Nonetheless, we recognize that we will need to adapt our business model even for the store on the Xbox console. Beginning today, we will move forward to apply Principles 1 through 7 to the store on the Xbox console. We’re committed to closing the gap on the remaining principles over time. In doing so, we will incorporate the spirit of new laws even beyond their scope, while moving forward in a way that protects the needs of game developers, gamers, and competitive and healthy game-console ecosystems.
Ultimately, we believe that this principled approach will promote a more open app market and better serve our users and creators alike. And, in turn, they will help us build a bigger and better gaming business.
Yup. They signaled opening up the Xbox store nearly three years ago.
I honestly believe the only new development of their plan is to fully support Playstation with everything Xbox makes. With the way cloud streaming needs way more time to develop and their own console and PC ambitions are not getting the traction they need to offset all the cost they took on they had no choice but to go all in on reaching as many potential consumers as possible.
Bridging it all means developers spend less resources as the PC build could effectively be the ‘‘Xbox’’ (even though Xbox would be a PC I guess) build which in turns means developers don’t need incentives to make games for MS’s ecosystem anymore as they already make PC builds. That would guarantee MS gets all games ported over even if dedicated hardware sales were to decrease and reduces costs for developers as well, so it’s a win/win really.
Presets would be really easy, I mean even Nvidia did that exactly with their app which detects your system and applies the best settings according to your hardware configuration. You’d lose some optimization that way for sure but gain a lot of flexibility and more hardware choices to the users in the end.
I imagine Xbox would still like developers to implement Xbox Live and Play Anywhere hooks. That’s the tech that really opens up a lot of possibilities for people to adopt Game Pass and cloud streaming alongside their purchases in other stores.
Let’s not forget Xbox will be supporting Nintendo as well. There is a good chance more people will gravitate towards the next Nintendo device than to the PlayStation.
I’m no programmer so I’m not entirely sure, I’m guessing some kind of API must exist to implement such things with minimal input for developers? Stuff like cross saves, achievements, and Xbox Live like you mentioned.
I always assumed the Xbox PC Store was basically the same executables as you’d get on Steam but with a dash of Xbox thrown in for those specific things you mentioned. I might be completely wrong, but I always thought it was something devs could easily implement, just like they would on Epic Games Store for example vs Steam.
I’d like to see it be even easier than it is, because if it was super easy you’d think we’d see more games hit the PC store. Or maybe it’s very easy and still not worth it.
I never understood that part. The Play Anywhere part I could understand I guess since devs don’t want people to get 2 copies of the game for the price of 1, which having 1 version would eliminate as their is no extra cost for the dev.
Although didn’t MS recently add 400 games that previously weren’t on the store but are PC only? So maybe they are actually just starting to make it happen.
It is really exciting the possibilities to break out of the traditional console locked in business model that has had a strangle hold on gaming forever it seems.
Why not have a small profile full PC under your TV that has an Xbox OS on it for ease of use but also allows you to play PC games on your TV and could also be modular/upgradeable.
Also why does Xbox need to be doing the same thing with hardware over and over again just to get outsold by Sony who have a near cult like following?
I hope they shake things up and make a TV room PC that functions like a hybrid Xbox/Full PC.
Add in a native handheld and that is a pretty awesome eco system that covers alot of ground for your gaming needs.
Play Anywhere would be a default feature because, well, every game would be the PC version. Just like every game on Steam is “Play Anywhere” in essence but Valve just doesn’t have a “console” OS (which wont be the case very soon).
League of Legends continuing to prove how culturally huge it is while games industry pundits continue to ignore it (because it isn’t on Steam or Console).
Guess which gaming platform will play this game and the associated MMO that’s in development. Not Playstation, not SteamOS, just XboxOS and Windows.
Doesn’t really equate that way after all Epic has Fortnite but that isn’t blowing their numbers. there are many games that have their sites or launchers with numbers over steam, but they aren’t considered as same because they focus on their own games and not a platform selling every other game. I do think though if Xbox can get that console feeling and stability to their next platform those games will definitely make a dent.
Agreed. I’m of the thought they may do something like the google store with their OS with not just Steam, Epic, Itch,io and Gog but will have publisher stores as well like EA, Ubisoft, Sega, Rockstar, Blizzard, Riot and others. They’re sort of trying that on the PC Xbox app now.
It wouldn’t surprise me. Microsoft’s open app store policies, enabling vendors to directly transact and communicate with consumers outside of Microsoft’s own payment systems, has to sound pretty attractive to devs and publishers who want to retain as much of the sale as possible.
Maybe I’m too optimistic, but it seems like it could position Microsoft to have the console (PC hybrid) with the most games available to play, second only to a full-blown PC. If it works well (and I do believe it’s a tall order) and it has a reasonably priced entry point, then I could see it gaining a lot of interest.
If it works well it could redefine gaming. It would in a sense make it possible for every publisher to have their own platform and not have to rely too much on the known ones. With the integration of camera and phone apps it could even potentially put Microsoft back in the Mobile market considering social media explosion has been the boom for Mobile phones growth and with gaming being the largest entertainment with the chops to marry both social media and entertainment. It’s really exciting stuff.
