Microsoft’s decision to open up its catalog of first-party titles for PC with the Xbox Play Anywhere program doesn’t necessarily detract from the console gaming experience.
First showcased during E3 in June, the incentive offers players a cross-buy service across both Windows 10 and Xbox One, meaning you only need to buy one copy of a first-party game such as Gears of War 4 – select third-party titles are also valid – to access it across the two platforms.
It’s all part of Microsoft’s unification strategy, and while appearing on the Inner Circle Podcast (per GameSpot), Executive Albert Penello offered some fresh perspective on the Xbox Play Anywhere program and why it doesn’t spell the death of Microsoft’s console business.
“There’s a debate or a discussion that you can have with a certain type of people online and you want to argue details and argue nuance, but the reality is that most people don’t make that kind of choice.
“Today, if you play games, you’re playing games on just about everything you own. You’re playing games on your phone, you’re playing games on your console when you want to lay back in front of that big TV, and you’re playing PC games when you want that keyboard and mouse, up-close, highly customised kind of experience.”
Those Microsoft games that have already been added to the program include Killer Instinct and Remedy’s Quantum Break, and Penello echoed comments made by Xbox boss Phil Spencer by stating that the service’s raison d’etre is really to open up the library of games to more users.
“Even guys that are diehard console gamers, we know they play on their phone and PC. So to me, the idea that you’re bringing games to the PC suddenly means that people don’t want consoles anymore… it doesn’t ring true to how gamers really behave.”
Tell us, what are your thoughts on Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere service? Drop a comment below and let us know!