Phil Spencer Might Bring Epic and Other Game Stores to Xbox Consoles
If you woke me up one day and said, “Hey, do you want to buy this obscure yet fun indie from a random game store on your Xbox?” I probably would’ve laughed in your face. Or maybe sat down and told you about platform exclusivity. However,Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s CEO of Gaming, shares how this idea should become a reality.
In an interview withPolygonat the yearly Game Developers Conference, Phil Spencer discussed his desire toremove the console’s closed ecosystem. Historically, consoles have only allowed you to purchase games from their storefront. This applies to all major players like PlayStation and Xbox. Phil Spencer wants to change this closed nature of consoles.
When asked about whether he believes stores like Epic Games Store and Itch.io can come to Xbox, he wasvery receptive. Spencer further mentioned that console gamers would benefit from the same level of freedom PC users have and see ‘real value in that.’ Considering its history as a Windows company, it won’t surprise anyone if Xbox allows other game stores on its platform. This should effectively help them grow the stagnant Xbox sales.
He also claims that earlier console makers would subsidize the cost of hardware through game sales, but thatisn’t the case anymore. The console market isn’t growing, as more players are shifting towards PCs and handhelds. As such, opening up the platform and scrapping exclusivity will help in the long run.
On paper, Phil Spencer’s claim sounds reasonable. Thanks to the choice of marketplace, PC has an edge over consoles. Hence, opening up the marketplace to other storefronts might ultimately help consoles. But what do you think about it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Sampad Banerjee
Meet Sampad, Beebom’s in-house video game enthusiast and writer. With two years of freelance experience, he has passionately crafted articles about the games he loves. You can find his writings on Sportskeeda, Gamingbolt, and GGTalks.
During work hours, he covers the latest gaming news, creates how-to guides, and occasionally shares video game reviews. In his free time, he enjoys building Gundam model kits, planning his next cosplay, and play his favorite RPG games.
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