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

 

 

After a brief stint as the head of Microsoft’s business division, responsible for Office and other products, Elop’s return to Microsoft in the CEO position would reportedly involve a push for Office on Android and iOS.

Elop is reportedly considering a strategy shift away from Microsoft’s tradition of Office running primarily on Windows PCs. Bloomberg reports that Elop is formulating "some broad strategic outlines for Microsoft," in what is likely to be part of the interview process for the CEO position. Elop’s potential strategy is said to involve maximizing sales of Office instead of using it to push Windows PC and tablet sales.

 

 

 

Bloomberg also suggests that Elop is willing to shut down or sell some major Microsoft businesses. Elop would reportedly considering killing off the company’s Bing search engine, while contemplating selling the Xbox business. Some investors and analysts have previously called for the software giant to split off its Xbox business and give up on search. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen appears to feel the same way.

 

If MS sold off Xbox they would be killing off a huge cash cow… and pretty much walking away from gaming all together...

 

I'd watch this closely, as it would give us a small peek into MS thinking as far as gaming goes and any hopes of a future resurrection of Flight Simulator… Which, right now appears to be near zero. 

Well keep in mind he is only one of several candidates.  Second if they do sell XBox and get out of gaming that is actually very good news for Flight Simulator as they would likely sell the FS franchise (or what is left of it) as a complete package and probably at a reasonable price.

Don't forget that XBox is entirely XBox, not PC Games.

 

I actually welcome the news of them getting out of the business, they've sucked at PC Games for years and years ever since the XBox 360 started doing well.

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

 

 

 

If MS sold off Xbox they would be killing off a huge cash cow… and pretty much walking away from gaming all together...

 

I'd watch this closely, as it would give us a small peek into MS thinking as far as gaming goes and any hopes of a future resurrection of Flight Simulator… Which, right now appears to be near zero. 

It is zero, why would MS bring back flt sim? This game does not even register on the radar as far as sales goes. They are only interested in the big picture and as sorry as I am to say flt simming is not a big player. The add-ons that sell are by far more productive in sales then the game they are manufactured for, would you not agree. My opinion, unless the Lock-Martin and or X-plane platform gets more traction w/ add-on developers or something new comes along the future looks poor.  Play Station 4 will probably without a doubt beat out X-Box in sales and I think MS knows it.

I remember reading some years ago that both Sony and Microsoft sold their respective consoles at very near cost and didn't seek to make money from the hardware, but from the games.

 

If that's so would I be right in saying Microsoft get royalties for all Xbox games sold?

 

How much revenue does Microsoft make from Xbox? Given the number of Xboxes out there and the volume of games sold it must be quite a lot. Is it also perhaps why there were moves afoot to either kill off the used games market or at least claw back some revenue from it with the next generation consoles?

 

If they were to sell off the Xbox division, who would buy it?

MS's prominence in gaming has been declining for a while I feel. XBox 1 is already causing moans and groans and will most likely end up losing vs. the PS4, which is sad, because I've always loved XBox. But at this point it seems Sony is going to mop the floor with them. It appears that they're really only into it for the $$$ and that they don't really care about the rest. Features and true game changers in consoles don't seem to be at the top of the priority list. I'm sure they want to be known for altering gaming forever again like that did with the 360 and make even more money. But I keep getting the feeling they don't really wanna put in the effort to get it there. 

 

 

As far as the future of MS and flightsim......they put a bullet in it's head and buried it long ago; they have no intention of digging it back up. 

 

If MS sold off Xbox they would be killing off a huge cash cow…

 

It actually doesn't make them near as much as their other divisions. In fact, Microsoft is likely making more from Android patent licences than their own Windows Phone line and the Xbox combined.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-earns-2-billion-per-year-from-android-patent-royalties-2013-11

 

http://wegotthiscovered.com/gaming/analyst-microsoft-2-billion-android-royalties-hide-xbox-losses/

MS's prominence in gaming has been declining for a while I feel. XBox 1 is already causing moans and groans and will most likely end up losing vs. the PS4, which is sad, because I've always loved XBox. But at this point it seems Sony is going to mop the floor with them. It appears that they're really only into it for the $$$ and that they don't really care about the rest. Features and true game changers in consoles don't seem to be at the top of the priority list. I'm sure they want to be known for altering gaming forever again like that did with the 360 and make even more money. But I keep getting the feeling they don't really wanna put in the effort to get it there. 

 

 

As far as the future of MS and flightsim......they put a bullet in it's head and buried it long ago; they have no intention of digging it back up. 

 

havent seen or heard alot of moans and groans. yes at first but they have changed their ways.

 

if you dont think this looks impressive for a gaming console than idk what will impress you.

 

i dont own either a ps3 or xbox 360 but i think those people who call the xbox one DOA are not really looking into this with all the facts. 

Bottom line MS tried a new flight sim which was a big flop and that was the icing on the cake. They tried to coax us serious types to a new system which was not what we were looking for, they wanted to be the driver when they have always been the passenger. The economy stupid was a catch phrase well MS should know The consumer stupid not what you want us to have.

If MS sold off Xbox they would be killing off a huge cash cow…

 

 

On the contrary, MS lost a lot of money on the Xbox systems thus far.  It wouldn't surprise me if it got sold off.

Eh, who cares. 

 

I only like Bing for its daily pictures, I think that's a good idea. But otherwise, Google is better.