As a long-time gamer and tech enthusiast who has navigated the ever-evolving landscape of gaming platforms for decades, I find myself intrigued by the recent developments between Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass and Blizzard’s Battle.net.
The release of Indiana Jones’ game is just around the corner as we speak, and let me tell you, it’s simply extraordinary! I’ve had the pleasure of playing it myself for a week now, and in our review of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, we praised its authenticity and top-notch quality, which are quite rare in the underdeveloped genre often referred to as “AAA”.
I think some non-Indiana Jones fans might find the gameplay loop a bit odd admittedly, the focus on exploration and puzzles and “archaeology” is a departure from Machine Games’ high-octane Wolfenstein shooter series. However, we’re not here to talk about what might seem odd about the game today. We’re here to talk about the odd fact that Microsoft is advertising it on Battle.net right now.
Battle.net stands as Blizzard Entertainment’s renowned game launcher, initially created to support their groundbreaking online games like Warcraft and StarCraft. Over time, it has morphed into a social hub, providing the foundation for upcoming games such as Diablo IV and World of Warcraft, while occasionally hosting third-party games as well.
After Blizzard combined with Activision, Call of Duty started showing up on Battle.net, which previously only hosted Blizzard games. Now that Microsoft owns the whole of Activision-Blizzard, it seems to be transforming once more, including Xbox Game Pass compatibility and even some Xbox games joining the mix.
Here’s the question at hand: What’s the story behind this situation? Is it something significant or just an ordinary occurrence? Could it be a small-scale test or a larger scheme in progress? Let’s delve into it, for the sake of curiosity.
Battle.net IS better than the Xbox PC app …
I wrote an article some months ago about what Microsoft should do with the Xbox app on PC.
For those unaware, the Xbox app on your computer serves as Microsoft’s platform for delivering its PC Game Pass subscription service, offering hundreds of games at a relatively low monthly cost. Similar to Battle.net, it also connects you with your Xbox network friends. Additionally, it now allows you to link your Battle.net and Activision accounts, enabling you to play games such as Diablo IV through the Xbox PC launcher instead of Battle.net.
Yeah … it’s getting a bit weird.
For quite some time, the Xbox app for PC has faced concerns regarding its performance. It was often sluggish, lacked certain features, occasionally struggled with game delivery, and had troubles connecting additional content (DLC) or offering mod access. However, Microsoft persisted in making continuous improvements to the app, resulting in the state it’s in now.
Instead of maintaining both Xbox app for PC and Battle.net, I previously suggested that Microsoft could exclusively focus on Battle.net, using it as a platform to provide PC Game Pass and their growing collection of games. Battle.net attracts a huge number of digital users, making it a prime choice for game updates like Overwatch 2, Diablo IV, World of Warcraft, StarCraft 2, and others. Additionally, most in-game purchases such as the Vessel of Hatred expansion for Diablo IV are typically made through Battle.net.
Some problems that Microsoft encounters with Battle.net are becoming apparent, particularly due to the confusion caused by multiple launchers running concurrently. It’s starting to feel a bit unusual.
Microsoft is dedicated to an approach called “Xbox Play Anywhere,” allowing you to purchase any game developed by Xbox and play that same title on your PC using the same license. Additionally, third-party developers have been persuaded to participate in this program. For instance, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection supports Xbox Play Anywhere. Many games joining Xbox Game Pass also come with Xbox Play Anywhere as a standard feature. However, at the moment, not all content from Blizzard supports this feature.
I wrote recently about how Warcraft 1 and 2 are absent from the Xbox app on PC, but they’re also absent from PC Game Pass, which seems to break Microsoft’s pledge to bring its first-party content to the service day one. Additionally, Diablo IV “Vessel of Hatred” was not cross-buy, forcing Xbox players to buy the expansion twice if they wanted to access their Xbox Game Pass version of the game across Xbox Series X|S or PC gaming handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go.
It’s quite possible that these issues are just growing pains and scheduling challenges. It seems Microsoft is striving to seamlessly incorporate Blizzard games into Xbox and PC Game Pass. However, one can’t help but wonder, is it necessary to have two different launchers if they’re both intended for the same purpose?
… but the Xbox PC app has gotten A LOT better, and is future-proofed too.
The Xbox app for PC has noticeably improved, offering significantly faster performance compared to before. Even issues I had with slow chat window loading appear to have been partially resolved. It reliably delivers games. While more features would be welcome, especially cloud save indicators, the selection has expanded. Additionally, it now supports a compact mode for handheld PC gaming devices. However, navigating to the app can sometimes be tricky due to the various launchers installed by manufacturers like Lenovo and ASUS on their devices.
In summary, one aspect that’s also a problem is the fact that Microsoft has tailored the Xbox app for PC primarily for multi-device purposes and integrated Xbox Cloud Gaming into it, especially for devices with lower processing power that can’t natively run Xbox PC games. This is more user-friendly on touch screens compared to Battle.net. However, attempting to log into Diablo IV via ASUS ROG Ally through Battle.net isn’t an intuitive process. Battle.net, designed primarily for desktop PC scenarios, could be argued as its strength over the Xbox PC app, which attempts to cater to a wide variety of needs and functionalities.
Previously, I pondered, “maybe Microsoft could abandon the Xbox PC app and fully commit to Battle.net instead.” Interaction and social features within Battle.net are noticeably quicker and more game-centric. The brand is well-known, strongly associated with PC gaming, and it boasts a massive user base of millions who use it daily. While the Xbox PC app has its merits due to the vast amount of content it offers, what if these platforms were combined?
If Battle.net were to expand its collection of third-party content, including titles from Xbox and other sources, one might wonder if this influx could potentially disrupt Blizzard’s games. It seems likely that these trials are intended to explore just that question.
An experiment that might go nowhere, or hints of a bigger plan?
Integrated into Battle.net, Avowed can be played without purchase if you have a linked PC Game Pass account. On the other hand, Indiana Jones is merely an advertisement that redirects to Xbox.com. It’s common for Battle.net to show ads for various products, but it’s peculiar in this case since Microsoft already offers another game through here. One might wonder why they don’t promote both games.
It appears that the primary focus of these endeavors seems centered on experimentation, driven by Microsoft’s desire to determine how best to leverage their Battle.net platform. Through conversations with Microsoft representatives at various events this past year, it has become clear that Blizzard is a key priority for Xbox, encompassing revitalizing inactive IP like StarCraft and elevating smaller franchises. However, it’s also evident that Battle.net holds significant value independently, offering immense engagement within the competitive PC gaming market.
Could transferring the PC Game Pass subscriber base onto Battle.net potentially enhance Game Pass overall? Might relocating Microsoft’s extensive game library to Battle.net help bolster Blizzard’s other intellectual properties? Could third-party developers such as EA, Ubisoft, and even independent studios gain from Microsoft migrating to Battle.net? Would it realistically be more economical than maintaining the Xbox app for PC? Is Battle.net a stronger brand for expanding a PC store to rival Steam or Epic Games?
It seems unlikely to me that Microsoft Corporation would choose to manage both platforms side by side for an extended period.
It seems quite likely that these questions are swirling around in the heads of Microsoft’s analysts at this moment. While it might turn out to be insignificant, there’s also a chance it could signal a more expansive plan for Battle.net, potentially transforming it into a multi-faceted platform on a much larger scale.
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2024-12-06 04:09