Microsoft’s next big gaming challenge — get AAA publishers to actually support Xbox Play Anywhere

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The Xbox Ally is nearly here, but there’s a problem.

Over the recent years, Microsoft has been emphasizing its Xbox PC platform significantly. By utilizing both PC Game Pass and laptops and handhelds built by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) specifically designed for PC gaming, they are strengthening this platform. Nowadays, many Windows 11 OEM devices come with either PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included, and the Xbox PC app is often pre-installed on these devices as well.

For those using Xbox consoles, you might often find an extra perk: Xbox Play Anywhere (or XPA for short), is a developer initiative that motivates creators to list their games on the Microsoft Store. These games come with universal codebases that allow them to run seamlessly on both Xbox gaming systems and Windows 11 compatible devices.

Moreover, when users buy these games, they obtain licenses for both versions. This includes cross-platform cloud saves that work on either device. Additionally, Xbox Cloud Gaming is frequently included, enabling play of these games from almost any location.

This platform is truly remarkable, as it seamlessly integrates with all of Xbox’s latest in-house developed games. Yet, when it comes to support from third-party developers, it’s been somewhat inconsistent, at times falling short of expectations.

Before the anticipated release of the Xbox Alloy handheld and various OEM devices slated for 2026, the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative hasn’t seen much natural backing from major publishing companies. This is a significant and escalating issue for Microsoft’s ecosystem endeavors.

Major publishers haven’t been supporting the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative much, which could be a big challenge for Microsoft as they prepare for new devices in 2026 like the Xbox Alloy handheld.

Xbox Play Anywhere, with caveats

As an ardent supporter, I can confidently attribute the surge in discussions and queries concerning Xbox Play Anywhere to none other than my beloved Xbox Ally.

Although Microsoft markets the Xbox Ally as an Xbox, it’s essential to clarify that it’s actually a PC running on Windows 11. This implies that a significant part of your previous Xbox game collection may not be compatible with this device.

The system only supports Xbox console games with the “Xbox Play Anywhere” label, which can be discovered through the Xbox PC application. It’s worth noting that there are more than a thousand such games available currently, but the quality of this collection may vary significantly.

As an avid gamer, I’ve noticed a fascinating evolution in the Xbox platform. It seems to be dividing into two distinct realms: Windows 11 and the classic Xbox development platform. The link between these ecosystems is definitely strengthening, yet there’s still a noticeable divide.

Xbox console games often can’t run smoothly on a PC without special adaptations, and vice versa. Games designed for traditional PCs usually don’t work directly on an Xbox console either. It’s like having two separate worlds of gaming, each with its unique offerings, but the bridges between them are getting stronger every day!

Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere initiative empowers developers to submit game packages compatible with both PC and Xbox platforms under the same store listing. This ensures that players can continue their progress seamlessly between the two devices as save files are consistent across both endpoints.

Microsoft reports that developers who employ Xbox Play Anywhere experience enhanced user engagement. Personally, I find myself gravitating more towards games that offer Xbox Play Anywhere support when making purchases. However, it’s evident that Xbox users on devices such as the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally comprise a relatively small group. This niche audience is expected to expand significantly once the Xbox Alloy is released on October 16.

It seems a lot of people have expressed confusion regarding the types of games this system can handle. Upon reflection, their puzzlement becomes understandable for several reasons.

Microsoft strongly supports playing older Xbox games on newer consoles, which means Xbox One has been offering both backwards and forwards compatibility since its debut in 2013. The upcoming Xbox console is expected to continue this trend, ensuring backward compatibility as well. As for PC gaming, it can be more challenging due to the diverse range of systems and requirements.

It was anticipated that Microsoft might develop a portable Xbox device that could run our current games, either Xbox One or Series S versions, but it appears we’re receiving a standard gaming PC in its place, at least temporarily. Unfortunately, many top-tier (AAA) games do not support Xbox Play Anywhere, which poses an issue.

Over the past few months, I’ve found myself immersed in a cornucopia of top-tier game releases – titles such as Cronos: The New Dawn, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Ready or Not. What makes these games particularly intriguing? Well, they all offer Xbox Play Anywhere compatibility! However, if I were to delve deeper into their shared characteristics, I’d say they each promise an engaging and immersive gaming experience, brimming with captivating gameplay mechanics and rich storylines.

Xbox Play Anywhere seems to have won support primarily from indie studios and smaller teams

Xbox Play Anywhere appears to have garnered significant backing mainly from independent studios and smaller development teams. It experiences a noticeable surge in use when bundled with Xbox Game Pass. Regrettably, larger publishers such as EA, Ubisoft, Take Two, and Capcom seem indifferent toward it.

Capcom introduced Resident Evil 7 but afterwards seemed to abandon the series altogether, indicating doubt about its value. In contrast, Square Enix has consistently supported projects such as the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, but they also ceased development for a while to focus on Final Fantasy Tactics instead.

It seems that this matter is growing increasingly frustrating as Microsoft continues to emphasize its PC platform. Advocating for features like roaming profiles and cross-platform compatibility becomes challenging when an alternative platform appears capable of executing these benefits much more effectively.

With Steam rumored to be eyeing the living room, Xbox is on the back foot

The problems with Xbox Play Anywhere go beyond just providing universal access to Xbox games; even major developers aren’t willing to offer the opportunity for users to purchase separate copies on the Xbox PC store. As Borderlands 4 was released today, it’s nowhere to find on the Xbox PC app. Capcom abandoned the Xbox PC store following the release of Resident Evil 3 Remake and didn’t bother launching Resident Evil 4 or Village there. In my opinion, this clearly shows weaknesses in the platform.

It appears that Microsoft’s approach seems to be focusing more on viewing Steam as a competitor rather than PlayStation, which could pose issues. In this scenario, Microsoft risks positioning its gaming platform as a less robust alternative to Steam, especially if Steam introduces devices capable of delivering an immersive living room experience.

It’s rumored that Microsoft intends to expand its partnerships beyond the Xbox Alloy in terms of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) devices. There are whispers suggesting that they might be planning Xbox-branded “living room” gaming PCs with partners, potentially for release in 2026. However, these machines could effectively become Steam machines due to a lack of native support for the Xbox PC ecosystem.

Through their encouragement to use a PC, Microsoft unintentionally finds me gravitating towards Steam for many of my gaming escapades.

Currently, over half of my video game collection can only be played on my Xbox console, and it does not comply with the “Xbox Ecosystem” that Microsoft promotes.

If you aim to have all your games accessible across every device you own, which is the multi-device approach Microsoft promotes as an appealing lifestyle, wouldn’t it be more advantageous for you (and others sharing similar preferences) to embrace Steam entirely?

As an observer, I find myself pondering: With Microsoft’s dedicated efforts to elevate Windows 11 for controller gaming and TV-focused experiences, it seems that without a robust ecosystem and developer support, they might be unwittingly boosting Steam’s dominance instead of their own. In fact, Steam appears to be just one leap away from seamlessly absorbing Microsoft’s vision before it truly takes flight in the living room PC domain.

Xbox PC and dev support: How can it be fixed?

One challenge that developers face when supporting the Xbox PC store is the significant complexity compared to Steam. Submitting a game to Steam is easy and hassle-free, with fewer certification requirements. Valve allows developers to self-regulate quality, and the community is known for quickly criticizing games that aren’t well-optimized at launch. Currently, Borderlands 4 is experiencing issues due to poor optimization.

One issue hindering developers from supporting the Xbox PC store is its complexity in contrast to Steam. It’s straightforward and stress-free to submit a game to Steam with fewer certification checks. Valve entrusts developers with maintaining quality, and the community has a reputation for swiftly penalizing games with suboptimal performance at launch. At present, Borderlands 4 is dealing with optimization problems.

These companies, specifically Microsoft, PlayStation, and Nintendo, typically strive for a certain level of quality before releasing a game in the market. However, it’s important to note that there can still be instances where the quality isn’t entirely flawless.

Currently, developers I’ve interacted with have been quite straightforward: they don’t perceive significant benefits in developing for the Xbox PC platform natively, and even less so in offering a dual license through Xbox Play Anywhere, which would essentially be a free giveaway.

Based on conversations with developers, it seems there isn’t a significant advantage for them to focus their efforts on the Xbox PC platform.

Microsoft should put more effort into showcasing the advantages of Xbox Play Anywhere and the Xbox PC app from the beginning. It’s crucial that these benefits are clearly visible, or if they aren’t, steps should be taken to address this issue. For instance, developers who support Xbox Play Anywhere could receive larger portions of revenue, or direct marketing assistance. The developer tools might also require improvement, and the process of publishing on the Xbox PC app or console itself should be made simpler and more straightforward.

We currently reside in a time where content consumption is swift and frequent. The traditional approach of controlling the platform and offering rigid certifications has given way to platforms such as Steam and Roblox, which emphasize access over refinement. This shift has significantly impacted an entire generation. However, both methods have their drawbacks. Notably, Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere strategy heavily relies on having games that are available to play.

As a research analyst, I’ve observed an interesting paradox: Microsoft seems to be inadvertently creating an “app gap” by focusing more on its own platform rather than intensifying efforts to attract new users on consoles. This strategy reminds me of the approach taken with Windows Phone, and we all know how that story ended.

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2025-09-13 16:41