two, number three so I said 360, level one, oh, xbox one, then I put the OG last, you put the original last.
Speaker 2:
Why you put no, you know? Just curious, because the oh, just one last time.
Speaker 1:
I don't, don't care. Oh yeah, I don't care. I mean that's what started off.
Speaker 2:
Halo, that's what started off. It was a fat, fat, right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, but those are all games that were hot doing it. Yeah, I was my buddy in that damn it those games were hot.
Speaker 2:
What was forced out there, yet?
Speaker 1:
Yes, yes, I believe so, but I just don't think I know what is. It's called a halo machine, yeah.
Speaker 2:
It was powerful. Halo ran it in lots with the best, best games ever.
Speaker 1:
No, it's. Halo is a system, halo machine.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, listen, mario, you could save the same thing for some systems to may. Mario kept us afloat on certain Nintendo systems for years. There's some cases. This is the marriage they tell. Drop that game Q. It wasn't all of that. But, dad, that one marriage in that outfit style. But it is what it is. It happens. Smash brothers. Yes, I think it wasn't a good system, thank you. Thank you, it was a good system. I haven't gave you was a good system, yeah it had certain games, that that kept it afloat.
Speaker 2:
And after the safety, hey, no good for Xbox, the original OG. But that said now, mike man, what's your Outlook of, like you know, of Xbox?
Speaker 1:
or the current Xbox generation. Yeah, just in general, the outlook is this be a bright future, he'd be right. Future Should be right future. But because you have a bunch of students, do not mean that you're gonna like See what, say cuz I guess you have to manage those tools. I know this shake up and Microsoft shake up, but it they may changes in the higher ups who's making the decision on what and what goes on. But because you have a bunch of you brought up with Me, you're gonna be successful.
Speaker 2:
Ladies and gentlemen, you know what Michael just said. I call it cap. And you know what I call it cap, right, maybe a month ago. Right, it's probably been a month. That's been a while the Xbox drop their live show, right. Yeah, what was the hardest game on there.
Speaker 1:
Don't remember exactly.
Speaker 2:
That's what way Exactly Prove my point, cuz you know, but yo I don't know the name. I remember. People say our own again, but that games that look blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. He said I don't remember you på boy Michael yeah.
Speaker 1:
I'm in town right to me now the future Does the guy Purichten yourk that I Posted you coming out okay.
Speaker 2:
Okay, exactly, yes, yeah, gives a war. Okay.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, okay, okay, you know, hey, hello, hello, hello. They did fix up the hill a little bit. They had to do that.
Speaker 2:
God. If they didn't do that, this is the miles. I just felt they won. No, they got fable. Yes, they should it shut. A tease of a fable that I think I'll give you that one. Are you fable?
Speaker 1:
the grounded to pull the come out.
Speaker 2:
Okay, I read, okay, but what's the name?
Speaker 1:
the creator of metal gate? People have a game coming out for them.
Speaker 2:
We'll see cuz he did what he did when he did this right? Yes, wasn't the best one out the box.
Speaker 1:
I don't part that part too.
Speaker 2:
But I'm the best out the box, but I'm gonna continue what you say, like when I asked Mike that question.
Speaker 1:
I mean that that back was compatibility, majority games, all the games.
Speaker 2:
See Mike is hanging on to what it can do or what the had the potential of. Oh, I want to know what If I could do now? What a dad Jackson's I? What have you done for me lately?
Speaker 1:
Now nothing now. Much like in the next thing come up, what 2027 you probably give a take. Yeah, so you guys dig out, dig out. Time to make up.
Speaker 2:
They do that time. To make up on my thing is that that time is not on your side, cuz you got you told me, every time the PlayStation show live shows came out, there's always a game or two. I'm like yo I might not remember the name, but I remember what.
Speaker 1:
I just stayed a plate at the state of play. Yes, I'm like yo.
Speaker 2:
Did you see that ninja game? I'm like I can't wait for that one to drop. Did you see the? The Xbox one came out. I remember nothing. What don't I can remember was that guy.
Speaker 1:
I'm a little girl. Metal gear, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, come on.
Speaker 1:
Remember that that's okay, that that showcase basically focus on third-party games.
Speaker 2:
Okay yeah, but even your third party is they blow you out. Come on, blow me out, blow me out, but I am gonna end up positive. You know what? I'm a piggyback on what you said. Hey, there's games that are gonna come out that I think should carry it. Yeah, I mean, starfield was a good, was a good, a good, good start start start point you know some stat.
Speaker 1:
Is new IP. New IP exactly. I mean it didn't get nominated for our RPG.
Speaker 2:
Okay, and I think you should win that. I think it's probably gonna win that, be honest with you Both the gates, probably in the same category, is probably Not gonna win but I do agree with you. That's a start and the fact that I do think the Xbox pass that comes along with the Game pass game pass.
Speaker 2:
I think that's a big, big, big, big win for them. So I gave, I'm gonna give them that, I'm gonna give them a little bit of flowers. I'm gonna give flowers to. Michael said, which is that is backwards compatible from, I would say, maybe 85% of your games, which is that which is dope too, because lots of people wish they also. The other systems did that as well.
Speaker 1:
I mean so this is our positive.
Speaker 2:
me too, and you have a lot of studios, but the thing is Cal, you match all those studios well, they better figure it out.
Speaker 1:
Okay, we see any stuff happening with the boys club in there Poor management, crunch time, very unhappy workers, so it's a lot of students to manage.
Speaker 2:
They dug their bed. Now fix it.
Speaker 1:
Please, you seem like the relief of some happening a bunching other studios. So yo, you gave me the hit you could be a problem.
Speaker 2:
Well, microsoft, you did it yourself, so fix it you. You got the money, you got the revenue. The resources make it work. I Hope next year at this time I'm not talking about all man Thanks.
Speaker 1:
Box sells a falling worse, and I hope that's what we're talking about a year from now.
Speaker 2:
So we'll see. Like I said, positive. No, I do think it's box is gonna have a strong 2024. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna leave it like that. I mean reasons why I don't know, but just hope.
Speaker 1:
This is the third year of the series acts and s and this is the you're supposed to take off. I don't know.
Speaker 2:
There's a shortage to yes, but the game should the game should stop the game, so coming console.
Speaker 1:
No, no, remember, it's COVID, so not you.
Speaker 2:
Excuse me, problem the 10, the one to the same thing, but they still drop it to Michael, stop making excuses. No, they still drop it regarding they had COVID your garden, that they had the coffee. No, no, no, no excuses yo, you work for them. You got a Microsoft ID. No excuses, man.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I have no comment. I'm no further comment about this subject. Better. Okay, I missed the base.
Speaker 2:
I'm giving them profit. I look for the 2024.
Speaker 1:
I at 25. He might screw between, for you never know.
Speaker 2:
Hey, if the game you mentioned do come out. I think it's gonna be strong. Like I said, gives and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:
But by some of history say the games are coming this year and they have it after the 2014 is a man, I think, is they can't risk that.
Speaker 2:
I think they're year for you making mistakes like that. That's like a matter of fact. For example, that's like Zach Wilson, year three and you know highlights he's gonna go, he's his year one. Hey, what?
Speaker 1:
Zach Wilson, the New York Jets quarterback, who actually sucks.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
I missed the amazing. All right, we outs. This is a game of traffic. Oh, this is the one big tap a show and then one big tap a show. We discussed the 10 years of the Xbox one launch and most of all other Microsoft news. Hey, everybody like to describe this is game of traffic. We out later. You.