XBOX CSO Defends Console Future, Says "We Have No Desire to Move Away"

XBOX’s new Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), Matthew Ball, says the company has no plans to abandon consoles as the market is still growing despite industry concerns. For years, the conversation has sounded almost identical. Every few months someone asks the same question: do dedicated gaming consoles still have a future?

Well, XBOX believes they absolutely do

Speaking during a recent interview with Christopher Dring of The Game Business, XBOX Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball pushed back against growing suggestions that consoles are becoming irrelevant (via Insider Gaming). His comments arrive at a particularly interesting moment for the company, just days after XBOX showcased a slate of major exclusives and as discussions continue around next-generation hardware.

While Ball acknowledged that mobile gaming commands the largest audience and revenue share globally, he made it clear that XBOX is not preparing to shift away from traditional hardware.

“We have no desire to move away from the console business. And dying? No. It’s not declining. It is growing. It’s going to have a great year this year. What is important is that we restore that business for us. Do we need to get better at PC? Yes. Do we need to get better at mobile? Yes. But we can’t ask publishers and players to bet on us on other platforms where we are behind, where our technology is inadequate, before we shore up the platform we have, the platform that many believe we’ve mistreated.”

The comments follow a busy week for XBOX. The company used its showcase to spotlight console exclusives such as Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution, hinting a stronger focus on platform identity under the current leadership team.

Younger players remain part of the equation

One of the biggest questions surrounding the gaming industry is whether younger audiences raised on Roblox and Minecraft will embrace consoles the same way previous generations did.
Ball doesn’t appear overly concerned, as he says, “There are lots of young people adopting consoles. Do we see the same rate of young people adopting consoles that they did historically? I haven’t seen in mature markets evidence that has dramatically changed.”

That being said, the remarks arrive amid a complicated period for XBOX. A recent report from Bloomberg suggested the company is preparing for major layoffs, as Asha Sharma recently laid out XBOX’s next 100 days plan.