Microsoft involuntarily attracted the attention of gamers by publishing the teaser of the new Xbox interface with an unexpected element and quickly removing the steam tab. The frame that flashed on the company’s blog showed a uniform design for consoles, PC and mobile devices, where projects from the Valve Store appear between the installed games.
According to insiders near development, this is not a random detail. Microsoft Test Actively a function with which the Xbox application can collect games from all platforms: Steam, Epic Games Store, Gog and others. The idea is similar to the GOG Galaxy approach, uniting library of different launches, but with the potential of integration directly in the console environment.
Experts suggest two scenarios:
- For portable devices, Microsoft is preparing Xbox devices for Windows, where the launch of the Steam IGR is getting native.
- The cross-platform bridges receive cloud access to PC biblioles via Xbox Cloud, which will expand their functionality without the direct launch of third-party launches.
Previously, Phil Spencer, the head of the Xbox unit, hinted to the openness of the ecosystem for stores on the third party. A random “leak” can be a test step to evaluate the response of the community. However, the project, known under the codename Bayside, is still at an early stage – the final version can exclude controversial elements.
Unification of the interface between Xbox, PC and mobile devices will simplify the management of the Games collection, thereby erasing the boundaries between the platforms. For Microsoft this is a step in the direction of dominance in the PC segment, where steam remains a leader. The implementation of an ambitious idea, however, requires similarities with Valve and other stakeholders, who have left in question so far.
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Source: VG Times
Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.