Microsoft has been a significant competitor in the video game industry within the console space for many years. You had Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo competing to bring more consumers into their respective ecosystems. With new hardware and a slew of exclusives, the three duked it out in the marketplace for your hard-earned dollar. That was until Microsoft pivoted to a different strategy. That strategy hasn’t been popular with everyone, with a former Blizzard Entertainment president now calling out Xbox.
I’m sure you’re already familiar with Microsoft’s current practices. The days of gatekeeping certain franchises are essentially over. Instead, we’re seeing Microsoft embrace video games across multiple platforms. Not every franchise is on one rival platform. For example, Halo is still an IP that can only be played through Xbox consoles, PC, or via cloud gaming. It’s not something you can pick up and enjoy on the PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch. Of course, just how long that be the case remains to be seen.
Still, while Microsoft has pushed Xbox into both a console and a publisher across multiple platforms, former Microsoft executives are viewing the situation with frustration. One of those former executives is Mike Ybarra, who also was the president of Blizzard Entertainment for a time.
Taking to X, Mike stated that it was tough to see Xbox confused as to what it should be. While he will also be a fan and cheer the team from the sidelines, ultimately, Mike suggests that Xbox picks a lane and sticks with it. That’s when another user asked to clarify what Mike felt Xbox should be doing.
The former Blizzard Entertainment president believes that Xbox should abandon its hardware business. Instead, embrace the idea of being the world’s largest publisher of entertainment content. We, of course, know that Microsoft is still planning its hardware. It wasn’t long ago that an AMD deal with Microsoft was unveiled to help pave the way for future hardware. Of course, just what this future hardware will look like and what will entice players to pick it up is a mystery.
