Xbox head of the brand and CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer’s comments in the latest Xbox Direct confirm the company is one of the largest multi-platform game publishers. He stressed on the fact that games published by Microsoft are available across other gaming platforms like PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile gaming devices.
In a bid to reverse the recent run of tough luck for the company, going multi-platform was a business decision keeping in mind the future of Xbox. It is also an attempt on Microsoft’s behalf to build, what Phil Spencer calls, a “healthy player community, healthy creator community, and healthy business“.
Mr. Spencer also pointed out that the games are not a means to increase the Xbox console’s popularity. It is the other way around as the company wants to create a healthy environment for gamers by providing them with a platform to reach massive gaming communities and player bases with their games.
Xbox’s Multi-Platform Existence
PlayStation and Xbox had been in an unspoken race to be the best console. With the new direction that Xbox is going where they focus more on the game publishing aspect rather than focusing on making the ‘Xbox experience’ more exclusive and lucrative, it seems evident that PlayStation has emerged on top of a race that spanned over decades.
After reiterating the fact that the industry had seen some tough times recently, not just Xbox, Phil Spencer outlined Xbox’s plan to go multi-platform. When asked about the business aspect of this decision he said,
we have shipped games on other platforms. In fact, realistically, if you look with the addition of Activision, Blizzard, and ZeniMax, we’re one of the largest game publishers on PlayStation. We’re one of the largest publishers on the Nintendo Switch, especially when you put Minecraft into the equation as well. And now, we’re one of the largest publishers on mobile platforms as well. And that’s not something that we want to back away from. We want to continue to be building great games that millions and millions of people can love and that they can play those games where they want to go play.
Xbox switched lanes to become a multi-platform video game publisher instead of a company that has a unique console experience and releases games tailor-made for that experience. Although Mr. Spencer did say that the Xbox console will continue to be the gold standard for consoles to play their games on.
The Future of Xbox and Its Legacy
Microsoft Gaming, the owner of Xbox, is one of the largest video game publishers in the industry with numerous huge franchises like Call of Duty, Diablo, Candy Crush, World of Warcraft, Wolfenstein, Doom, Fallout, and much more. They have partnered up with a number of major developers who have stellar reputations in the circle.
The upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is already one of the most anticipated releases of the year. With this shift of Xbox becoming a video game publisher, the talk among fans about getting the new Indiana Jones games for PlayStation and PC has started in full flow again although rumors have been quashed for now.
What do you think about Phil Spencer’s statements regarding Xbox’s future? What are the possible ramifications of this decision for the gaming community?
