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Microsoft Just Dropped a Bomb

Microsoft Just Dropped a Bomb

And boom goes the dynamite over at the Microsoft front offices!

Speculation has been rampant as of late regarding the future of the Xbox One. Many have speculated that the recent bump the next-gen system has experienced over the holiday would quickly subside, and the PlayStation 4 would once again resume its steady ascension back to the top of the heap. Although, with the latest news coming out of the Windows Ten briefing, it appears Microsoft is saying, “…not so fast!”

There were several major bomb shells which have sweeping impacts across our industry, the first being on the cross-play front. For years there has been this multiplayer wall that has effectively separated players into two distinctive (but supposedly equal) groups. However, it seems it’s time the twain finally met in the mainstream. For the first time on major platforms involving both Windows and Xbox simultaneously, cross-play is being rolled-out. That means those connecting to servers on the One will all be able to share their online experiences with friends on Windows who happen to be running the same title. Phil Spencer recently touted the move in interviews with the press, stating it is a necessary step that won’t be forced upon anyone who’s not looking for this type of connectivity. “I think cross-platform play is an enabling technology to make games great. If somebody decides that cross-platform play isn’t something that’s going to make their game great, there’s no way I’d ever create a publishing requirement that says you must do this…In the end, some people are hardcore about the competition, and some people just want to have fun playing. I want to make sure we’re enabling both.” Said Spencer.

Another huge announcement that came out of the gathering was on the streaming front. PS Now has made huge strides innovating our digital delivery system regarding content, but still has some kinks to work out for sure. Microsoft took a different approach to their streaming model. Their plans looks to create a bridge that will literarily allow porting of Xbox titles to your desktops in the future ( Halo 5 with mouse and keyboard anyone?). While it’s only in the “coming soon” stage of development, Spencer hints it is on their radar. “People ask about the streaming in the opposite direction–can I stream from my PC to my Xbox?–and I’ll just say it’s something that we’re really looking at. If you think about that vision–my games are my games wherever I am, and I can play with whoever I want to play with–we want to be able to land solutions that are as native as the one we showed there. We just have to kind of work with the physics of time and work it through.” He states.

Microsoft Just Dropped a Bomb

Cross-platform play? Streaming next-gen titles to the new Windows OS?! Even the most jaded of video game journalist has to admit this briefing was somewhat of a mic drop for the folks at Microsoft. While it’s nothing that’ll fast-track their grab of the brass ring on a permanent basis just yet, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

If I had to sum it up in one sentience it would be this: Microsoft is here to play ball in 2015 and they’re batting a 1,000 so far.

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