Former Microsoft exec. says it launched Xbox "to stop Sony"

4.5
The original Xbox console was released in 2001, but it is hasn't been known why Microsoft wanted to join in on the games industry in the first place, until now. A former Microsoft executive who recently wrote a book that slammed Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer, says in a recent interview that the main reason they went into the game console industry was to "take down" their rival, Sony.

Sources report that during an interview with former Microsoft VP Joachim Kempin, he stated: "The main reason was to stop Sony. You see, Sony and Microsoft... they never had a very friendly relationship, okay?"

Although Microsoft apparently wanted to partner up with Sony, Sony always seemed to keep Microsoft at arm's length. When Sony launched the first Playstation, Joachim said that "Microsoft just looked at that and said 'well, we have to beat them, so let’s do our own.'"

He also claims that while he worked at Microsoft, he went to its PC OEM partners and asked them to make the first Xbox. He said "The guys were smart enough not to bite, because they studied the Sony model and saw that Sony could not make money on that hardware model, ever." Microsoft didn't want to to copy Sony's business model for the Xbox; make the hardware themselves, sell it at a loss and make it up with game royalties.


Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Related Articles

Comments

"Former Microsoft exec. says it launched Xbox "to stop Sony"" :: Login/Create an Account :: 115 comments

If you would like to post a comment please signin to your account or register for an account.

HallPosted:

Centurial
Zwrq
MTV
SOG
MTV Sounds pretty childish.


Yeah, but they knew if Sony went big in this industry they could get pushed back a step, it was smart but also childish.


I doubt Sony will get bigger than Microsoft.


Same, but bluray is helping them.


Basically, i hope the PS4 does better than the PS3.


Me too.. I hope the 720 does better than the 360

CentPosted:

Zwrq
MTV
SOG
MTV Sounds pretty childish.


Yeah, but they knew if Sony went big in this industry they could get pushed back a step, it was smart but also childish.


I doubt Sony will get bigger than Microsoft.


Same, but bluray is helping them.


Basically, i hope the PS4 does better than the PS3.

imgurPosted:

Centurial
Zwrq
xxL3g1tqu1cksc0pexx
Zwrq
ME0W
Zwrq Xbox's community is better, if only they had bluray tradmarked...


Tons of people i know chose ps3 just because of blu ray -_-


That's the online positive IMO.


If Xbox had Blu-Ray, Sony would be dead i think.


Agreed.


Really, PS3 has nothing else besides that, and a few PS3 games only.


That's what we're saying.

imgurPosted:

MTV
SOG
MTV Sounds pretty childish.


Yeah, but they knew if Sony went big in this industry they could get pushed back a step, it was smart but also childish.


I doubt Sony will get bigger than Microsoft.


Same, but bluray is helping them.

PlusnetPosted:

SOG
MTV Sounds pretty childish.


Yeah, but they knew if Sony went big in this industry they could get pushed back a step, it was smart but also childish.


I doubt Sony will get bigger than Microsoft.

WoobiePosted:

They did a damn good job in my opinion, and I expect nothing less from their next-gen console.

CentPosted:

Zwrq
xxL3g1tqu1cksc0pexx
Zwrq
ME0W
Zwrq Xbox's community is better, if only they had bluray tradmarked...


Tons of people i know chose ps3 just because of blu ray -_-


That's the online positive IMO.


If Xbox had Blu-Ray, Sony would be dead i think.


Agreed.


Really, PS3 has nothing else besides that, and a few PS3 games only.

imgurPosted:

xxL3g1tqu1cksc0pexx
Zwrq
ME0W
Zwrq Xbox's community is better, if only they had bluray tradmarked...


Tons of people i know chose ps3 just because of blu ray -_-


That's the online positive IMO.


If Xbox had Blu-Ray, Sony would be dead i think.


Agreed.

imgurPosted:

xxL3g1tqu1cksc0pexx
MTV Sounds pretty childish.


Yeah it kinda does.


It works though.

CentPosted:

Zwrq
ME0W
Zwrq Xbox's community is better, if only they had bluray tradmarked...


Tons of people i know chose ps3 just because of blu ray -_-


That's the online positive IMO.


If Xbox had Blu-Ray, Sony would be dead i think.


Latest Downloads

Latest Tutorials