It has been many years since Microsoft first introduced the Xbox gaming console and it seems that back then, Microsoft was considering how to break into a market that was seemingly dominated by the likes of Sony and Nintendo. In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, it turns out that one of the ways Microsoft had considered was by giving the console away for free.
This is according to Oddworld Inhabitants’ Lorne Lanning who said that Microsoft had told them at that time, “We think you’ve got something that competes in that Mario space and we think Mario’s the thing to kill … We see that space. We want that audience. We love Oddworld so why don’t you get on this bandwagon? And we might give the box away.” It also seems that Microsoft at that time had considered that their core market would be the casual gamer.
In order to appeal to the casual gamer, Microsoft thought that maybe giving away the console for free would be the way to go. However we’re probably going to assume that there might be other fees involved should this have happened, kind of like when you buy a smartphone on plan with a carrier where you can get a phone for free (or at a lower price) but are required to subscribe to a monthly plan for the next 2 years.
It would have been an interesting approach, although one that Microsoft obviously did not take, but what do you guys think? Would Microsoft have been able to survive had they given out their consoles for free? More importantly, would other companies such as Sony or Nintendo have followed suit?