Microsoft recently made waves when it announced the Xbox One would have some restrictions related to connectivity and content sharing. Although the Xbox is one of the most popular video game consoles in history, the backlash from consumers put Microsoft at risk of losing market share in the industry. Sony seems to have done a better job of understanding what customers want in a console, as evidenced by information released regarding the debut of the PS4. Anyone developing tech products for consumers can learn from Microsoft's mistakes in communicating new policies to Xbox users.
Kyle Lundberg had the opportunity to see the Xbox One video game console at the San Diego Comic Con. He said the console is smaller than the Xbox 360 and has a "stellar" new controller. Microsoft did a good job of taking customer feedback about the 360 and using it to improve the bumper buttons, thumb sticks, and d-pad for the Xbox One console. Despite the many desirable features of the Xbox One, some consumers are still a little miffed over Microsoft's original decision to set limits on how users can share games. The company also planned to require players to keep their video game consoles connected to the Internet at all times. Even though company executives have decided to eliminate these restrictions, some gamers are having a hard time forgetting the original restrictive policies.
When you compare the Xbox One and PS4 in terms of features and pricing, the Sony console comes out slightly ahead. Microsoft has priced the Xbox One at $499.99, making it one of the most expensive video game consoles on the market. The new PlayStation console is only $399.99, making it a better option for price-conscious gamers. Xbox One buyers will also have to connect their video game consoles to the Internet the first time they use them because Microsoft has scheduled a day-one software update for the Xbox One. Sony is not requiring users to connect to the Internet at any time. Both companies are offering similar technology features, as both consoles have Blu-ray and DVD drives, eight-core processors, and 500 GB hard drives.
Sony insiders have done a better job of catering to the needs of different gamers, as the new PlayStation console has some features the Xbox One lacks. The Xbox One's hard drive is nonremovable, while the new PlayStation features a removable drive. The Xbox One has eight gigabytes of DDR3 RAM; in contrast, the PlayStation has eight gigabytes of GDDR5 RAM. Sony is offering Bluetooth 2.1 on the PlayStation, while Microsoft offers no Bluetooth capability on the Xbox One. Adding additional value to the less-expensive PlayStation is the inclusion of a wired mono headset; the Xbox One includes none.
Gamers have a lot of influence in the technology sector, as they are active on social media platforms and share a lot of information with other people who use video game consoles. This makes it critical for technology companies to understand what their customers need and review customer feedback regularly. Although preorders of these video game consoles are higher than expected, it is too early to tell if Microsoft and Sony have done a good job meeting customer needs.
(Photo courtesy of franky242 / freedigitalphotos.net)
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!