Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has previously mentioned how he would "love" to see Microsoft's Game Pass service on "all platforms", but in a video interview with German website Game Star last week, he suggested this is unlikely to happen - explaining how "other competitive platforms aren't really that interested" in the full Xbox experience that's required with Game Pass. Here's what he had to say:
Game Star: "[Will we] see Microsoft games on other game consoles such as Switch or PlayStation 5 in the future? Can we imagine Game Pass coming [to] those game consoles in the future?"
Phil Spencer: "The thing about other gaming console platforms is we're not able to bring a full Xbox experience on those platforms.
In places where we have, like mobile phones like we're doing now with xCloud coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate...what we've done with PC in bringing our full Xbox experience there. Because we know when somebody is playing one of our Xbox games there is an expectation that "I've got my Xbox LIVE community, I have my achievements, Game Pass is an option for me, my first-party library is completely there".
The other competitive platforms aren't really that interested in having a full Xbox experience on their hardware. But for us, we want to be where gamers want to be and that's the path that we're on."
So, if you've been wondering if the Xbox Game Pass subscription service was going to be extended to other platforms, now you know it seems likely it won't be happening. If you want to use this service - at least for now - you'll need an Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, or mobile device.
Given how focused Microsoft is on its own future right now, are you at all surprised by Phil's response? Do you think Game Pass could still work on other platforms? Is it better off as an exclusive service? Tell us what you think below.
[source youtube.com, via tweaktown.com]
Comments 28
I still think xCloud will make its way to other platforms in some form eventually. But Game Pass? Can't see it happening.
If Microsoft discussed Game Pass or xCloud with Nintendo or Sony, both Nintendo and Sony's demands would be difficult to agree on.
It’s funny how the media goes around to make some wild unrealistic demands from Xbox. Rather than asking these questions to Xbox, will they ever be brave enough to ask Sony when will they bring all exclusives on their subscription service day 1?
It was wishful thinking from start. How can one port each and every Gears and Halo game on GamePass to PS5 or Switch ?
Now more than ever we need someone to make a Switch rip-off Windows or Android tablet with very good controller but thin profile.
Maybe MS could come up with some Surface Mini device themselves.
@Tharsman Since Nintendo is so... special regarding licences, Microsoft would make more money developing a tablet witch controls attached, Xbox Surface, than working a deal with Nintendo (that is almost impossible). It's a no-brainer, they already have tablets, laptops, hybrids and desktop PCs.
Why would Sony ever want Gamepass on its console? There is nothing in it for them
Does anyone really expect GamePass to come to Switch?
@Tharsman I always wanted a windows 10 tablet with actual controls (not android because come on on windows you can do so much more).
There were some tries like GPWin but nothing really good IMOH.
Even if MS somehow wanted Game Pass in PS4 (which they don't) in no way Sony would allow it. Obviously Sony wants to sell its own games. This is no EA Access situation.
@Z3u5000
Exactly! I’m so tired of questions like this.
Why don’t they go ask Sony why PS Now is a garbage service?
But didn't he say exclusives hurt the industry?
Find it hard to believe Sony was even approached about it tbh but honestly i’m happy for Xbox to keep GamePass
@carlos82 How so? They would owrry less on competition. Why buy an XBox? You can play it all with a PS5. Also, they could as trike an agreement where they keep a portion of all proceeds from Gamepass subs through the playstation store.
@XBontendo platform holders make most of their money through sales on that, giving a significant amount of those profits to a competitor makes no sense. At some point they'll also want PS now to be a rival service for Gamepass but this would just kill that off or force Sony to put its exclusives on there day one. Good for us but I suspect it would cost them a lot of money
@PretendWorking I see you always have something negative to say about anything Xbox on Pure Xbox and Push Square. The excuses you make defending whatever Sony does are ridiculous. You are so funny 🤣.
I agree, "Sony don't need exclusives to be day 1 on subscription service", they don't even need launch games! All they need is a PS4 half-of-the-content semi-sequel and fans like you to be there "day 1".
@PretendWorking because we all know PSNow is doing incredibly well!
@belmont I just want it to be a smaller screen, 1080p tops, very light, cheap and low energy profile. I want to only run an xcloud client on it and nothing else. I feel an Android table running xcloud would be perfect.
Plus the screen should be as small as a switch, and that’s already too small to make any efficient use of Windows UI.
@BlueOcean i feel this is best left to third party hardware makers, or heck, a Chinese knockoff switch running Android from alibaba...
@Tharsman I would love a Surface tablet with physical controls but, since xCloud is available on Android, any third-party device is a potential handheld Xbox.
@PretendWorking no one does; that’s my point. The service sucks and will continue to suck until at least they start putting their first party games there from day one. Hell, they can give it a week or two for sale first, but sony actually needs day one (or close) in PSNow if they want the service to go anywhere.
@PretendWorking of course no one buys a PS4 based on PSNow; the service is a failure. That’s my point. Can’t be a pillar because it’s foundation is just terrible.
Anyways, back on topic: I dare bet MS does want xCloud anywhere, but being able to do purchases from within the cloud stream are the core parts of the experience that the likes of Nintendo would oppose on their platform.
That is fine with me. I was wondering when they officially started talking about Game Pass on other platforms if it was actually a real possibility. Turns out, most companies aren't real keen on the idea. That is okay though, I mainly look at Game Pass as a Microsoft thing anyway.
@Tharsman I have both PS Now and GP - so I am one who has one! Lol.
For me it's always been one of the areas Sony has had to play catch up on and that won't change here, they will catch up but it'll take time. Remember PS2 online? That was a joke. Not Gamecube-level joke, but close. But they will catch up in time, online has always been an area where Sony has been reactive and not proactive.
As for xcloud, I agree Sony and Nintendo would oppose a few of the core functions and it would make it a bit challenging.
@PretendWorking “ Why do you consider it terrible and such a failure? ”
Imagine Netflix made all this original programming, but first pushed all their content to movie theaters, then kept it exclusive to BluRay sales and TV broadcast with adds for a year, and only after milking their cow they make it available for Netflix streaming.
Netflix, as a streaming service, would had folded long ago.
Now has been around for over 6 years, and it still has worse numbers than Mixer. I’m not joking, the first Ninja Mixer stream got 2.2 million viewers, that’s the same number Sony recently bragged as finally reaching.
——
As for the Other platform thing (that is actually the topic here) I understand Nintendo and competitors (even Apple on iPhones, possibly) backing access to xCloud mostly because a user streaming a game would potentially buy DLC via streamed Xbox environment, Nintendo not getting a cut.
Why would they allow it? Well, for one, they have had a couple streamed games in the Japanese market. Nintendo could likely be given a chunk of the subscriptions that are initiated inside the Switch itself, but ultimately the cons outweigh the pros.
@PretendWorking Nintendo didn’t actually provide those steaming games. It was third parties, Capcom was one of them. UBisoft with a streamed version of Odyssey was another. I’m sure they made a version of the game that hooked up to the Nintendo Switch store for DLC purchases, though.
Resident Evil VII and Assassin's Creed Odyssey on Switch is more like Stadia. You pay full price for streaming a game.
@PretendWorking
I see another one from Push Square crawled over here to rip on Xbox in every positive article this site posts. This “ignore” button is getting a work out lately. 😂👋
@Z3u5000 Because Microsoft talks game about being so consumer friendly and how they don't care about how what platform you play on
@HammerKirby Well Windows is also a 1st party Microsoft platform adding billions of users per year (according to their recent fiscal numbers). Also Xbox has released few titles on Switch as well.
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