Microsoft CEO candidate wants to sell Xbox?

[Vodius]

http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/8/5080192/microsoft-ceo-candidate-stephen-elop-bing-xbox-rumors

Has anyone seen this? It's still in the "rumor" phase, but I hope it stays that way! What would this mean for the console industry?

 

[Woobeewoo]

How niceof him! He ruined Nokia, and now he can do the same with Microsoft! I can see why he wants to kill Bing, it's pretty useless in my opinion, but the Xbox is still going strong. Microsoft is not focused, this is probably true, but selling the Xbox division is not the solution.

 

[rossonomous]

Even if it gets sold, it won't really effect the industry too much as some other company will keep it going.

 

[Manny030]

How niceof him! He ruined Nokia, and now he can do the same with Microsoft! I can see why he wants to kill Bing, it's pretty useless in my opinion, but the Xbox is still going strong. Microsoft is not focused, this is probably true, but selling the Xbox division is not the solution.

The xbox business seems to lose money - http://www.businessinsider.com/micr...er-year-from-android-patent-royalties-2013-11

 

[rebel]

xBox has been scoring real low in the past few years. I don't think it would be reasonable for such a big company as Microsoft to still hold it as they simply can't develop everything. The boost they'll get out of selling it would turn out good for their other branches and could also help xBox become a better console, so I believe that this, in case it happens, will be a positive thing to see.

 

[Vodius]

Even if it gets sold, it won't really effect the industry too much as some other company will keep it going.

Yeah, but can another company really afford to take over Microsoft's loss leader division? They pump so much money into it knowing they'll never get it back, if someone else tries to scoop it up, they'll have a long uphill battle to turn a profit on it.

 

[SS42A]

Maybe Microsoft finally realizes that it can't have everything. Selling the XBox may not only be one way to cut losses, but it will benefit other product lines where Microsoft dominates. If Microsoft withdraws from the console gaming market, its share will be absorbed by Sony, Nintendo, and other smaller companies. It's completely a losing situation either way. If it will continue to support the XBox knowing fully too well that it hardly makes a profit, it is investing in a business that is no longer viable. On the other hand, if it completely calls it quits on the consoles, it is conceding the fight to its competitors. As for Microsoft, it must know when to cut its losses.

 

[SpiralArchitect]

So, the low XBox One sales are hurting them that much. Don't think it's a great idea because I think the XBox still has legs and can still sell if they can sort their issues out.

I wonder why they aren't getting rid of Bing before XBox.

 

[rossonomous]

Yeah, but can another company really afford to take over Microsoft's loss leader division? They pump so much money into it knowing they'll never get it back, if someone else tries to scoop it up, they'll have a long uphill battle to turn a profit on it.

O yeah it will be a real battle indeed. I think that Xbox really do still stand a great chance in the console market, changes need to be made and they need to listen to their consumers more first and foremost.

No one will take over it without being prepared for a long haul battle which will see loss before profit.