The obvious take is that Microsoft got their ass whooped again and again. It wasn’t for the lack of being feisty. Microsoft tried every tactic from buying exclusives, launching first, attacking Sony for not doing cross play, launching with a low priced system that couldn’t handle current Gen games, buying up publishers, etc.
But the thing was, as Microsoft out it themselves, Sony has PSN that locked in customers to their platform. They weren’t stealing shit if Sony had them with a catalog of games, more and better offerings of games to play, and a constant stream of exclusive games. Microsoft took many away. But Sony through China Hero, Korean game development, indie development, India Hero, etc, just added more games that Microsoft couldn’t take away. The only game that was worth Sony’s time was COD. And Microsoft couldn’t take that away. Microsoft’s big gamble to strip Sony of games backfired and Sony won by now having their competitor making games for them. Including first party games. The greatest embarrassment beyond RROD and trying to implement always online.
Microsoft has been almost utterly destroyed. Because Sony continued to adapt. Microsoft tried upping their game with Forza. Sony went online with GT. Microsoft would try and counter with photogrammetry, Sony took it to VR for actual realism. Microsoft tried to copy their controller, Sony upped the ante by making Dual Sense. “The controller” for current Gen. Nintendo survived by going portable and getting out of the high end graphics race. But Microsoft, with all their money, all their rabid fans, were left to get their ass kicked. And I’m very happy about it. You can’t have trillions but not put in the effort and think you’re going to win. They never deserved to win.
