Phil Spencer Announces Developer Tools to Bring Games to Billions

Today at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox at Microsoft, shared the next step in the company’s plans for a unified vision for gaming across Windows 10 devices. And, it’s all about developers. Here at Microsoft, we share a commitment to making sure experiences across all devices are better than ever. That starts with making the development process easier by providing the tools and support our developers have asked for to reach billions of devices around the world.

[theRell]

Doing right this year so far, should be a good one for gamers.

[Foehammer]

Tons of good news

great stuff

[MasterCornholio]

Yeah both Microsoft and Sony provided us with some really great news.

:)

GDC was great for everyone.

[mikeslemonade]

Accessibility is bad for the industry. Barrier to entry is too easy for anybody and this kills the big developers.

You will not see me support a dime in smartphone, tablet, or game streaming technology. Bad for the industry and bad for gamers.

People can only see things at surface level. Just think it about it. If everyone was able to do anything then it becomes saturated.

[christocolus]

Did anyone notice battletoads at the end of the video. Battletoads will be in shovelknights. awesome

[theRell]

Also, Shovel Knight x Battletoads preview.

[christocolus]

its funny cos it seems no one saw that. lmao.

[gangsta_red]

That Battletoads at the end of Shovel Knight was beyond epic.

[Donjune]

It's all about the games! Death to fanboys!

[LexHazard79]

Dude put that on a shirt, make stickers..we need anti fanboy gear.

[XanderZane]

Every Win10 Game on PC and XB1. Incredible. Can't wait for all the game announcements.

[i3eyond the Circle]

Would this undermine Ps4/PC exclusives?

[Docknoss]

Extremely

[Kavorklestein]

Microsoft has the absolute coolest plans and groundwork being set up! I'm very excited see how it all pans out... I do have some slight skepticism about some things, but I am sure we will all see some cool surprises going down the road this year. (:

[Subaruwrx]

This is not good news for the Xbox One. Apparently, MS, which still earns most of its income from software, has decided to forgo Xbox One exclusivity in favor of selling more gaming software across all available platforms. Smart business move. MS is playing to its strength - software.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see MS try to enter the PC gaming market with new hardware (ie PCs, tablets and smart phones) that can play games just as well or better than the Xbox One. There will still be a market for the Xbox One but it will be greatly diminished.

[rainslacker]

Maybe you missed the part where the games are sold through their store, kinda like Steam, so they make money there. Doing things that way means less dependence on companies having to get licensing to release a game on the Xbox...although I'm sure there will be licensing to release on it...or Windows 10 rather.

This is pretty much what they wanted to do with Windows 8....and as I recall it was met with a lot of hostility since it makes Windows into a closed system.

I'm still holding off on my opinion until more information is released. i don't think everything is all roses and sunshine and I just have this overwhelming feeling that there is one big catch that is going to catch everybody off guard and piss everyone off. MS just learned not to piss everyone off first with the X1 reveal.

If it really is as good as MS is making it sound, then it is a very good thing for everyone...assuming one is OK going all digital and requiring a constant connection to the internet...which is probably what will be necessary.

[edqe]

Valve has been worried for a good reason. Microsoft tries to keep PC closed so what Valve is working on now is very important. Open source platform using open standards; Vulkan and others.

[Ark_]

Yeah, and with Windows getting subscription based, I'll be happy to jump on SteamOS in 2-3 years, if it actually picks up enough pace.

[rainslacker]

I'm thinking that what MS is doing with Win10 is what they wanted to do with Win8, and people weren't too pleased with that....particularly Valve. While I'd like to give MS the benefit of the doubt, since a lot of the stuff they're doing looks great, it really seems like the same crap wrapped up in a nice new marketing package..although likely better implemented.

There are still too many unknowns with all this great stuff, and MS has shown time and again that it doesn't really do anything beneficial for the consumer without a big asterix that people tend to not like but end up putting up with because the world has become too dependent on Windows.

Anyhow, as a developer, this stuff is quite appealing, and maybe even as a gamer, but as a consumer I just don't trust MS that much.

[WizzroSupreme]

The more developers the merrier, I say. Long live games.

[Subaruwrx]

This is not good news for the Xbox One. Apparently, MS, which earns most of its income from software, has decided to forgo Xbox One exclusivity in favor of selling more gaming software across all available platforms. Smart business move. MS is playing to its strength - software.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see MS try to enter the PC gaming market with new hardware (ie PCs, tablets and smart phones) that can play games just as well or better than the Xbox One. There will still be a market for the Xbox One but it will be greatly diminished.

[Kiwi66]

Why did you repeat the same comment twice is it because your trying to convince yourself that this isn't good or what

[Father__Merrin]

upto 6 billion players...

[Subaruwrx]

It seems clear to me that MS is looking at a future where the Xbox brand will become a service where the home console is no longer the best and only place to consume the service from. Sony is doing the same thing (ie PS Now and PSTV,) they're just not going there as quickly because the PS4, sales wise, has been more successful than the Xbox One.

[urwifeminder]

Pc and xbox are what I am interested in this is great news.