Microsoft’s Xbox One X is now available in markets worldwide. Being the company’s console designed for high-end gaming, some have raised the point that there aren’t enough stellar games for the console as opposed to the company’s competitors. However, speaking to GamesIndustry, Microsoft’s Senior Director of Product Management and Planning Albert Penello refuted this by saying that the console does indeed have a great line-up of games.
While the console may not have a system seller such as Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch, Penello argues that PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is sure to bring attention to this console. He stated, “”PUBG is going to be huge. I know it’s an Early Access game, but the fact that we’re giving it a retail release – this is a case where early access was more about features they want to include than game balance. That game is a full game. It is a functioning, clearly heavily played PC game, and I think the difference is that there are still more features and more worlds and maps and things that they want to add, but the fundamental gameplay, as witnessed by the number of PC players, is really great. So PUBG is going to be a huge title on console. It’s great that we’re going to have an Xbox One and One X enhanced version available this holiday.”
Additionally, he stressed the presence of family titles such as Super Lucky’s Tale that are sure to attract a wider and casual audience. Furthermore, the availability of backwards compatibility and enhanced versions of older games have been big selling points for this new console. Penello stated that, “And then of course we’ve got like 160 Xbox One X enhanced titles, so for people who are buying Xbox One X, they’re going to get free upgrades and it’s going to make them want to go back and experience all the stuff that they’ve already played again, with new visuals. So I think we’ve got a great lineup. I feel really good about the games. I think developer support has been outstanding. We’ve got titles for families, we’ve got Game Pass, we’ve got backwards compatibility – there is more stuff to play than time to play it on Xbox. I don’t think that’s a stretch.”
It seems that Microsoft is happy with how the Xbox One X is faring and they appear confident about the console’s success. Let us see how all of this will translate into sales numbers.