Microsoft's Greenberg claims victory in battle for 'core user' over Sony

by Kyle Orland { Apr 18th 2008 at 2:00PM }

Less than two years into what some see as a ten-year battle might seem like an odd time to declare victory, but not to Microsoft's Xbox 360 Group Product Manager Aaron Greenberg. In an interview with Next-Gen, Greenberg stated that, in his opinion, "the battle for the core user is sort of over, if you will. ... I feel we've secured that core buyer, and that gives us quite a bit of an advantage versus PS3, which is late to the game and still at a price disadvantage relative to the Xbox."

Greenberg did offer one slight caveat to his claim, acknowledging that Sony is "a very formidable competitor in Europe," (indeed) but overall he scoffed at the idea that upcoming PS3 exclusives would make a dent in the Xbox 360's lead in installed base and mindshare. "They're trying to go after a consumer that has already bought an Xbox 360," Greenberg said. "You could say that they showed up with too little, too late." Or you could say that Microsoft is declaring too much too early. We report ... you decide.

Tags: battle, console-war, greenberg, prediction, sales, victory

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

NATO_Duke @ Apr 18th 2008 2:03PM

Oh sh*t, here we go...

xFenixKnightx @ Apr 18th 2008 3:01PM

Stupid work, Im late =( no fun!

Syn @ Apr 18th 2008 3:16PM

It sounds like 2 years to Microsoft is close the end.
I smell a new console from Microsoft in 2-3 years by those comments.

Sony said PS3/PSP has a 10 year life span.

Co @ Apr 18th 2008 3:40PM

To sum up Mr. Greenberg: Anyone looking to buy a 360 already has one by now.

xFenixKnightx @ Apr 18th 2008 3:44PM

Yea that makes sense since PS2 is STILL selling for some reason. But wait, I thought everyone already bought a PS2? You HAVE to be kidding me Co.

JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) @ Apr 18th 2008 3:48PM

Yeah but PS2's are like £20 now.I have a friend who bought one as a DVD-Player. Sony Curse!? Their main selling point is always the bloody optical drive.

CD>DVD>Blu-Ray

Co @ Apr 18th 2008 3:53PM

Wait what? Who said anything about a Playstation? Especially the PS2, which was last gens Wii. Which means it has been selling (and in Wiis case will continue to sell) well beyond that of its competitors.

Off topic, anyone check this out yet? http://wii.ign.com/articles/867/867498p1.html

That Quantum3 tech demo is pretty neat, and should peak Factor 5's interest for competition.

Jason @ Apr 18th 2008 4:12PM

The photo says it all, I need not comment.

kbomb1upc @ Apr 18th 2008 4:28PM

@CO
"To sum up Mr. Greenberg: Anyone looking to buy a 360 already has one by now. "

I can't be the only one that hates when people use this comment... So please tell me what those 262K people where looking for last month...

Zoesch @ Apr 18th 2008 6:27PM

200,000 RROD replacements
60,000 Red Light thingie of death replacements
1,999 WMP11 Media Extenders
1 New User

=P

Smack @ Apr 18th 2008 2:04PM

That picture reeks of appropriateness...

copa @ Apr 18th 2008 2:09PM

Hey, as long as this story ends with Killjebus getting water boarded, I'm OK with it.

el serpiente @ Apr 18th 2008 2:13PM

Ah, so we've finally reached the end-game of flame war...wishing torture upon the opposition!

copa @ Apr 18th 2008 2:16PM

Aaron Greenberg does not torture.

Period.

Sometimes he does use enhanced interrogation.

WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus @ Apr 18th 2008 2:18PM

That is the perfect picture for this article Joystiq. Give out a golf Klap for whoever came up with this idea.
Bring it on Sony says the Microsoft spokesperson.

I wonder if he knows that the PS3 will have a LARGER install base in the EU by the end of the summer?

Nintendo goes for the casual crowd.
Microsoft goes for the hardcore crowd.
Sony goes for the hardcore, midcore, AND casual crowd.

What an assclown. Maybe the Dubya administration of War profiteers should sign him up.

arrrgh @ Apr 18th 2008 3:20PM

wtf have you been smoking?

sony going for the casual crowd with the ps3? the most technically advanced system with the most features? That's not really casual.

Mr Khan @ Apr 18th 2008 3:52PM

@ WSM, I am pleased by your lack of Wii bashing, however i would agree that Sony cannot be focusing on the casual gamer, as they priced themselves right out of that

If (for some reason, i'm aware of the lower limitations of cost for something so high-end as the PS3) Sony were matching Nintendo's price levels, i would be inclined to agree, Sony, at least, doesn't exude the kind of testosterone-fueled attitude that the Xbox brand does, which hinders Microsoft's rarely successful efforts to appeal to the casual crowd

Also agree about the appropriateness of the picture. Microsoft shouldn't count their chickens in the 2nd-place war

WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus @ Apr 18th 2008 4:22PM

The Playstations go after the hardcore 1st, then the midcore, and finally the casual.

The PSone did it, the PS2 did it, and the PS3 WILL do it. Right now the PS3 is still in it's hardcore phase, and will likely start to go after the midcore by the holidays...and holiday '09 or'10 is when they will focus more of their efforts on the casual crowd with a PS3 slim.

kagai @ Apr 18th 2008 2:04PM

I know both companies do this kind of thing to appear superior, but I think this generation has shown that more than one console can survive successfully in the marketplace.

You can enjoy your success without crapping on everyone else, because, in the end, more choices and competition means that everyone wins.

caustic @ Apr 18th 2008 2:32PM

Hey Kagai! Please keep your positive outlook to yourself. This isn't the special olympics. If you can't say anything pointless and hateful then don't say anything at all.

Todd H. @ Apr 18th 2008 2:35PM

Well said!

Mutant @ Apr 18th 2008 4:15PM

The 360 has been a big success for Microsoft since it has a bigger market share and mind share than the original Xbox did in its time. That said, the 360's lead is shrinking all the time now that the PS3 is really hitting its stride.

This guy will have his words thrown back in his face soon enough. An he will probably handle it the same way as the last person to say "mission accomplished."

Lars @ Apr 18th 2008 5:02PM

Hahaha, that was all great (except Mutant, who's remark doesn't seem to tie in at all).

I'm curious how they define "core users", it's obviously not just plain old gamers.

FrankTheCrank @ Apr 18th 2008 2:05PM

Hahaha...flamebait!! This is fraking gold!!

PS3 has been out for one single year. 360 for two.

360 has USA...that's it.

If anyone's won, it's Nintendo.

copa @ Apr 18th 2008 2:10PM

"If anyone's won, it's Nintendo."

You said it. I'm trying to figure out how you could possibly define a 'core user' such that Wii doesn't hold the greatest market share.

LaughingTarget @ Apr 18th 2008 3:00PM

Microsoft defines the core user as anyone that bought the Xbox 360 Core. Since the PS3 and Wii don't have a "core" model, they lose by default.

Lars @ Apr 18th 2008 5:30PM

LaughingTarget's comment FTW! I seriously laughed out loud.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 18th 2008 2:06PM

Well... finally some 360 vs PS3 flamewars...

*Grabs popcorns.

el serpiente @ Apr 18th 2008 2:15PM

I CAN HAZ POPCORNS?

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 18th 2008 2:31PM

You can haz popcorns... just bring the Coke =p

Vcize @ Apr 18th 2008 3:27PM

Doubtful that this insights a major flame war since most of the 360 biased folk on this site tend to be civil enough to admit when some propaganda-speak is just someone talking out of their ass and don't cling to every last word that their precious company executives string them along with like some of the other folk around here.