Microsoft is planning a future ‘where every screen is an Xbox’

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A memo that was leaked recently states that Microsoft is preparing for a future in which all screens will function as Xbox.

The business has declared some unplanned alterations which will make games that were previously only available on Xbox available on competing consoles.

However, it seems like there's a larger plan to make Xbox accessible in more ways. This includes expanding to PCs, TVs through cloud gaming, and even branching out to other consoles like the Nintendo Switch.

Initially, it may appear that a number of unique games created for the Xbox console will soon be available on competing gaming systems. This includes both the gaming brand itself and its parent corporation, Microsoft.

The Verge has received information that suggests there could be a bigger strategy at play, which aims to present a "unique vision for future gaming". The memo indicated that Xbox plans to expand its reach, in line with its commitment to help players "enjoy their desired games, with their preferred companions, at any location".

The trial version was shared with employees before a unique release of the Official Xbox Podcast. During the podcast, Phil Spencer, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, announced that four Xbox games will no longer be limited to Xbox alone.

This implies that gamers ought to have the capability to reach them on platforms owned by other businesses.

Mr. Spencer did not mention exactly when the four games will be released or specify which games they are. However, he did mention that two of them will involve input from the community and the other two games will be of a smaller scale.

He stated that the developers in charge of creating these games have revealed that their release dates are not too distant. While he will not disclose any information regarding the specific titles, he believes that when they are finally available, it will all become clear.

The statement was made that Starfield and Indiana Jones, games owned by Microsoft-owned Bethesda, were not included in the aforementioned titles.

Manufacturers of gaming equipment frequently obtain permission to use popular video games with the expectation of persuading consumers to purchase the products that have been granted exclusive rights.

On Thursday, Xbox made an announcement that implies the brand is reconsidering its approach.

Microsoft stated that their exclusivity approach remains unchanged, however, Mr. Spencer expressed his belief that games which are exclusively available on one particular hardware device will become a less significant aspect of the gaming industry in the coming five to ten years.

Microsoft has been gradually distancing itself from this approach by creating a subscription service called "Game Pass." It's similar to Netflix, except for video games.

The recent purchase by the technology company of Activision Blizzard, a video game maker, will enable the service to expand even more.

The president of Xbox, Sarah Bond, made an announcement on Thursday that the initial game from Activision Blizzard on Xbox Game Pass would be Diablo IV, and it will commence from March 28.

Bond stated that their dedication is to ensure that Xbox, the Xbox experience and the games they create are readily accessible to as many people as possible.

It's anticipated that Xbox, which used to come in third place when it came to sales compared to PlayStation and Nintendo, will experience a big surge in popularity thanks to the collection of games developed by Activision Blizzard. Alongside Diablo, the Activision Blizzard collection includes hugely popular titles like Call of Duty and Overwatch.

Microsoft's personal computing business, which is spearheaded by its Windows operating system and also includes Xbox games and services, experienced a 19% increase in revenue during the fourth quarter of 2023, reaching a total of 16.89 billion US dollars (£13.4 billion). This boost in revenue can primarily be attributed to the positive impact of Activision Blizzard on the business.

The revenues related to Microsoft's Xbox grew by 61% during this period, but the company clarified that 55% of this increase was due to the inclusion of Activision Blizzard.

In October, Microsoft finished buying Activision Blizzard for a hefty sum of 69 billion dollars (which is equivalent to 54.8 billion pounds). This came almost two years after they first made the announcement about the acquisition. Microsoft, a technology company based in Redmond, Washington, encountered significant resistance from antitrust regulators and competitors worldwide due to concerns regarding competition.

More information was gathered by external sources.