Joystiq

European Xbox boss not feeling pressured to cut 360 price

Christopher Grant — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST

It's the question every potential buyer wants to know: Will Microsoft respond to Sony's $50 PS3 price cut with an Xbox 360 price cut of its own? After all, it didn't take long for Microsoft to match the lower price of Sony's PS3 Slim, first unveiled at Gamescom two years ago. But over a week in and there's still no sign of a price cut coming from Redmond. At $200 for the 4GB Xbox 360 and $300 for the abnormally large 250GB model, Sony's $250 160GB PS3 not only bests the 'box on hardware (hello Blu-ray!) but on price as well.

So what's Microsoft going to do about it? Nothing, apparently. When asked if he was "feeling any pressure to move [price] down a little" in response to the PS3 price cut, European Xbox bigwig Chris Lewis told VG247 simply, "No." He elaborated, "We think we offer great value now," pointing to features like Xbox Live and Kinect, but insisted, "We're happy with our position." If we were in Lewis' position, tasked with beating back Sony's European sales lead, "happy" probably wouldn't be our first response to Sony's aggressive pricing.

European Xbox boss not feeling pressured to cut 360 price originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft EMEA VP: Xbox 'about halfway through' life because of Kinect

JC Fletcher — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST

Thanks to Kinect, the Xbox 360 is enjoying an extended lifespan (we're required by law to joke here that it's the second or third lifespan for many of your non-slim Xboxes). Microsoft's VP of Interactive Entertainment Business for EMEA, Chris Lewis, told MCV, "We see it as about halfway through." He added, "Kinect put a huge shot of adrenaline into the business," likely not referring to last year's infusion of unsold copies of Adrenalin Misfits.

Lewis said that Microsoft deliberately targeted families and younger players with its initial Kinect offerings, and now it's moving more into "core" games. "What you will see is us using Kinect to enhance the experience and not detract from it," Lewis said. "I don't think our core gamers will tolerate anything else from us."

Microsoft EMEA VP: Xbox 'about halfway through' life because of Kinect originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: European marketing VP David Gosen leaves Microsoft

JC Fletcher — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:15:00 EST

David Gosen has left his post as Microsoft's VP of Strategic Marketing for EMEA territories, two years after being brought on to help expand Microsoft's foothold in Europe. The former I-Play CEO and managing director of Nintendo Europe plans "to explore new opportunities outside of the company," according to MCV.

Chris Lewis, the VP of interactive entertainment who will now oversee the European marketing team, suggests that Gosen has fulfilled his objective while at Microsoft. "The Xbox marketing team and Live business in EMEA has made great progress over the last two years," he said, "during a phase of consistent investment and innovation." The last we heard, Xbox 360 sales had crossed the 10 million mark in Europe alone. And now Gosen must answer the call of another brand that needs expansion in Europe. There's the Gosen-signal now! Gosen to the rescue!

Report: European marketing VP David Gosen leaves Microsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft: Natal launch details 'not accurate'

Xav de Matos — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:15:00 EST

While reports circulated last week that Project Natal would launch sometime in November 2010, Xbox UK boss Neil Thompson says the details were only rumors. Speaking with Eurogamer at a launch event in London for the console's new social media applications, Thompson said the rumors "weren't accurate" and claimed Microsoft has yet to determine "a lot of things" related to the launch of its new motion-sensing technology.

According to the rumors, Microsoft was set to ship around five million Project Natal units next fall, alongside 14 supporting titles at a price point that could go as low as $50 (£30). When asked about the rumored details and price, Xbox's head of Europe, Chris Lewis, jokingly added, "Now you know better than to listen to that stuff! We will announce in good time."

However, Lewis did remind Eurogamer that Microsoft is striving for "unique" and "compelling" experiences with the technology. "That has to happen and will happen," he said. As long as whatever "happens" doesn't follow Microsoft's traditional Xbox 360 peripheral pricing scheme, we'll be happy.

Microsoft: Natal launch details 'not accurate' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 sells over 9 million in Europe

David Hinkle — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST

The Xbox 360 has reached a milestone in Europe, having recently surpassed nine million console sales in the region. Microsoft's Chris Lewis confirmed the figure to MCV, stating that the console now has "about 27 per cent of the current share of the console market." For those of you keepng score at home, that's about a million consoles sold since January.

In fact, Microsoft also boasted that it's the only console to show growth in the region, pointing to the downward slope in sales of the PS3 and Wii. "This calendar year, we're the only console showing positive growth. That's 22 per cent on the first half against a market that is down to a similar margin overall." In fact, there are so many Xbox 360s in Europe now, you could probably build a 15 foot wall around Liechtenstein ... twice.

Xbox 360 sells over 9 million in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft shrugs off PlayStation 2 price cut

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:12:00 EST

If you were holding your breath for Microsoft's response to the PlayStation 2's recently announced $99 price point, it's now safe to exhale -- Microsoft vice-president of interactive entertainment business Chris Lewis recently issued a calm, cool and collected statement regarding the discount, stating, "The future lies in the growth of current generation consoles," a future in which he's confident the Xbox 360 will continue to trump the PS3.

Considering the original Xbox has been discontinued for nearly three years, Microsoft hasn't had a horse in the sixth-generation race for quite some time now. Still, it'll be interesting to see if the bargain-priced PS2 can take a bigger chunk out of current-gen console sales in light of the not-so-awesome state of the economy.

Microsoft shrugs off PlayStation 2 price cut originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Lewis on used games, Windows 7 gaming

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:00:00 EST

Speaking to GI.biz, Chris Lewis, VP for Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division in Europe, managed to put a positive spin on used game sales. Typically maligned by the industry for hurting sales of new games, Lewis noted that used games offer gamers the opportunity to play games they might not ordinarily play. According to Lewis, used games get "more people touching, playing, experiencing a game," which he believes is a good thing for the games industry.

Naturally, that doesn't stop Lewis from suggesting that the promise of premium DLC might be a good way to keep gamers from selling their games, though he reiterates his belief that used games are "a positive thing." Given GameStop COO J. Paul Raines' recent comments suggesting that most consumers sell their games to help pay for new ones, Lewis may be right.

Regarding games on Windows 7, Lewis notes that the upcoming OS will be "great for games." He adds, "It's all good news - it's even more robust, it's quicker relatively, and the early testing cycles are proving very promising overall." We hope that's true, though the "relatively" bit has us a little nervous.

Microsoft's Lewis on used games, Windows 7 gaming originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 hits 6 million in Europe

Ludwig Kietzmann — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

"Self-defence!" it'll claim, noting how people simply wouldn't "stop pressing my buttons." Also, the European Xbox 360 can talk. No wonder it's managed to "hit" 6 million people, a figure which Microsoft's Chris Lewis, Vice President of Interactive Entertainment Business EMEA and apparent violence fetishist, is "very excited" by.

"We're very excited that more consumers in Europe are joining the ever-growing Xbox 360 community," Lewis said. "We're now the best-value next-gen console on the market with an entry-level ERP of €179/£129.99, and consumers have clearly responded to that offering." He went on to promise that a "launch-level" advertising campaign would, uh, launch in the region next week, promoting titles like "Lips, Scene It?; You're In The Movies and Fable 2."

Yes, he really did put Fable 2 at the very end of the list.

Xbox 360 hits 6 million in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Europe's Chris Lewis sees Wii as the once-in-a-while console

David Hinkle — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

Head honcho of Microsoft Europe was quick to put down the Wii in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz recently. He is of the mind that success in the mass market is determined less by gameplay and more by other factors. The way we've always seen it, games define the system.

Now that the Xbox 360 apparently got a price cut over there, it's being offered to consumers for less money than the Wii. Lewis thinks that the price of the 360, along with its games and digital entertainment distribution capabilities will ultimately help it win the console war. He thinks these factors will lead the 360 being seen as a console with more rich content, whereas the Wii is kind of like the 'party appeal' system.

"I think you've got to be prepared to be appealing in lots of different areas and make sure you don't become something that only gets yanked out of a cupboard at Christmas and particularly holiday peaks and doesn't really get used the rest of the time," Lewis comments. "I think you've got to be careful with that. I think our depth and breadth of experience will ensure that we never get in any way put into the cupboard in that way."

Either way you slice it, playing has been believing and we're not sure Lewis' approach is going to help the 360 dethrone Wii in the territory.

Microsoft Europe's Chris Lewis sees Wii as the once-in-a-while console originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft hires former Nintendo exec to expand Euro footprint

Jason Dobson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: Business

Microsoft has opened its doors and brought on former I-Play and Nintendo Europe executive David Gosen to fill the role of Strategic Marketing VP for Microsoft's game business in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) territories. In his new role, Gosen will focus on expanding the European Market for the Xbox 360.

Prior to putting on his Microsoft hat, Gosen spent more than five years as managing director of Nintendo's European arm, and most recently served as the CEO of mobile game developer and publisher I-Play. He will now report directly to Microsoft's European Interactive VP Chris Lewis, who sees the appointment as all part of Microsoft's new "laser-sharp focus" and its grand scheme to "widen the market for Xbox as a mass-market proposition," no doubt part of that whole 'Europe is key' party line the company toed late last year.

Microsoft hires former Nintendo exec to expand Euro footprint originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MS touts digital distribution over 'historic' discs

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

If Euro Xbox boss Chris Lewis is to be believed, a dramatic consumer shift to digitally distributed media is due to occur "sooner than any of us think." With talks of an Xbox 360 Blu-ray add-on now muted, the manufacturer appears to be distancing itself from the Sony-backed high-def format. "Going forwards, digital downloads is really where it's at," Lewis told GamesIndustry.Biz. "More and more people's ongoing and ever-increasing downloading of music and movies is becoming the de facto. I think that's going to happen in very short order; people want to consume that way."

We definitely don't want to consume anything past its sell-by date either, as Lewis suggested we'll "look back wistfully at shiny discs as something that was somewhat a historic phenomenon in a way that we kind of think about vinyl or VCRs today." Though we don't outright disagree with Microsoft's same ol' song and dance, predicting a large change within the "next 12-18 months" seems overly optimistic. DVD doesn't look to be going anywhere soon, and neither does the sales traction granted to the PS3 by Blu-ray's recent victory.

MS touts digital distribution over 'historic' discs originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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