Following Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision-Blizzard and its host of development studios, the tech giant has firmly cemented itself as the largest third-party game publisher in history. That’s why the recent revelation from Xbox head Phil Spencer, during an interview with Gamertag Radio, that future Xbox games would also debut on other platforms like Nintendo and PlayStation, has stirred quite the buzz. Yet, when you think about it, it’s a savvy move.
During this insightful chat with Danny Peña and Parris on Gamertag Radio, Spencer expressed, “I want people to experience the games we create and the services we offer on as many devices as possible,” a sentiment that echoes a genuine desire for inclusivity. Despite this wider reach, he assured fans, “We obviously love the native experience that we have on our own platform and hardware, and that’s something that will continue for us.” Throughout this 26-minute conversation, Spencer journeys through snapshots of Xbox’s past glory days, reminiscing about the original Xbox and the popular 360 era.
To truly understand why these remarks are stirring up controversy, a quick history lesson in console wars is needed. Remember Sonic the Hedgehog? Before he hit the big screen, he was the star of a series of adored—or sometimes criticized—games. Up until Sonic Adventure 2 was adapted for the GameCube, Sonic games were exclusive to Sega. When Sega’s Dreamcast couldn’t compete with the powerhouse that was Sony’s PlayStation 2, it marked the end of Sega’s home console ventures. Microsoft soon occupied Sega’s vacated space in the market with the launch of Xbox.
In the early days of creating the console that would be known as the Xbox, originally referred to as the “DirectX Box,” it actually supported backwards compatibility with Sega Dreamcast games. Though this feature didn’t make it into the final version, Xbox did get a leg up on exclusive releases with titles like Jet Set Radio Future coming only to Microsoft’s platform.
Spencer’s words might seem like the surrender of a struggling console maker at first glance. However, Microsoft is much bigger than that, especially now that it leads as the top third-party game publisher. The strategy seems to be less about tethering gamers to Xbox consoles and more about getting as many games into as many hands as possible.
“We want everybody to play on Xbox, and yes, that means shipping more of our games on more platforms, not just PlayStation,” Spencer stated. “We love our collaborations with Nintendo and Valve on Steam, and that’s only going to expand.”
So, is Microsoft following Sega’s path? Far from it—thanks to its substantial financial resources, Xbox isn’t fading away. However, the upcoming generation of Xbox systems will need to offer compelling features to pull gamers in, especially with competitors like the anticipated hybrid “Switch 3” and the power-laden PlayStation 6 poised to compete fiercely via their exclusive game offerings.
Microsoft faces a delicate balancing act. As they continue to market Xbox as not just a piece of hardware but as a gateway to a vast network of games and services, their challenge will be ensuring that Xbox remains distinctive amidst this broadening horizon. After all, “When everybody’s on Xbox, no one will be.”
