Microsoft Restructures While Pitching Xbox One As Video Conference Business Product

So the plot thickens and it appears that the Xbox One's depicted purpose as a home multimedia device was just a ruse from the mini 'M'. New reports indicate that amongst the entire restructuring of the Microsoft business architecture, the Xbox One stands to fit more in-line with how the company sells Windows than how they previously marketed and sold the Xbox and Xbox 360.

First of all, Microsoft is completely restructuring the business from top to bottom, breaking down divisions like they were tearing down bra straps during the 1960s. According to GameInformer, Microsoft will break their divisions down to: Engineering, Marketing, Business Development and Evangelism, Advanced Strategy and Research, Finance, HR, Legal, and Operations.

The Xbox brand is now housed in Engineering, but it will be broken down into several parts scattered across various divisions and will be headed up by Julie Larson-Green replacing Don Mattrick, as reported by Videogamer.

The Xbox's OS (or OSs) will be headed up by the Operating Systems division, where-as the hardware itself will be housed in the Devices and Studios division.

According to Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer...

"Improving our performance has three big dimensions: focusing the whole company on a single strategy, improving our capability in all disciplines and engineering/technology areas, and working together with more collaboration and agility around our common goals," ... "We will reshape how we interact with our customers, developers and key innovation partners, delivering a more coherent message and family of product offerings,"

Look, I don't run a business but it just seems like a complete fail sandwich to break apart the development of a device by splitting it into multiple divisions. It just seems like there's going to be a lot of creative dissonance to come out of this deal. But, again, I don't run a business and obviously Ballmer knows best... right?

The Xbox One is also moving further away from being a pure gaming device, as noted on Polygon, [via Forbes], in which Microsoft's Xbox MVP, Marques Lyons, sent out a letter indicating that the Xbox One will be perfect for business environment purposes, stating...

“The Xbox One, priced at $499, is an affordable option for small business owners, as there are many features built into the console that could help it rival even the most modest of video conferencing and networking platforms.”

Okay now, let me get this all straight and clear: The Xbox One's software system will be handled by one group and its hardware will be handled by another group and the entire thing is optimized for small business video conferencing and business networking solutions? Is this right?

It feels like the Xbox One is gearing up to do everything well other than game. Hopefully we can see some titles at GamesCom and the Tokyo Game Show running on more finalized hardware, because as it stands – and as a honest gamer – this product looks more enticing to people who want a multifunctional multimedia device that may or may not be prioritized for video games.

This is the future?

Will Usher

Staff Writer at CinemaBlend.