Microsoft’s Home Entertainment Mindset

No company pushes the home entertainment benefits of their console more than Microsoft, and for good reason. When it comes to creating that all in one experience for your living room, Microsoft is at the top of the heap. What they sometimes lack in exclusive titles – compared to, say, the PS4 – they make up for in the home experience. Whether it’s video, audio, or a great use of the system’s cable pass through options, the Xbox One – and soon the Xbox One X – is an ideal media solution for you!

When I compare the two main hardcore consoles – the PS4 and the Xbox One – I see one focused on games and the other focused on user experiences. Neither approach is wrong, and both have their pros and cons. For example, while I really enjoy the gaming options available on the PS4, I cannot stand the consoles user interface, or the extras included with the system. On Xbox, however, I think things are much better. Xbox Live is a great service, and while PS+ is catching up, I still don’t feel it’s quite the same. Microsoft is also pushing their pay-to-play Netflix style offerings with EA Access, and now, Xbox Game Pass.

Microsoft is selling a service, and it’s a great service in my opinion. Yes, the games might be old, but there is a significant value to Xbox Game Pass for new and old gamers alike. The number of other entertainment offerings on the console – TV shows, Movies, and more – are top notch and delivered in an excellent way. The ability to pass your TV signal through your Xbox One is also a great feature that everyone should be using, allowing you to jump through your gaming, streaming, and live TV options with the flick of a button. It’s a great line up of features delivered in a very user friendly way.

From recent announcements, you can see that Microsoft is pushing the service more than a particular game, and I’m not sure that is a bad thing. What do you think? Would you rather Microsoft focus purely on games, or do you like the 3-4 big hits a year coupled with an outstanding service for its users?