Making Microsoft into a videogame company “was my decision, my accountability,” Ballmer said. “I believe in accountability. I’m in. I’m accountable. I’ll make this work–not that I had to drive it–but we had some bumps on the road. And it was important that I stay accountable, stay patient, and stay behind the decision that we made.”
Ballmer spent roughly 6 months conducting thorough research and business review to make sure the gaming industry was a viable commercial venue for the North American company, according to former Xbox boss Robbie Bach.
“He was willing to step out into a space that Microsoft had never been in, look at a business model, and say this is something we need to try,” Bach said.
As can be obviously seen now, Ballmer’s decision proved to be a wise move as Microsoft has become a videogame giant, sharing roughly one-third of the market space with Sony and Nintendo.
The company has released three consoles in its young history as a videogame console manufacture, including the Xbox One, which saw a healthy debut in November. The consoles has gone on to sell 2 million units worldwide.