Microsoft refused to sell Xbox 360s to U.S. Army for troop training

PCs running military simulations have long been used for training purposes in the Army and Marines. However, that nearly changed in 2006, when Microsoft was reportedly approached by the U.S. Army to supply it with Xbox 360 consoles. Despite the lure of a big fat contract with a government agency, Microsoft politely refused.

Supposedly, Microsoft had three reasons for not wanting to get involved:

– The fear that the military would snap up loads of consoles, but would buy only a single game for each. As platform holders make their money from games, not hardware, that’d bring in a big loss for Microsoft.
– A mass purchase by the military would result in an Xbox 360 shortage.
– Third, and most obviously, Microsoft didn’t want the 360 to become synonymous with killing. If it had been used as an Army training device, it may not do much for its image in the eyes of game-wary parents.

I’ve already read a couple of bloggers saying Microsoft were wrong on the third reason, but I beg to differ. I think the firm was spot-on in this case. We all know how the batshit right-wing media reacts over violent videogames.

The Xbox 360 literally being used to train soldiers to kill would have been manna from heaven for the likes of Fox News. A wise move, methinks.

[Via Wired]