Phil Spencer on the Future of Xbox: Upgradeable console

Tim Sweeney is warning us about what MS is up to with the move toward universal windows apps and the expansion of the Xbox to the PC:

 

Here is Microsoft's response to the Guardian piece:

I don't think Sweeney is being Chicken Little here. He has been part of behind the scenes discussions on this with MS for a while. And he is right to have some goosebumps over this. Especially the aspects that limit app/game capability based on UWP status/participation.

Clearly, Microsoft wants to consolidate software and develop a walled garden. A walled garden has been a boon for Apple. It helps Google close off and control the Android platform. To the degree that Steam can be considered a monopoly, the Steam store/platform has been boon for Valve. Following these examples allows Microsoft to cash-in on each app sell.

For consumers, the walled garden approach can be used to vet the quality of some software. But more importantly, it can create a system allowing software/games purchased on PC to seamlessly (to the consumer) run on Xboxes and Surface tablets.

This may mean Sweeney will have to enter some revenue sharing agreement with MS similar to devs in the iOS App Store. And if he doesn't like it, he can always make sure his Linux/SteamOS Vulkan support is top notch.

 

Not yet. And I haven't claimed it is, just yet. But I believe that is Microsoft's ultimate goal, here. It looks like their basic embrace, extend, and extinguish strategy. If Sweeney has learned anything from MS's past behavior, it is to complain publicly now before the other shoe drops. Make waves while it is early.

Right now, MS has to be much more open with the platform because of the existing ecosystem. But those conditions dictating playing nice won't be around forever.

Anyway, who says a walled garden will be bad for consumers? It might be a pain for Sweeney, but having a designated distribution point for software has benefits for consumers. Example: Another advantage to UWP apps is that they run in a sandbox, which, in theory, should help improve security. This is all stuff Apple does anyway. And no-one is too up in arms over that.

One thing MS can do is lock down their mobile devices and consoles and leave the PC space more open, similar to Apple's strategy with Macs and iOS devices.

 

Well, I am not looking to do anything other than game on my living room TV. So the essence of what makes a PC doesn't concern me. Hence my focus on gaming and form factor and why my wife doesn't want a big box in our living room.

 

Of this we are all very aware. It is a fair point. And I think that is why Sweeney is ringing bells right now.

MS could be extending the Xbox garden into the PC world or extending the PC monopoly into the console/other device space. Are either of these worth the DOJ's attention let alone the DOJ's curiosity?

Let me add: This is a very different Microsoft than prior decades. This Microsoft has a Github account. This Microsoft has made incredible contributions to the free-software world the past couple of years.

 

I agree that this is a new Microsoft. The "good guys" inside the company finally won. And now we have this: https://github.com/Microsoft

 

Looks like Sony may be getting in on this action, too.