How to save Xbox by someone who actually likes them enough to care – Reader’s Feature

With the mood around Xbox being more negative than at any time in its history, a reader tries to think of ways to save it and explains why he wants it to survive.

Let me start with a quelling statement, as everyone seems to hate the Box of X at the moment.

It seems to me – a gamer layman – the mad slashing of jobs this year has come from above Xbox division, from Satya Nadella’s drive to fund his AI slop bubble. To fund it he’s had to find cuts elsewhere, and Xbox was the fall guy.

Not to excuse bad leadership, but if the boss insists you jump, people generally jump.

The statements from middle management that leaked, saying roughly that the cuts were necessary, despite having had the best financial year – oh and AI is the bees knees, we love AI – were abysmal. I’ll give the haters that.

So why save Xbox?

Well, it’s a bit corny but I think their heart more often than not is in the right place. They fund stuff like a new Fable, that I’ve wanted for years. Game Pass really has been the best deal in gaming, and consistently better games than all their competitors.

Struggling industry darlings like Double Fine and Obsidian have had – what seems like – financial stability to flex their creativity. I ultimately think our industry would be worse without them, and/or an Xbox console to boot. And I’m not a purest, who can’t see the benefits of having games published on PlayStation.

Okay, so what do they need to do?

Firstly, I loved the design of the Xbox Series X when it was revealed, but by god it looks like a cheap Temu amp in my living room.

The Xbox 360 looked gorgeous, I remember they showed off Japanese test groups who asked if Apple designed it.

Something white and clean that blends in, or something stylish and intriguing. Something to sell it to the cool kids.

While they’re at it, reboot the brand’s colour scheme.

Black and bogey green ain’t everyone’s cup of tea.

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Rename Game Pass.

I’m not sure what to, but something catchier or weirder so that it becomes a thing.

X Licence?

‘Get it with an X Licence’ has a ring to it.

Something akin to a members’ club or Nando’s Black Card.

It’s been a really good deal for ages, and the logo is bland as eggs too. Was it the same minimalist designer dude that made the new BT logo?

And make it cool.

PlayStation has a decent record of keeping itself cool, Xbox needs to get in on that, pronto!

It’s good for word of mouth, viral media, maybe get some agency in, I’m not a marketing guy.

There’s self-conscious uncles and dads and mums out there who need a li’l something to help not be embarrassed when non-gamers visit or mistakenly ask why the Ninja ice cream maker is next to the TV.

To be fair, those Sebile court leaked controllers looked snazzy, I wonder why they didn’t materialise? Probably part of Nadella’s slop fund.

Sorta side point; the tech that powers the real world in Microsoft Flight Simulator desperately needs to be farmed out – no pun intended – to other sim games. No one else has that tech. Trucking the real world, or farming it, hell even niche stuff like – I dunno- parkour illegal graffiti artist simulator. It seems an opportunity going awry.

I hope Xbox sort their ship out despite the current state of things.
Especially as Nadella is out to bleed the division white, judging by leaked emails.

Be a shame if Xbox became and ex-box.

By reader Tundrastrider

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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