Microsoft to exit PC-gaming peripherals

Dom · Jul 2, 2003, 01:10 PM

While no official announcement has been made, Microsoft appears poised to exit the gaming peripherals market for all gaming products outside of its X-Box games system.

Resellers have said that gaming peripherals bearing the Sidewinder brand such as joysticks, gamepads and racing wheels have been pulled from Microsoft's catalogues.

"I have certainly heard the rumours," said Marco Manera, general manager for Logitech Australia. "Resellers don't want to lose the PC-gaming category - while there is not a great margin on a PC or games console, they are always certain of high margins on the peripherals." Manera said that Logitech was the largest provider of PC gaming products such as joysticks and gamepads, Microsoft came a close second.

After that, he suggested, it was daylight. Any exit from Microsoft would see Logitech take a massive market share.

"We'd be more than happy to pick up the market share," Manera said. "Logitech is very committed to the gaming category, and we can provide peripherals not just for one platform but for all of them - PC, X-Box or Playstation." Microsoft was unable to comment at the time of going to press.

The vendor is still advertising its joysticks, gamepads and racing wheels on its American and Australian Web sites. It has also recently embarked on an advertising campaign to remind resellers of its hardware innovations - specifically pointing to its expertise in the area of mouse and keyboard designs. There is no mention of gaming peripherals.

Such a strategy suggests that Microsoft will continue to market its keyboards and mice as well as its Xbox peripherals, regardless of what it does with its PC-gaming peripherals.

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Source: MacWorld

Jul 2, 2003, 01:10 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	Microsoft to exit PC-gaming peripherals While no official announcement has been made, Microsoft appears poised to exit the gaming peripherals market for all gaming products outside of its X-Box games system. Resellers have said that gaming peripherals bearing the Sidewinder brand such as joysticks, gamepads and racing wheels have been pulled from Microsoft's catalogues. "I have certainly heard the rumours," said Marco Manera, general manager for Logitech Australia. "Resellers don't want to lose the PC-gaming category - while there is not a great margin on a PC or games console, they are always certain of high margins on the peripherals." Manera said that Logitech was the largest provider of PC gaming products such as joysticks and gamepads, Microsoft came a close second. After that, he suggested, it was daylight. Any exit from Microsoft would see Logitech take a massive market share. "We'd be more than happy to pick up the market share," Manera said. "Logitech is very committed to the gaming category, and we can provide peripherals not just for one platform but for all of them - PC, X-Box or Playstation." Microsoft was unable to comment at the time of going to press. The vendor is still advertising its joysticks, gamepads and racing wheels on its American and Australian Web sites. It has also recently embarked on an advertising campaign to remind resellers of its hardware innovations - specifically pointing to its expertise in the area of mouse and keyboard designs. There is no mention of gaming peripherals. Such a strategy suggests that Microsoft will continue to market its keyboards and mice as well as its Xbox peripherals, regardless of what it does with its PC-gaming peripherals. ______________________ Source: MacWorld