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Microsoft Claims Xbox One Will Be Break-Even or Profitable on Launch

Yusuf Mehdi, a senior vice president of the Windows giant’s Online Audience Business Group has placed Microsoft’s profitability bet, and it’s a steep one: “break-even or profitable on Day 1”.  Mehdi, a 21-year veteran of Microsoft Corp. with degrees from Princeton and Washington (BA Econ + MBA, respectively), is not only a smart dude, but incredibly successful.  According to his CrunchBase profile, he has led or been at the forefront at some of Microsoft’s, and even Reuters’ (his previous professional stop) biggest achievements.  He’s looking to add the Xbox One to his list of professional accomplishments, and with launch day just 16 days or so away, the day of reckoning is just around the corner.  So how realistic is this bet that he dropped this past Tuesday at the Citi Global Technology Conference?  Would you take it?  Based off his credentials alone, I think many folks would; as always however, there is more to the story line.

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Microsoft Does an Xbox One-80; Online Not Required

Holy pivot, Batman!  In a stunning one-80 (you’re impressed, aren’t you?), Microsoft issued a mega press release through the executive fingers of Don Mattrick, President of the software giant’s interactive entertainment business, highlighting two big changes.  First: that ridiculous, once every 24-hour online connectivity/piracy check is no longer in place.  In fact, gamers will only need to connect to the Interweb to validate the game disc after the game is purchased; from then on out no Internet required.  Second: no more fine print or confusion whether or not Xbox One games are trade-inable.  In other words, and to quote Mr. Mattrick, “There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.” Touch the link below for the official press release from El Presidente, as well as for more of the juicy details.

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Breathe Easy: PS4 Game Pricing Announced

Remember this rumor?  We can finally put the $70 video game chatter to rest, at least for a few years for both the PS4 and Xbox One, so go ahead and turn off the oxygen machine, and relax.  Although Microsoft released the much needed good news after their recent media firestorm due to the “always online” fiasco, Sony just recently announced the news through the highly-reputable, PC Gaming-heavy website, ShackNews.  Although Sony only mentions first party launch titles as part of the $60 pricing model, I would wager it is safe to expect all third party and future software to follow suit, at least for the first few years of the PS4’s existence.  If you’ve been gaming enough to remember when the last price hike occurred, then high five; well, you probably just Googled it, but whatever – the last hike from $50 to $60 hit our respective wallets in the late days of the long-lasting PS2.  Can we expect the same towards the end of the PS3’s existence, or will $60 hold true until next-next-gen?  Hit the link below for more thoughts as well as the exact quotes from Sony’s mouth.

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From Durango to Infinity: Xbox’s, Not Cars

Xbox Infinity Logo Tentative - SlightlyQualified.com

Well round and round we go, folks.  According to a source across the pond at The International Business Times, the next Xbox will be called Xbox Infinity.  We here at SQ had been tracking the next Xbox under its codename, Durango; the mathematical multiple name “Xbox 720” had also been thrown around since the 360 came out, but it appears that Infinity is the final name.  We are still holding strong with our earlier report that May 21st will be Xbox Reveal day, which excitingly is only 9 days away. Hit the link below for more on this developing rumor mill, I mean story.

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May 21st Is Xbox Durango Reveal Day

Raise your hand if you know who Paul Thurrott is.  Yeah, I didn’t raise mine either.  According to those in the know across the great Interweb, Mr. Thurrott appears to be a fairly legitimate source when it comes to anything Microsoft-related.  If you’ve been to his website, Supersite for Windows, then you may have indirectly read some of this work without even knowing it’s the same dude; regardless, now you (we) all know.  In a recent video blog, Mr. Thurrot dropped a major news bomb claiming that May 21st, 2013, will be the official Microsoft Xbox/Durango reveal day.  He also went on to reveal a few juicy details himself, as well as confirming a few previous reports that we’ve mentioned on SQ before.  Hit the link for the full report.

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Rumor Mill: Next Xbox To Be Always-Online System

Folks, before you start dropping OMG bombs on your favorite forums (ours coming soon), please keep in mind that this is just a rumor.  This has not been confirmed from Microsoft, or anyone official, but then again it hasn’t been denied or proven false either.  You want my Slightly Qualified opinion?  This will never happen.  According to two supposed “sources” at Kotaku, the next Xbox gaming console (Xbox 720, or Xbox Durango are the current code names) must have an Internet connection to play games or applications.  No Internet at home?  Then no game time for you.  Again, this is just a rumor people, so put the Molotov Cocktails away.  More thoughts and info after the link.

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