Ex-Microsoft exec explains why he fueled Xbox vs Playstation console war: “Gaming would be worse today”

A former Microsoft vice president, Pete Moore, now explains why he fueled the console war between the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 in the 2000s. After the major technical problems of the Xbox 360, everyone seemed to have their backs against the wall.

Who’s speaking? Pete Moore was a corporate vice president of home and entertainment at Microsoft from 2003 to 2007, in a role responsible for marketing the Xbox game console. He oversaw game and studio development for the Xbox 360 during his 4 years on the job.

In the years that followed, he worked for Electronic Arts for 10 years and was CEO of Liverpool FC (via linkedin).

Gaming would be worse off today if it hadn’t been done

Why did he fuel the console war? In a podcast, Moore said:

“We encouraged the console war, but not to achieve division, but to encourage each other: and when I say ‘each other’, I mean Sony and Microsoft.

If Microsoft hadn’t set that course after Xbox, after Red Rings of Death, gaming would be in a worse state today, we wouldn’t have the competition we have today.”

Xbox 360 came out earlier than PS3 and was cheaper – but had technical problems

What does he mean by the “Red Rings of Death”.“? The Xbox 360 console appeared on November 22, 2005 “against the PlayStation 3”, which came out a year later, on November 11, 2006.

The XBox 360 had a few advantages over the PS3:

• It had appeared a year earlier
• was cheaper
• and she relied heavily on exclusive titles

However, the Xbox 360 was plagued by technical problems: The error “Red Rings of Death” was a warning signal: 3 light-emitting diodes were grouped around the power button of the Xbox 360:

If there was an error, “three red rings” light up. When the error code hit, players expected:

• a game freeze
• Graphics issues mid-game, like streaks
• Sound bugs – especially very loud noises

Microsoft and Sony are still fighting for the best titles on the consoles today:

How did Microsoft deal with the problem? After the launch of the console, the problem was downplayed. The error rate is in the normal parameters: only about every 30th to 20th console is affected (via web.archivee).

However, it was later admitted that there were serious difficulties here. Apparently, up to every sixth console was affected by the problems.

The technical shortcomings of the Xbox 360 were used extensively by fans of the PlayStation 3 to vilify the competitor.

Apparently, the Xbox had to rely on the “console war”, i.e. aggressively release exclusive titles, so that it could stay in business at all. At least that’s the logic of Pete Moore.

Xbox 360 vs PlayStation 3 was evenly matched in the console war

What was the Console War like back then? The Xbox 360 came out a year before the PlayStation 3 and had more first party studios and a few console exclusives on offer. You could also stay below the PlayStation 3 in terms of price. However, the Xbox was plagued by the technical problems.

In the end, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation were both unable to win the “Console War”, but were about even with 84 million units (Xbox 360) against 87 million units (PlayStation 3).

In the next generation, however, the PlayStation 4 was able to clearly assert itself against the Xbox One: The PS4 sold almost twice as many units as the Xbox one.

In recent years, the “console war” has eased somewhat, partly as Sony and Microsoft joined forces to fight a common enemy… Google:

Sony and Microsoft work together – Can you beat Google and Stadia?