Microsoft already publishes multiformat games with Minecraft, but as the organisation increasingly looks to expand the reach of its services and subscriptions, there could come a time when it releases franchises like Halo and Gears of War on PlayStation platforms. That’s according to boss Phil Spencer, who’s revealed in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he’s been given the freedom to reach gamers on any device.
The sticking point, perhaps, is that the Windows maker’s focus right now is on increasing its Xbox Live membership base, and we know that’s been a point of concern for Sony in the past. Microsoft, for example, wants PlayStation 4 owners to sign in to Xbox Live as part of its cross-platform push in Minecraft, something that the Japanese giant seemingly wants nothing to do with.
It’s interesting, though: we all sign in to EA, Activision, and Ubisoft accounts to play big blockbusters, so what’s the difference here? To be honest, we can’t imagine any Xbox first-party titles will be coming to the PS4 any time soon, but as Microsoft becomes increasingly obsessed with memberships and monthly active users, there’s every chance it could start looking to Sony’s global install base in order to grow those metrics.
Maybe.
[source wsj.com]
Comments 60
Hmm interesting. It feels like they are approaching their gaming in the same way they are approaching their software offerings - cross platform with their hardware becoming complementary as opposed to mandatory. I guess Sony don't want people paying their competition subscription to use their games.
I called this years ago. But I guarantee this will happen at some point. The days of Microsoft being a console manufacturer are numbered, says I.
I thought Xbox live was a paid subscription?
CONFIRMED:Rare Replay for PS4
I doubt this will happen in the near future (if ever), but if their goal really is to grow active users then they're kinda throttling themselves by restricting their software to Xbox and Windows 10.
They need to be everywhere.
I'm not sure we're missing much. MS isn't focusing on Exclusives anymore. I also just played thru first Halo with my son recently and while the co-op made it more fun, the game itself wasn't that great. Maybe they get better later on...
@JoeBlogs Eh. Even if there are no other consoles (which there always will be), PlayStation is still in competition with practically every other entertainment medium to some degree.
Games consoles compete for your time at the end of the day. And that time could be spent in a million other places.
Unless Microsoft got out of the console business, I don't see this happening.
@get2sammyb Let's not forget MS was originally a software developer, with its Windows OS and such. A big reason that they entered the console business is that back during the original Xbox days video game sales were out selling PC games at least here in the US. Now that gap has decreased big time, so it wouldn't be surprising if MS wanted to just develope software.
@JoeBlogs It's not a good thing at all. We've seen what happens when Sony has no competition.
to be fair they probably make more off software than hardware anyway and plus SEGA did it and it worked out fine for them
besides PlayStation, Nintendo and P.C would be more than enough if you think about it, 3 completely different systems that offer 3 different ways to game
I have hoped for a day when all games run on a 'universal' device. A single platform that plays ALL games in a similar way to a Bluray player playing all blurays regardless of which studio makes them.
Maybe you get 'discounts' for signing up to MS or Sony's Subscription service - a bit like EA Access - but you could still buy any make of Console. I am sure if we saw a 'universal' gaming console, companies like LG, Samsung and maybe even Apple would make a Console. If that day ever came though, you can bet that 'every' year, there would be a 'new' set of models that outdo last years set on specs and 'games' would become more like PC games - in that you can optimise them yourself depending on the capability of the hardware.
I don't think MS would necessarily leave the console market if this happened. It would be like MS building the Surface laptop and competing with Acer, HP etc. I think though MS would really need to build a device that significantly beats Sony's hardware otherwise there is likely to be little reason to buy.
@get2sammyb Yeah, but if you're a gamer you're a gamer. If Sony are the, ugh, only game in town then they can effectively dictate what's industry standard.
Imagine, if you will, that Sony gave up after the PS3. What would the Xbox One currently look like? It'd look like what Microsoft tried to get away with before people kicked back, voted with their wallets, and supported PlayStation 4. If there'd been no other options Microsoft could have done whatever the hell they wanted.
It could go like the film and music industries, were the big companies such as Sony, MS, Nintendo or the EA's etc make games for a single screen/device. All the devices play all of the movies/games and you just buy what you want off the publisher/dev that makes the games you want. It could happen......
Tbh other then Sunset Overdrive, Cuphead and maybe Forza Horizon 3 there really isn't anything I want from them.
This is horrible if the competition dies then what.
Nintendo ain't gonna compete with Playstation they just can't wth is going on here.
@Diymhoshei doubtful... there needs to be “competition” + Nintendo putting thier games on other systems in the modern age? Doubtful closest you’re getting to that is Emulation...
@johncalmc I dunno, I feel like people just wouldn't buy it. It's hard for us to imagine on enthusiast websites like this, but for the vast majority of people I imagine gaming is quite a disposable thing.
@Hapuc PC/Steam my friend
Sony would go beyond fight the same tired Battle for years they’ll still be fighting Nintendo in Japan but outside of that Sony has a bone to pick w Valve.
@johncalmc @JoeBlogs You both make a good point. I wonder if an Xbox-free world will produce the best PlayStation console product 🤔
@JoeBlogs Yeah the Halo collection might be worth a look, though I have a feeling most of them would feel dated now.
@Derpie1 Why would they want to fight with Steam when they have Console Space and mobile Space on lock.
And they already dabbed in PC market with PSNow.
From what i Know PS games are under contract studios can't make games for other platform other then PS.
@get2sammyb I don't think so, man. If you can have a games console that does a bunch of stuff you don't like or one that doesn't then the choice is easy. If you can have a games console that does a bunch of stuff you don't like, or give up gaming and take up crochet as a hobby, then the choice isn't so clear.
This doesn't surprise me.
Xbox is a small part of Microsoft.
PlayStation in many ways is Sony.
They already gave up their exclusives once they entered the PC space.
Why go halfway?
Going multiplat seems like the natural progression for Xbox as part of Microsoft's games division.
I would like to pay Cuphead & Ori. Would gladly pay full price for them, but I wouldn't buy an Xbox to play them (& I don't do PC gaming).
Money left on the table, MS. Your call .
Interesting, although the only exclusive I want from microsoft is gear of war series, and cuphead.
@JoeBlogs @johncalmc Agree, sony and microsoft need each other to keep themselves on check.
@Derpie1 Pc/valve is not a good competitor for sony, I don't want sony to not making games and making in-game hat instead
@Th3solution If there isn't xbox 360, ps4 will be $600 machine with really weird architecture lol, I think it's microsoft that reminded sony to make a good, easy to program console for the developers.
With Sony (albeit music) publishering games on Switch, Phil Spencer giving vague hints about MS games on other platforms I can definitely see how PSX is ending. Yoshida, Spencer and Miyamoto come on stage to announce a partnership that will revolutionize gaming forever, including a three way joint project with Nintendo handling gameplay, MS with online and cloud streaming and Sony doing graphics and that game is...Knack 3.
God that's a weird alternate universe.
"Microsoft May Bring First-Party Franchises to PlayStation in the Future"
They might want to try bringing some to Xbox once in a while 😆
@NintendoFan4Lyf
I thought the difference is that EA, Activision & Ubisoft aren't the main manufacturing competitor, or run a rival online console network.
I can see why Sony don't want all PSN users to have an xbox gamertag, in as much as I'm sure MS wouldn't allow all its users to have to have a PSN ID too.
I think the X is the last Xbox before the brand will become something like a gaming service on Windows 10 and other devices, so yeah, I think it is plausible to expect Halo on Ps4 in the next years.
Microsoft had one central plan with the Xbox - to replicate the dominance of PC Windows in the living room pc/set-top box market. That plan culminated in the DRM-AlwaysOn-Nightmare of the One. When that bubble burst thanks to the outcry of the gaming community, MS only half-arsed some first party support to keep the brand alive.
The X is a beautiful and powerful machine, but I suspect it's only reason to exist is to end this generation with at least some positive news and to keep the XBox brand somewhat relevant when they change it to a service or something like this.
@wiiware you needa keep in mind
Nintendo in the realms of consoles is not as powerful as before back from the NES-GCN so in the realms of power what is something Sony can go against
Why the PC Market/Valve And Steam ofc!
@NikCanPlay just...no.
I dunno, that seems unlikely.
The reasoning of this is beyond stupid though.
You base the assumption entirely on Minecraft? You do know that Minecraft was on PS4, PS3 and PS Vita BEFORE Microsoft bought Minecraft right? What would they do? Make it unavailable to PS Platforms when they got it? That makes no sense. Halo isn't even on PC, let alone soon to be released on PS4.
To me it seems that Microsoft are trying to push their games as a service now - maybe they'll go an EA Access route and try to introduce a subscription or something like that?
@Grimmy001 Read the article again. It casts serious doubt on the likelihood of anything like this happening, but this is the quote from the Wall Street Journal:
"In an interview, Mr. Spencer said his new role is designed, in part, to give him more latitude to reach gamers on any device, rather than using 'gaming to make Windows more successful'.
"That means, one day, more Microsoft first-party games could appear on other platforms, he said, such as Apple Inc.’s iPhones or perhaps even Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 4, as its building game Minecraft does."
The rest of the article talks about how Microsoft's main focus is to grow its game software and services, which would certainly be easier with a more open approach?
Honestly MS should just bring their franchises to PS because this generations has been ridiculous for them...almost no good games to show, nothing to be hyped about! People that chose an XBOX over PS4 are delusional...
Being an Xbox fan since the very beginning even I’d like this to happen, just to have the one console but also still have Microsoft Game Studios bring their games like Halo, Forza, Gears of War etc. But I would miss the XBL service and Xbox controller.
Gimme the Forzas on my ps4 pro and I will subscribe whatever they want...
Somehow I can't help but feel a bit worried about Microsoft trying to get onto the PlayStation platform acting like it's the 'good guy' trying to bring crossplay to everyone. Why? Primarily it comes down to a company's motives... Yes Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo are all in it for the money but it's the games which the studios have produced in the past 15 odd years that sway me and help me choose. Would Microsoft had produced a locoroco? A little big planet game? How about Bloodborne or Horizon Zero Dawn? Journey or God of War? Sony have shown time and time again that they let the creative juices flow with freedom and support with in-house and third party friends/partners. Microsoft mainly stick to 'safe' genres as long as they make money. Sony takes gambles and are happy to 'experiment' and take gamble with new tech like PSVR. If Microsoft brings games to PlayStation then cool. But would they also bring along the propaganda thing of 'we're the good guys now championing gamers platforming' and thereby divide the PlayStation community? A divided community means less bucks to Sony and therefore less budgets to carry on bringing us the amazing exclusive experiences we've enjoyed on playstation since PS1 days? Halo, Gears on PlayStation would be cool. But a world without playstation and it's class 1st studios not so cool.
Only game id care about (though care AAA LLLOOOTT) would be MINECRAFT2!!!
Update the article he clarified that he was misquoted.
Thank god more competition.
Ahh man i like that PlayStation os all on top and stuff but xbox os really under performing and there needs to be competition for prices and quality to not go lop sided. Nintendo has a good direction with switch and is playinh its strengths . And xbox needs to due better, there rally gonna hurt the meta for all users here. My personal opinion here
This should get us hyped, but they don't have many games to get hyped over.
I'd be interested if they had any first-party stuff I wanted.
@AFCC I respect your point, but I didn’t actually understand. if this generation has been ridiculous for xbox then why are most of people here so eager to have xbox games on the ps4 ?! I just don’t get it. People say that “xbox has no good exclusives so i just get the ps4 instead” and then “I would love cuphead, halo, forza on PS4” . If people just would love to have those games why don’t get the xbox ?
@johncalmc Probably right. PS5 for me!! ..coming from and xbox fan.
What else can they do? Not selling units so they need to make money some way.
What a terrible idea. MS is done. Whos next to step up to the plate? Google? Amazon? Someone else? We need competition.
Why do we need this for 3 games? Some RARE games i dont think they have enough games to even have a service.
As long as Sony exclusives stay on Playstation only, i couldn't care less about MS practices and the lack of exclusives on their side.
Competition is a wonderful thing, glad that Sony and Nintendo are still creating great exclusives, unlike MS.
Dont care much about halo, If ms want to see an income revenue on games selling, just put ryse of rome, alan wake and quantum break On ps4/ps4pro because it has a bigger install base rather than xbox, tempting right ms? it would be nicee add to an already great playstation games
Ok, at least now I see what their strategy is, though it seems this would make them sell even less consoles but maybe that's not their focus anymore.
BTW It must be a good sign of how solid the PS4 library is that the only titles I would gladly see on the console are Cuphead and Project Octopath Traveller....and maybe Killer Instinct.
The golden age of the PlayStation will be over the instant MS declares its retreat from the console market. That would be awe full for every player around the globe. As much as I do like to play Forza or Gears of War on my PlayStation, the market will die without competition.
Don't say this will never happen. You know what just DID happen? INTEL and AMD building processors TOGETHER. 8th gen Kabylake R from Intel with integrated graphics chipset from AMD with hyperfast memory bus. Boom Shakalaka. No one thought this would ever happen, but it does. New Hardware expected early 2018. It's basically an Intel chip with amd integrated graphics giving performance 3x of the Intel HD and Iris graphics.
Makes me wonder if MS are going to stop partaking in the hardware market in the next 5 or so years and become content and services only. Seems that way after Phil said they are looking at content platforms (like PS Now) and already release Xbone games on PC.
Ironically they don't have much content right now but Phil also said this week they are looking to increase output. Tbh they need to.
@Scollurio Yep, just like once upon a time it was inconceivable to think we'd be able to play Sonic on a Nintendo console...
It’s not due to some drastic shift in the industry but more of Microsoft’s way of slowly moving away from the console business and focus more on software, which is not a bad thing. I highly doubt Sony will follow if/when this happens. They earn plenty on selling the PlayStation hardware and software (especially exclusives).
@duhsoares21 What's the point now in having a xbox if you can just have a PS4 and buy a PC if you really like their games? Also PC is good for other games and for everything else actually! People are eager to try like what Forza and Cuphead...I play Cuphead on my pc just fine xD
@JoeBlogs Exactly. I fear the day there's only 1 box to choose from. (and no, PC is just one box of several choices)
We have been knowing well to get the record screen windows 10 here.
I know I'm not the only one wanting a cuphead game. it's the mega man successor we always wanted
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