Microsoft expects to continue producing dedicated Xbox consoles after the Xbox Series X and S, the company’s executive vice president of gaming, Phil Spencer, told Yahoo Finance ahead of the consoles’ November 10 launch.
Company plans more hardware despite streaming rise
Spencer said he believes future Xbox consoles will arrive even as cloud streaming becomes a larger part of how people play. “In terms of future hardware, I absolutely believe we will see more consoles ahead,” he told Yahoo Finance. He compared gaming’s shift to streaming to changes already seen in video and music: streaming has not ended device innovation, and Microsoft is planning additional Xbox models.
Google Stadia controller and console; photo credit: dronepicr/Flickr
Cloud services changing how games are accessed
Streaming platforms such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Now, Google Stadia and the upcoming Amazon Luna let players run games on multiple devices without physical media or lengthy downloads. These services rely on faster internet connections to deliver games on demand across PCs, mobile devices and other hardware.
Player-centered strategy with Games Pass and cross-device play
Microsoft’s subscription and streaming strategy, led by Xbox Game Pass, aims to put players at the center by enabling access to Xbox titles across different devices. Spencer said the focus is not on the device used to consume content but on the player’s experience, a trend he sees across other media forms.
Company not abandoning consoles
Although Microsoft is investing heavily in cloud and subscription services, Spencer’s comments signal the company is not fully committing to a console-free future. For now, Microsoft plans to release more Xbox hardware generations after the Series X and S.
Source: DualShockers
