In an interview with Ausgamers, Microsoft’s corporate vice president Phil Spencer has hinted toward the possibility of cross-platform play on the Xbox One. Specifically, Spencer addressed the potential to pair the console with the PC platform; linking the two communities together under one gaming ecosystem. In fact, the company’s VP believes that “[the connection] makes sense.”
“This connected ecosystem across all the different devices is definitely where I think the future of gaming is going; you don’t have to do it as a developer. But you have the capability and I think a system like Xbox Live across all those screens where you know who someone is and who their friends are, what their Achievements are and their progression is really critical to that.”
Given the Xbox One’s PC-esque internal architecture, the pairing isn’t exactly outside the realm of possibility. The company has been establishing dedicated cloud-based servers in the build up to the next-generation, and though Microsoft would need to accommodate for the varying means of input between the two platforms, Spencer’s notion of a connected ecosystem is certainly interesting.
With that said, if the Xbox One were to receive keyboard and mouse support, some would question the console’s differences from its PC brethren. What’s more, the fact that the company’s previous attempts at bringing the two markets together – 2007’s Shadow Run, for example – didn’t go as planned may lead to Spencer’s idea remaining on the shelf for some time yet. Nevertheless, if Microsoft were to implement cross-platform play in the near future, the company already has a significant foothold in the PC market as a foundation.
Ultimately, though, it seems software will be an influential part. If the list of compatible, cross-platform games between Xbox One and PC gained traction within the community, then Microsoft could have an appealing feature on its hands. Still, at this time, the potential for cross-platform play remains a pipe dream.
What do you think? Would you like to see the Xbox One connect with the PC community? Or do you believe the two platforms should exist as separate entities? Let us know below.
