"We think about the Xbox platform as the Xbox console, PC and cloud. We want them to be Play Anywhere." Microsoft strives to bring more Windows PC games to Xbox while hitting as "many screens as possible"

As a dedicated gamer and long-time follower of Microsoft’s Xbox brand evolution, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and relief at Phil Spencer’s recent statements about their multiplatform focus. Having spent countless hours on various platforms myself, juggling between consoles, PCs, and even the occasional cloud gaming session, it’s refreshing to hear that the company is aiming for a unified experience.

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that Microsoft has made significant strides in releasing games across multiple platforms using its Xbox brand as a foundation. This trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down; instead, it appears that the company is planning to intensify its focus on multiplatform releases in the future.

That news comes from a new interview Xbox head and Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer did with Game File’s Stephen Totilo, in which he responded to an inquiry about PC-only game releases potentially becoming a “new norm” for the firm. The question was asked because three of 2024’s nine new Xbox Game Studios releases — Ara: History Untold, Towerborne, and the World of Warcraft expansion The War Within — can only be played on Windows PC right now.

Spencer stated, “Negative. These are historical instances. While there might occasionally be exceptions, I consider those three cases as exceptions.” In terms of our gaming platform, we envision it encompassing the Xbox console, PC, and cloud. Our aim is for all games to be playable on every one of these platforms. We want them to be universally accessible under the ‘Play Anywhere’ concept.

He stated that when discussing a game, it should be accessible from anywhere an Xbox user happens to be, even with the Play Anywhere feature. Play Anywhere here refers to Xbox Play Anywhere, a convenient option that enables users to play their Xbox games on their PC through the Microsoft Store, as long as they utilize the same Microsoft account across both platforms.

Spencer went on to clarify that while not every piece of content purchased currently runs on all platforms, he was addressing Rod Ferguson about the DLC for Diablo 4 titled “Vessel of Hatred”. However, they aim to reach a point where, when you buy content, regardless if it’s on cloud, PC, or console, you will own it across the entire Xbox ecosystem.

Developing…

2024-11-13 22:38

“We think about the Xbox platform as the Xbox console, PC and cloud. We want them to be Play Anywhere.” Microsoft strives to bring more Windows PC games to Xbox while hitting as “many screens as possible”

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