Summary
- Xbox is adopting a multiplatform approach, bringing games to PlayStation and Nintendo.
- Phil Spencer believes Xbox's identity is evolving positively, not being lost.
- The Xbox Series S parity clause facilitates game porting and potentially reaching a wider audience.
The CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, has recently said that Xbox is “evolving” rather than losing its identity amid the changes suffered by the brand. Xbox has been increasingly pushing forward a multiplatform approach these days, and while some fans may argue that this could hurt the brand’s identity, Spencer believes otherwise.
It seems clear that exclusivity is no longer a major concern for Xbox, as Microsoft has been bringing more games to PlayStation and Nintendo recently. Last year, the company started this new approach by bringing Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves to other platforms. While some games like Avowed remain as Xbox console exclusives, others such as Doom: The Dark Ages will also come out for PS5, and this change has worried part of the fanbase.
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Phil Spencer recently explained during an interview with Gamertag Radio why he believes that Xbox hardware will remain important even with fewer exclusives. According to Spencer, the goal is to “win based on the hardware capabilities that we have,” not only because of first-party exclusives. He acknowledged that this is a shift from what was seen in the last 20 years, but the majority of the most successful games nowadays are available on multiple platforms. In another interview with Destin Legarie, Spencer also explained that Xbox is not losing its identity, only “evolving” into something else, stating that “I think our identity will continue to evolve, which it frankly always has.” He cited features such as Xbox Play Anywhere and crossplay as an important part of this change.
Phil Spencer Believes Xbox is Evolving as a Brand
I think our identity will continue to evolve, which it frankly always has.
In the same interview with Legarie, Spencer also praised the Xbox Series S’ parity requirement. According to him, the parity clause is not a hindrance, as it’s seen by some third-party developers, but an advantage, as it allows games to be easy to port to other platforms. With the rise of handheld gaming and the upcoming Switch 2, this is seen as a perk by Microsoft, helping titles to reach a wider audience.
Xbox is going so far with the multiplatform approach that even some upcoming games shown on Xbox Developer Direct will get PS5 Pro enhancements. Both the first-party Doom: The Dark Ages and the third-party Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be PS5 Pro-enhanced, which is excellent news for Sony fans. It remains to be seen how successful Xbox’s multiplatform approach will be, but it’s likely that it’s here to stay, considering the company’s recent efforts.
- Brand
- Microsoft
- Operating System
- Proprietary (Windows-based)
- Storage
- 1TB WD SN530 NVMe SSD
- VR Support
- No
- Resolution
- 720p - 4K UHD
- App Store
- Microsoft Store
Microsoft's ninth-generation console, the Xbox Series X is a powerful machine that can support 4K resolution and 60 fps, depending on the game. Released alongside the Xbox Series S, the Series X has a Custom AMD Zen 2 CPU, a Custom RDNA 2 GPU, and 16 GB of RAM.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11ac
- Ports
- AC, Ethernet, USB x3, Storage Expansion, HDMI
- HDR Support
- Yes
- Original Release Date
- November 10, 2020
- Hardware Versions
- Xbox Series X
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $499
- Weight
- 9.8 LBS
- Dimensions
- 151 x 151 x 301 mm
- Processor
- Custom AMD 8-core Zen 2 3.8 GHz