Microsoft is apparently considering bringing their prodigious video game library to other platforms.
Jez Corden, writing for Windows Central, shared this information:
“ They say there’s no smoke without fire. I will say that it has been suggested to me from very trusted, proven sources that Microsoft has been exploring bringing some of its back catalog to other platforms, although some of the details remain vague and unconfirmed. We’ve reached out to Microsoft to comment and clarify its position on this stuff.
I also confirmed with some sources separately over the holiday period that games like Hellblade 2, Avowed, and The Elder Scrolls VI are still slated to be Xbox console exclusive, after the initial rumor mill around moving towards platform agnosticity swirled.”
Microsoft is in an unusual place at this time. After finalizing their acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, they have more than enough IPs that they could make money with.
And so they are facing a completely different dilemma than what they had during the Xbox One era. If that period was marked by a futility in catching up to the PlayStation 4, and many cancelled or disappointing releases, now Microsoft has so much IP they own.
Microsoft could fall into several pitfalls as we have seen other companies who ran this acquisition game succumbed to. Both Electronic Arts and pre-acquisition Activision made it a habit to acquire IP, but they would eventually quietly retire the lion’s share of them.
While one could argue that they are making the most money out of a smaller number of IP, the question arises: could they be in a better position if they were making more games in more genres? For Microsoft to escape that trap, and keep their studios active with the games they are known for, they have to consider releasing games outside of Xbox.
But there’s also some FUD behind this rumor, when we should know better. Is it really in Microsoft’s best interest to bring all their old games to PlayStation? How about Nintendo’s platforms? In fact, they have even more choices than that.
For example, the much vaunted cloud gaming market could be an ideal platform for Microsoft’s library. Cloud gaming certainly could use as many games as they can to entice gamers to try it out, and those games could be just the trick.
Also, lest we forget, Microsoft has plans to expand their total gaming output to include mobile. So, who’s to say that Microsoft was actually considering this as a platform for their legacy games, via their bespoke third party store.
As for bringing games to PlayStation and Nintendo, clearly Microsoft is entirely open to this too. No one is out there complaining that Minecraft is playable anywhere where you can play games.
Clearly, Minecraft is a special case, and that’s probably how the company will approach games they sell on their competitor’s platforms. Even if Microsoft makes billions annually, they are looking to protect individual game studios, by making their games profitable and sustainable. That’s the context where they would consider bringing their games outside Xbox.
