Phil Spencer Wants Game Pass to be Present on Every Platform
In a recent interview, Phil Spencer revealed the direction in which Xbox will develop. He stated that the key to success for the brand is wide availability. He would also like game developers to take example from TikTok.
- Phil Spencer revealed that he would like Game Pass app to be available on as many platforms as possible;
- He also confessed that Microsoft's priority is the availability that would allow everyone to play;
- He also stated that game developers should take inspiration from TikTok and enable players to create content.
A few days ago, Xbox brand chief Phil Spencer was interviewed b GamesRadar. He revealed, among other things, his views on the further development of the Xbox brand and the direction he thinks the game industry should go. He also revealed that he would like to end the console war, which does not have a positive impact on the digital entertainment sector.
Spencer also pointed out how the gaming community has changed over the past few years. According to him, it's no longer a closed and small subculture, but a huge group spanning the globe.
"(...) video games started as an enthusiast, almost hobbyist driven industry, and 'gamer' was a label that we wore. Now we have more than three billion people playing video games, and when nearly half the world does something, I don't know how you designate between a gamer or non-gamer."
The fact that so many people now enjoy digital entertainment is the reason why Microsoft's priority now is accessibility. The games have to reach everyone, not just users of specific platforms.
"We should just all recognise that not everybody grew up with a controller in their hand (...) Let's say I want to go play the next great console game. So I've got to go buy this console, I've got to go hook it up, I don't know how to use a controller – because I haven't done that before – so I'm gonna have to practice and learn. We think a lot about that accessibility point, and – not to bring it back to Game Pass – but some of that is financial, you know. These games are $70. That's a lot of money compared to these other artforms that we talk about."
Spencer also drew attention to the console war, which, according to him, makes it difficult to expand the audience. According to him, closed platforms divide gamers into camps that are unable to interact with each other and enjoy their favorite games together.
"(...) if you buy a Switch, and you want to play Minecraft, and I happen to buy my kids a PlayStation… if they can't play together, that doesn't help gaming grow, in my mind. That war might help one device win over another device, but it doesn't help the industry. I believe focusing on player joy, ease of play, and accessibility, in the long run, is the right strategy. And I think the industry will move in that direction, because that's what gamers will demand."
Spencer was asked if Microsoft is then going to try to expand Xbox Game Pass to platforms like PlayStation or Nintendo Switch as well. The brand's boss admitted that he would like to see such a scenario come to fruition, but it is currently impossible.
"We have no plans to bring it to any other kind of closed platforms right now, mainly because those closed platforms don't want something like Game Pass. There's a ton of open platforms out there for us to grow in: the web, PC, and mobile. So all of our focus, frankly, is on those platforms."
So the head of Xbox clearly wants the company to reach as many places as possible. It is possible that Steam Deck will appear among them in the future. After all, Valve's platform is not closed like PlayStation or Nintendo. In addition, Spencer spoke very positively about the device presented by Gabe Newell's company.
However, during the interview Spencer spoke not only about the Xbox itself. He also revealed his opinion on the direction in which the developers should go. His oppinion should appeal to many gamers, because Spencer said that developers should not focus on one direction of development or grasp at temporary phenomena. According to him, every form of digital entertainment has a place for itself in the market.
"If you have a great game, whether it's a single-player game with a beginning, middle and end; a game that has downloadable content to extend the chapters; a free-to-play game, an ad-driven game, I want all of those to be able to succeed. As an industry we have to embrace that diversity. We have to ensure we don't fall into thinking, okay, everything's got to be a battle royale free-to-play game now. A creator should use the business model that allows them to deliver the right experience for them. And as players, we have to be open to the fact that creative teams need to see the financial benefit of what they create, and that there isn't one business model to rule them all."
However, this is not the only comment that Spencer shared. According to him, developers should also be more open to the possibility of additional content being created by the community. He cited TikTok as an example, which he believes is a website driven by the creativity of everyday people.
"TikTok is about finding what somebody else has done, whether it's a music track that they use, or some kind of funny meme, and then people remix that with their own content on top, and it becomes this almost self-perpetuating thing. I think we should see that in video games. I think we should try to open up those tools, and also retain value for everybody in the chain. We want creators to be able to monetize what they build, and see the value in that. And I don't think there should be any one genre that it's tied to."
So it seems that Phil Spencer has already devised a complete revolution of the game industry. While some of his ideas may seem very ambitious, or even a little extravagant, it's fair to say that Xbox sticks to its guns. So it's possible that the head of the brand really does intend to implement even the most unusual of his plans. Whether these steps are the right ones, we'll only find out in time. For now, Microsoft's ideas have many opponents, such as Take-Two's CEO.
