One of the original Xbox’s designers, Seamus Blackley, said that computing power isn’t a helpful selling point anymore when it comes to consoles.
In an interview with VideoGamer, Blackley said that the power-first approach worked for the original Xbox back in 2001 since graphics weren’t as polished as they are now. Focusing the narrative on computing power helped the Xbox stand out among Japanese hardware companies.
“We were a Western company and we were saying ‘Okay, we’re going to lose money on these to make them super powerful’ and take a bet on the games being awesome,” Blackley explained. Back then, the original Xbox was the only console with a built-in hard drive that could handle games like Halo: Combat Evolved, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Fable, and Shenmue 2.
It was a way for Xbox to get its foot in the door in the video game-console space, but Blackley said had he still been at Microsoft, he wouldn’t have continued the power-focused branding for Xbox.
He also noted reminisced on seeing Gran Turismo for the first time on the original PlayStation, and how he absolutely had to buy it because its graphics were ahead of its time. However, he acknowledged that graphical power hit a plateau and that he doesn’t get excited about power anymore.
Blackley explained that the battle for content has pivoted to where platform-holders need to create compelling experiences. He pointed to the Nintendo Switch, where he said he played through The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild three or four times. The portability factor also granted him long Skyrim sessions on airplane flights.
Sony and Microsoft have taken note of the Switch’s immense success and are reportedly both producing native portable PlayStation and Xbox systems, respectively.
Currently, the most powerful console on the market is the PS5 Pro. Despite its hefty $600 price tag, Sony said that it did not negatively impact sales. It seems like Xbox boss Phil Spencer echoes Blackley’s sentiments, as he said Microsoft isn’t planning on releasing a mid-gen refresh like Sony did with the PS5 Pro because an incremental increase in graphical power doesn’t provide a unique experience.