As someone who has been juggling a busy lifestyle for quite some time now, I can wholeheartedly say that Xbox Play Anywhere is a game-changer (pun intended!). The ability to pick up and play my games anywhere, anytime has been a lifesaver in more ways than one. Whether it’s during a family gathering when the TV is occupied or while on a business trip, I’ve found myself immersed in my favorite games without missing a beat.
Everything is an Xbox, or at least that’s what the marketing suggests.
Microsoft recently launched its new marketing initiative called “Xbox: Beyond the Console.” This campaign emphasizes that Xbox is no longer limited to the traditional home Xbox Series X/S consoles. Instead, users can now acquire games on Xbox.com and engage in cloud gaming on a variety of devices such as Samsung TVs, tablets, laptops, smartphones, and virtually any compatible phone. However, it’s important to note that cloud gaming may not always be the best option due to connectivity issues. If you want to play an Xbox game while traveling on a plane or train without Wi-Fi, then Xbox Play Anywhere is what you need. This feature allows you to download and play your games on any device where Xbox Play Anywhere is supported, even without a reliable internet connection.
Back in 2016, I was thrilled when Microsoft introduced Xbox Play Anywhere with Quantum Break. This innovative move allowed me to purchase a game once and play it seamlessly on both my Xbox and Windows PC, with the added bonus of free cloud save syncing. Over time, this feature has become known as “Xbox Play Anywhere,” or “XPA” for short. Today, it’s expanded to numerous games and is often linked with Xbox Game Pass. Interestingly, many games that join Xbox Game Pass usually come with their Xbox Play Anywhere counterparts too. However, the scope of Xbox Play Anywhere is still somewhat limited.
It appears that the selection of games available through Xbox Play Anywhere outside of Xbox Game Pass has been fairly modest, but there are signs of progress being made. Notably, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection, Death Stranding, and Metaphor Re:Fantazio have all been released on Xbox Play Anywhere without requiring an Xbox Game Pass subscription, which suggests that third-party publishers are becoming more interested in the platform.
If every game came with Xbox Play Anywhere, wouldn’t that be wonderful? With portable gaming devices such as the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go becoming increasingly common, it’s hard not to yearn for the Xbox console library to embrace Xbox Play Anywhere more fully.
Play Anywhere is Xbox’s best-kept secret
Microsoft doesn’t release detailed stats on Xbox Play Anywhere usage, however, it is increasingly viewing PC users as part of its total reach. The Game Pass on Windows PC has served this purpose so far, driven by the Xbox PC app. As time progresses, Microsoft has been enhancing the functionality of the app, particularly for portable gaming devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go (pictured), to make them more compatible with gamepads.
The service functions smoothly most of the time, but there have been hiccups with certain older games, such as Pillars of Eternity on PC where I recently encountered an issue with my Xbox cloud save. On a positive note, newer titles like Death Stranding operate flawlessly. Currently, Hollow Knight is my preferred choice for portable gaming due to its efficient performance even in low power modes, extending battery life. Notably, I can transfer my save file across cloud and Xbox consoles when needed.
In my research perspective, the vision for the contemporary Xbox ecosystem I aspire for is akin to a cherished dream. However, I must admit, I found Microsoft’s “This is an Xbox” campaign a bit perplexing as not many of their games align with the Xbox Play Anywhere concept. Nonetheless, let us delve deeper into the content aspect shortly; it’s significant that Microsoft is beginning to highlight these features, as I sense that awareness about them is scant.
In my critique of Microsoft’s “This is Xbox” campaign, I pointed out that there were only a few dozen Xbox Play Anywhere titles available at the time. If you searched for all games in the Xbox app store and filtered by the Xbox Play Anywhere tag, it showed approximately 100 titles. However, upon revisiting the site recently, I discovered that Microsoft seems to have rectified the Xbox Play Anywhere tagging issue, now displaying over 500 games with this feature.
A crowd-sourced list from XboxEra reveals that the true count of Xbox Play Anywhere games exceeds one thousand. While not all of these may be critically acclaimed with high Metacritic ratings, it’s apparent that Microsoft is focusing more on curating and highlighting these titles. It seems they are aiming to demonstrate their capability in this area more prominently.
It’s expected that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will attract more users to the Xbox PC app than ever, implying a larger number of gamers are also realizing the benefits of a system that allows content portability across various devices. Interestingly, Sony is preparing to introduce its own PlayStation handheld, hinting at their intent to capitalize on this trend as well. Xbox might have an edge in terms of a more mature ecosystem, but ultimately, the content will determine the winner of the “Play Anywhere” battle. Another competitor seems to hold another significant advantage as well.
Microsoft says everything is an Xbox, but it’ll only be true with content
One key strength of the Xbox Series X|S gaming platform lies in its extensive library of content. With countless games from every generation of Xbox at your fingertips, you can enjoy a wide variety of titles across multiple devices. Plus, Microsoft offers cloud saves without subscription fees, ensuring your progress stays with you wherever you go (hint hint, Microsoft, a visual indicator for cloud saves would be a welcome addition!). Additionally, third-party developers are starting to recognize the potential of this system, although it’s still a work in progress.
There are many games that we’re quite unlikely to see hit Xbox Play Anywhere, as much as I would love for that to be the case. I would love the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds to hit Xbox Play Anywhere, for example. There are many existing 2D games I would love to get on Xbox Play Anywhere too, like Rimworld Console Edition. But even Microsoft’s own games aren’t always available, such as Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, which requires Xbox players to buy the expansion twice in order to play it across PC and Xbox.
It seems that many publishers and developers face a predicament: Xbox Play Anywhere aims to put an end to the practice of buying games twice, known as “double-dipping”. I, for one, bought Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred on two platforms – Lenovo Legion Go – to enjoy it across both, but not everyone can afford such a luxury. To be honest, I’m not exactly fiscally responsible myself.
Some of these problems may soon be addressed, given enough time. Unfortunately, Diablo 4 isn’t available on Xbox Cloud Gaming due to restrictive regulations set by the UK CMA. It seems possible that the lack of Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred compatibility with Xbox Play Anywhere is more about system compatibility issues rather than policy decisions. However, it makes me wonder about other developers facing similar predicaments.
As an analyst, I can’t help but acknowledge one significant existential challenge that often goes unspoken regarding Xbox: Steam, particularly SteamOS. More and more game developers are prioritizing PC releases, often leveraging Valve’s Steam platform for distribution. The diversity of games available on Steam is truly remarkable, creating a substantial hurdle for the wider adoption of the Xbox app on PC among developers.
As an observer, I’ve noticed that Valve’s Steam Deck has garnered a decent level of popularity, yet it hasn’t quite reached Nintendo Switch-like sales figures. However, there’s no cause for concern about its future growth. In fact, it seems plausible that Valve could venture back into the realm of traditional console development for TV sets, complete with exclusive titles similar to PlayStation and Xbox.
It’s predicted that the upcoming Xbox will have a stronger resemblance to Windows than ever before, potentially merging the development process between Xbox and Windows more deeply than we’ve seen before. This could attract many PC developers to create devices for the “Xbox platform,” but I wonder what this would imply for the thousands of existing Xbox games designed for its current development environment. Would these games be compatible with any potential future handheld or console that uses a more Windows-based system? Since Microsoft hasn’t fully detailed their plans for the next generation yet, we can only speculate, but they have confirmed that new Xbox hardware is on the way.
steam currently enjoys an early advantage due to Proton, but it’s not impossible for Microsoft to close the gap – especially if their “Xbox vision” is to fully materialize, they must do so.
I need more Xbox Play Anywhere, because it’s awesome
Currently, I’ve got a stack of video games that I’m eager to dive into, including Hollow Knight, Death Stranding, and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection. For now, these games seem to be meeting my Xbox Play Anywhere requirements quite nicely. However, the main point is this: I tend to prefer games that offer the “play anywhere” feature. Whether it’s sharing the TV with a family member, traveling for work, or playing at a friend’s house, the ability to play Xbox games across multiple devices with my save files intact is something I’ve grown quite fond of within the Xbox ecosystem. I’m hoping to see even more of this functionality in the future.
There are numerous games I’d be thrilled to find on Xbox Play Anywhere, suitable for both cloud and native PC handheld play. For instance, XCOM 2 and Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader are current favorites, but I’d also love to see games such as Monster Hunter Stories and Factorio on the platform. Handheld devices like the Lenovo Legion Go, ASUS ROG Ally, and Logitech G Cloud become more appealing with Xbox Play Anywhere, significantly expanding my gaming possibilities due to my increasingly hectic schedule.
I know developer support is always a chicken and egg situation. If the games aren’t there, people won’t come, but if the people aren’t there, games won’t come. It’s on Microsoft to solve organic developer support for the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative, and I’d say it’s increasingly imperative given the rising threat from Steam, the more powerful incoming Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation’s own handheld devices. But it’s clear that Microsoft had the vision correct from as early as 2016. It’s time to pour gasoline on the fire and propel Xbox Play Anywhere to the next level.
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2024-11-25 22:39