Since the Xbox One launched in 2013, the Xbox division suffered a lot of backlash from both fans and the media. Since then, Microsoft shuffled the division around and reiterated their dedication to the platform and its fans. Xbox has made massive changes, which saw the Xbox One become the best-selling console in the second half of 2016, with a release record for first-party platform exclusives being second to none. However, many in the media haven’t moved past their apparent disdain of the platform, regressing to petty name-calling and relegating all games that launch on the platform as “disappointing”. These so-called “unbiased” media outlets scurry back under the premise of “opinion” when fans of the platform and Xbox executives question or comment on these vicious outbursts.
The latest in the recent surge in anti-Xbox sentiment has come after Sony launched their latest exclusive game Horizon: Zero Dawn. Xbox executives congratulated Guerilla Games and expressed excitement at getting the chance to play it. Media outlets used the opportunity to take cheap stabs at Xbox One and Xbox executives, by calling the platform in general “dead” and calling for Microsoft to end support for the platform because they cannot “compete” with Sony. Some even went as far as to say that Phil Spencer should “resign” or be “fired”. Coming from so-called “professional gaming journalists”, this behavior is despicable to say the least.
These comments have become relatively predictable, with them surging whenever Sony manages to release a game worth mentioning. Last year, Andrew House, the infamous PlayStation executive called their line-up “sparse” during the time when Microsoft released games like Quantum Break, ReCore, Forza Horizon 3, Gears of War 4, Dead Rising 4 and most recently Halo Wars 2. All these titles from Microsoft received pretty high scores, but it seems that the “unbiased media” don’t regard any game as worthy of their royal attention unless it breaks a 95 on Metacritic. However, when Xbox One gets a great game, the same journalists seem to ignore the presence of the title altogether.
Horizon: Zero Dawn and Halo Wars 2 have received similar scores (both in the eighties) yet only one of these titles has managed to declare the other platform “dead” by popular opinion amongst the mainstream media. Phil Spencer commented on their hysterical outburst by calling it “strange” and reiterating that Microsoft will have one of their best years yet, with platform exclusive games like Phantom Dust, Forza Motorsport 7, Voodoo Vince Remastered, Sea of Thieves, Crackdown 3 and State of Decay 2 amongst other unannounced projects. Phil was asked about their over-reliance on multiplayer games, but he stated that Xbox One will release an equal amount of both single-player and multiplayer games in 2017.
Regardless of these hysterical outbursts, Microsoft and Xbox have had one of the best years in 2016, and with Project Scorpio launching in 2017, it’s pretty hilarious how the so-called journalists have resorted to petty name-calling and juvenile flame baiting on Twitter. It’s also hilarious how they disappeared when No Man’s Sky and The Last Guardian failed to live up to the media-created hype, only to surface again when Horizon: Zero Dawn came along. The hypocrisy and opportunistic timing is what gets me the most.
Dreyer was a regular ICXM contributor between 2016–2017, publishing 139 articles across opinion pieces, game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One X launch year and Microsoft’s wider Play Anywhere / UWP gaming initiative. They post on X as @dreyer_smit.