Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has spoken more about his desire to create a more open console ecosystem, similar to how PC users can access multiple storefronts. When asked in a GDC interview if he could see a future where Xbox consoles allowed stores like Itch.io and the Epic Games Store to exist on that platform, Spencer replied with a brief “yes” before expanding on his vision for the future of gaming.
“(Consider) our history as the Windows company. Nobody would blink twice if I said, ‘Hey, when you’re using a PC, you get to decide the type of experience you have (by picking where to buy games).’ There’s real value in that,” Spencer said to Polygon.
Not only could console gamers benefit from having multiple stores to browse, but console makers could as well, Spencer added. According to him, while the typical approach of subsidizing console hardware costs by forcing players to purchase games through an official storefront would usually lead to profits in the long term, this approach may be motivating people to instead adopt more flexible platforms like PCs for their gaming needs.
Combined with hardware components not coming down as quickly in price as previous generations and the growth of console markets slowing down, the traditional way of doing business might not make sense, Spencer said.
“(Subsidizing hardware) becomes more challenging in today’s world,” Spencer explained. “And I will say, and this may seem too altruistic, I don’t know that it’s growing the industry. So I think, what are the barriers? What are the things that create friction in today’s world for creators and players? And how can we be part of opening up that model?”
Essentially, Spencer envisions consoles being more like PCs, as that market has been steadily growing thanks to various hardware options and multiple stores offering competitive prices on games.
The Microsoft Gaming CEO also finds the idea of an Xbox handheld intriguing, and he has implied that Microsoft wouldn’t stop supporting other PC handhelds if Microsoft brought its own hardware to the market. A new report claimed that Microsoft is working on Xbox handheld prototypes and the company did confirm earlier this year that next-gen Xbox hardware is under development.