Microsoft and Valve could well revolutionize the interest that players have in Xbox consoles. Just yesterday, we learned of the concerns of major developers about the future of the Redmond console. “I don't know why we bothered to support Xbox” a major studio reportedly told a journalist attending the 2024 Game Developers Conference. A concern that would find its origin in the manufacturer's strategic choices. By abandoning hardware in favor of a Game Pass accessible even without Xbox, console and game sales are currently in free fall, again according to insiders.
While a future where players shun the Xbox family of machines terrorizes studios, for fear of wasting time developing for this platform, Microsoft finally has the solution to all these problems. What if the Xbox became a kind of living room PC? During an interview with Polygon on the occasion of GDC 2024, the company's gaming CEO Phil Spencer revealed his desire to remove the limitations of the console by offering more freedom to players. These words are now followed by a leak of a meeting during which the bosses of Valve and Xbox would have revealed the imminent announcement of a historic partnership. Let's take stock of these key pieces of information.
The importance of choice
During his interview with Polygon, Phil Spencer says he sees a real interest in the multiple stores available on PC: “Consider our history as Windows. No one would bat an eyelid if I said, “Hey, when you use a PC, you can decide what kind of experience you have (by choosing where to buy games, Ed.)” There’s real value there.”
On consoles, gamers have to make do with what the manufacturer and its partners give them, as has always been the case. Whereas on PC, gamers are part of an ever-growing ecosystem, both on the hardware and software side. “If I want to play on a gaming PC, I feel like I'm part of a larger gaming ecosystem. Unlike what happens (on consoles, editor's note), my games are sort of divided according to these different closed ecosystems in which I have to play” explains Phil Spencer. The desire of the Xbox CEO would therefore be to offer this same freedom of play, directly from the Xbox ecosystem, which would become in some way an extension of the PC.
A major alliance
On X, a rumor following These statements set the network ablaze. A number of insiders were reportedly invited to a Zoom interview, bringing together major industry players, such as Geoff Keighley, Phil Spencer and, against all expectations, Gabe Newell from Valve. On this occasion, the discussions reportedly revealed that Microsoft and Valve have been working hand in hand for some time now, in order to prepare for the launch of Steam on Xbox Series X and S. This partnership would go to double entendre and would allow the deployment of the Xbox app on Steam OS, thus opening the door to the native Xbox Game Pass on Steam Deck.
https://twitter.com/kjovian/status/1773273643583181016?t=ZOS7EyCCOHtTnwYHKImpzw
At the moment, there is not enough information regarding the possible operation of Steam on Xbox. Is the console capable of native compatibility with all the titles in the catalog? Or would purchasing a title on Steam give access to its Xbox version? Patience is required before learning more about this possible revolution for Xbox gaming. One thing is certain, the prospect of such compatibility has something to offer the boost that Microsoft consoles desperately need. To be continued.
0 Comments