Microsoft released its first TV spot for its upcoming next-generation console, the Xbox One. Unfortunately for anyone who isn't an NFL fan, the commercial doesn't highlight any features about the console other than its ability to do Skype video calls and watch football. It doesn't even mention games.
In the TV spot, which can be seen below, someone who didn't know what an Xbox was would have a very hard time knowing that it's a video game console at all. No one in the ad is ever even seen holding an Xbox One controller.
The ad is understandable as it's clearly a partnership ad with the NFL. Microsoft spent a significant chunk of change to secure a partnership with the NFL and the ad is likely a way to capitalize on the start of the football season and what the Xbox One will mean for that. However, it comes at the expense of showing any real features that fans will enjoy on the Xbox One. After this year's public whipping of the Xbox One as a gamer's gaming console, Xbox One has made a lot of questionable decisions in order to make it appeal more to gamers, as pointed out by The Escapist.
Although it might be profitable for the company to highlight the NFL during this time of the year, it's a questionable PR move to make its first North American TV spot about the upcoming Xbox One console to have nothing to do with games.
The ad is thirty seconds long and shows a group of friends gathering around the TV using the voice command functions like "Xbox On." From there they Skype with their other friend who appears to be having a rooftop viewing party in a more metropolitan area. Simply by telling the Xbox to give him a Skype call, the two groups are connected to watch the game together. While this is a nice ad that showcases the power of connectivity and ease of use now found in the Xbox One, it doesn't show any evidence that this device can play games at all. Instead, the ad is more like an ad for a smart TV. This has caused many to question whether or not that's what's important to Microsoft these days instead of gaming.
The Xbox One will hit shelves in time for the holiday season on November 22.
