"The Xbox One is also part of Microsoft's "universal apps" strategy, under which developers can more easily create games and other apps for one platform and then tweak them to run on another platform. For example, a developer could create a game once using a core programming code and then easily modify it to run on a Windows 10 PC, a Windows 10 mobile device and on the Xbox One." Not the main point of the article, but just pointing out that there's definitely something in the works that will allow easier porting of Xbox games to PC. If developers actually use it, that could mean that there will be a lot less "Xbox exclusive" games and more "Windows (Xbox + PC) exclusives." A rig from 2005 isn't going to max out BF4 or anything, but will still play games of today that don't take a lot of computing power. At the same time, a lot of newer games that were released to the last gen had their graphics dumbed down - like Watch_Dogs, for example. Then there's the fact that most console games are running at 900p/30fps, while "acceptable" on PC is 1080p/60fps. Graphical performance isn't the only thing that PS4 does better. At launch, the Xbox One didn't have the ability to pre-load games or live stream. PS4 has a larger selection of indie titles; the ability to stream games to the Vita (which Xbox is just now getting); a cheaper online system ($50 yearly with 4 -6 free games a month, compared to $60 yearly with 3 free games a month); a regular headphone jack on the controller; and if you're into CoD, PS4 now gets the DLC first. I didn't mean to turn this into a PC vs console thing. I just took a piece of the article and asked why Microsoft would want to work to make it easier to port games to PC. Unless they're telling the developers, "Hey, I know it's really easy to bring this game to PC, but don't," they might deem the extra cost, which Microsoft is working to lessen, worth shelling out to bring a game to PC. If they did that, people that are on the 360 might go, "Hey, why would I buy an Xbone, if I could have the same games on PC with the added benefits that PC brings?" It seems like if a selling point of the Xbox One is what games only it has, the last thing you would want to do is work to take that feature away. Xbox is not going to suddenly become a PC. It might get PC games streaming to the console in addition to everything it already does, how is that less compelling? Windows cannot play Xbox games, but as of today you can stream them, if you already have the console. Again, this does not get rid of the need to actually purchase a console.
The assumption that Xbox is "an expensive low end pc" is incredibly short sighted. 360 is just starting to end if life at 10 years in. Would a cheap gaming rig from 10 years ago be able to play the games 360 does now? One of the most important values of consoles is their cost effectiveness.
. As for the PS4 having better features, not everyone lives and dies by FPS.
You quoted apps. Then you made the logical leap to games. This is my point, you seem to assume whatever you need to make your guesses make sense. Apps on the console are a whole different beast, they are even in an entirely different operating system. Apps != games. I'm ignoring the PS4 vs xbone fan boy debate. Plenty of people on Neogaf ready for you if you feel you need to discuss that. Your last point seems to be Microsoft is making it easier to develop cross platform games. Again, not in the article, but even if it's true most games are already cross platform, all this will do is save studios that do go that route some time. So the "this is the death knell of the console" really is "you can do more things with the console you already purchased." Less alarmist, but hey, facts can be boring like that.
"The Xbox One is also part of Microsoft's "universal apps" strategy, under which developers can more easily create games and other apps for one platform and then tweak them to run on another platform. For example, a developer could create a game once using a core programming code and then easily modify it to run on a Windows 10 PC, a Windows 10 mobile device and on the Xbox One." Here, I even took the liberty of taking a picture of and highlighting that's "not in the article" and totally never says games. Never said that this was going to kill the console, not trying to be alarmist, just questioning something. But, hey, why read when being dismissive and condescending is more fun? You quoted apps. Then you made the logical leap to games. This is my point, you seem to assume whatever you need to make your guesses make sense. Apps on the console are a whole different beast, they are even in an entirely different operating system. Apps != games.
Your last point seems to be Microsoft is making it easier to develop cross platform games. Again, not in the article, but even if it's true most games are already cross platform, all this will do is save studios that do go that route some time.
"this is the death knell of the console"
I'm not trying to be dismissive or condescending, I'm sorry if my tone came off that way. It's very difficult to have these discussions when it is almost completely unrelated to the posted article and seems very biased toward an antagonistic perspective. To Review: Developers should be able to write for phone, PC, and Xbox using one codebase, with minor tweaking for each platform. That is targeted almost entirely toward apps, but there is room for indies to use it (see the ID@Xbox site). "Developers" in that context does not yet mean AAA studios. Think games like you would see on your phone. That is why that comment isn't relevant. Streaming might be enabled from PC - Xbox. That is not the same as buying the game. You will still need a PC and a console. Xbox vs PC is subjective and not worth debating. Xbox vs PS4 is subjective and not worth debating.