Would having multiple digital storefronts available on the Xbox make it more attractive to consumers? We can’t say for sure but it sure wouldn’t hurt.
With PlayStation outselling the Xbox by a wide margin this generation, Microsoft has to find other ways make its platform more attractive.
As part of its latest attempt to cater to more people, it appears Microsoft is looking into welcoming additional storefronts on its bespoke consoles.
Microsoft put its money where its mouth is when it confirmed Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Hi-Fi Rushare all coming to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. But, most wouldn’t have expected Phil Spencer to open the Xbox up to Steam and Epic Games Store.
In an interview with Polygon, Microsoft Gaming’s big boss had a radical idea, saying:
[Consider] our history as the Windows company. Nobody would blink twice if I said, ‘Hey, when you’re using a PC, you get to decide the type of experience you have [by picking where to buy games]. There’s real value in that.
Of course, bringing other digital storefronts to Xbox is much easier said than done, but there’s real potential here.
In an ideal scenario, bringing Steam and Epic Games Store to the Xbox Series S/X would mean that you no longer would have to buy separate copies of video games for the PC and Xbox. This way, you can play on a Windows OS handheld gaming PC like the Steam Deck on the go and the Xbox Series S/X on the couch. But, if you want to enjoy higher framerates, better graphics, and a larger resolution, you’d still have the option to play the same game on the PC without paying for it thrice.
As a bonus, this move would mean Xbox owners who can’t afford to buy a PC can enjoy PC exclusives.
In a way, bringing Steam and Epic Games Store to the Xbox Series S/X would effectively turn it into console-sized PC, which isn’t the worst idea.
The main problem here is the cost. Opening the Xbox Series S/X to different storefronts means that Microsoft will have to take a hit on its cut from the transactions made on its platform. It also means asking Valve and Epic Games Store to agree to lower their usual cut or they’ll have to subsidize it to make them consider. At this point, the Xbox will start defeating the purpose of having a digital storefront.
Consoles are sold at a loss for a reason. It’s so that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, can funnel players into an ecosystem that lets them make a percentage from all sales made on their platform. What happens if they can no longer make up the loss as quickly as before? Does Microsoft start selling its consoles at a more expensive price? That certainly sounds counterproductive.
Besides, wouldn’t tweaking the Xbox Series S/X to function like a PC make it a regular desktop but without the performance overhead the usual builds enjoy?
Opening this conversation creates more questions and problems than answers, making it unlikely it will happen.
Nevertheless, it’s worth appreciating Phil Spencer’s thoughts about making games more accessible to everyone even if the actual implementation is improbable.
For now, fans can look forward to Xbox releasing an all-white, all-digital Xbox Series X sometime later this year.
