Since Microsoft’s takeover of Activision-Blizzard and its array of development studios, Microsoft—and by extension, Xbox—has become the largest third-party game publisher ever. So when Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, recently mentioned in an interview with Gamertag Radio that upcoming Xbox games could be launched on other platforms, including Nintendo and PlayStation, it certainly made waves but was quite logical on reflection.
In his conversation with Danny Peña and Parris from Gamertag Radio, Spencer expressed his vision: “I want people to be able to experience the games that we build, the services that we offer on as many devices as we can.” He also emphasized, “We obviously love the native experience that we have on our own platform and our own hardware, and that’s something that will continue for us.” This YouTube interview is a goldmine of industry insights and nostalgic reflections on Xbox’s history, touching upon the days of the original Xbox and the Xbox 360.
For those who might be unfamiliar with the context behind these remarks, a short history of the consoles might help. Remember Sonic the Hedgehog, that little blue speedster from the movies? Before he hit the big screen, Sonic starred in video games that were, at first, exclusive to Sega consoles. After the Sega Dreamcast was overshadowed by the much more powerful PlayStation 2 from Sony, Sega transitioned into a third-party developer’s role just as Microsoft was making its entrance into the market with the Xbox.
In the “DirectX Box” development phase, which would eventually reveal itself as the first Xbox, there was compatibility with Sega Dreamcast games (aided by compatibility with Windows CE on the Dreamcast). Eventually, while this feature didn’t make it to the final system, some Dreamcast-era follow-ups like Jet Set Radio Future found a new home exclusively on Xbox.
Spencer’s comments might initially sound like a retreating console manufacturer’s last words, but Microsoft isn’t in that position at all. Having grown into the largest third-party game publisher ever, Microsoft is focusing on maximizing game distribution rather than limiting its audience to just Xbox users.
As Spencer elaborates, “We want everybody to be able to play on Xbox, and it does mean more of our games shipping on more platforms, not just PlayStation. We love the work that we do with Nintendo, we love what we do with Valve on Steam, and that’s going to continue.”
Does this mean Xbox is following Sega’s path? Hardly so—Microsoft’s substantial resources ensure otherwise. Yet, the next round of Xbox consoles will need to offer a compelling reason for people to choose them based on their hardware, against the expected hybrid portable style of “Switch 3” and the inevitable powerhouse that will be the PlayStation 6, both of which will rely heavily on exclusive titles, in keeping with console tradition.
However, if Microsoft isn’t cautious with the direction that sees Xbox not as a hardware platform but more as a portfolio of games and services, they risk the fate of “When everybody’s on Xbox, no one will be.”
