Late last year, Microsoft’s gaming division launched a new marketing campaign called “This is an Xbox”. The campaign described how easy it was to play an Xbox game with virtually any device with Internet access. It also confirmed a shift from a console to a multiplatform era.
Appearing in an interview on Gamertag Radio, the Xbox boss Phil Spencer made several revelations about the future of the console, including why players should not trash their consoles yet.
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“I want people to pick hardware based on the capabilities of that hardware and how that fits into the choices that they want to make about where they want to play, and we want our hardware to win based on the hardware capabilities that we have,” Spencer said in the interview.
“I think the difference that we’ve seen in the last 20 years, and I think this is good because I come from building games, is it’s really games first, not platform first. Most of the games that you or I will talk about run across so many different platforms, and those are the games that are having success, those are the games at the top of the charts… I want to build a platform that services those creators, the creators that are trying to meet people on every screen.”
While the Xbox community has continued to doubt the future of the console, the company’s executives have reiterated that the next console iteration will be a generational leap. Nevertheless, how business is conducted in the company is changing drastically.
Xbox is committed to supporting Switch 2
Talking about the change in business model, more Xbox first-party titles will still go to other platforms. After a long wait and waves of rumors, Nintendo finally revealed the Switch 2 earlier this month. While also speaking on Gamertag Radio, Spencer praised Nintendo Switch 2 saying they plan to support the upcoming console with ports of Xbox games.
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“I was exchanging emails with Furukawa-san, the CEO of Nintendo. I gave him a big congrats and said my old eyes appreciate the larger screen,” Spencer said.
“Nintendo, their innovation, and what they mean in this industry… I just always applaud the moves that they make. They did a little flash video, and I know we’ll get more detail over time. I’m really looking forward to supporting them with the games that we have, and I just think they’re a really important part of this industry.
“It’s hard with what’s publicly out there right now for everybody to get their [heads] around it, but who would ever bet against the success of that team? They are just masterful in what they do, Switch is a massive success, and I think Switch 2 will be as well.”
Any Xbox first-party title can be ported to rival platforms
While Xbox will continue to commit to making consoles, Spencer has revealed that platform exclusivity is one of its business models that will change, going forward. In a business update last year, the company’s gaming executives announced four titles that will be heading to rival platforms.
Phil Spencer on Starfield exclusivity
Destin: "Can you solidify that Starfield is staying put for the time being?"
Spencer: "No."
Source: https://t.co/ccNXLG6GU5 pic.twitter.com/r6sfx9e193
— Destin (@DestinLegarie) January 25, 2025
In a recent interview, Spencer confirmed that no title is off-limits when considering sending games to rival platforms. When asked by Destin Legarie if Starfield will remain an Xbox exclusive Spencer had this to say;
“No, there’s no specific game… there’s no reason for me to put a ring fence around any game and say ‘this game will not go to a place where it will find players and have business success for us’.
“What we find is we’re able to drive a better business that allows us to invest in a great game lineup like you saw, that’s our strategy. Our strategy is to allow our games to be available. Game Pass is an important component of playing the games on our platform. To keep games off of other platforms, that’s not a path for us, it doesn’t work for us.”
Do you think the new business model of sending first-party titles to rival platforms will favor Xbox? Share your thoughts with us.
