What Does Xbox Live on Switch & Mobile Actually Mean?

Xbox Live's cross-platform push could be the sign of a new Xbox philosophy to come.

[rlow1]

Interesting to see how far they'll take it.

[crazyCoconuts]

I don't mean to be negative, but this is more delusional thinking from MS. The only reason they had leverage to get Xbox Live anywhere near the Switch is Minecraft. No other platform is going to want Xbox intermediating their customers. It's not a big deal that MS will make their APIs available to everyone because no one will want them.

[gangsta_red]

I seriously don't understand how anyone can try and spin this into a negative.

MS is giving better tools for any developer to not achieve crossplay across platforms like mobile, PC, Xbox and Switch but also offering an easier way to implement Xbox live features like achievements, friends list, etc...and yet you believe no one will want this even though there are already games that are crossplay between Xbox, Switch and PC?

[crazyCoconuts]

Nintendo, iOS, etc. don't want their customers seeing Xbox logos and on their platforms period. The purpose of the platform is to have a captive audience that channels through your services, not let your competition disintermediate you. I can't see this going anywhere.

[King_Noctis]

“Nintendo, iOS, etc. don't want their customers seeing Xbox logos and on their platforms period.”

If any of these companies thought this way then we wouldn’t have this working API to begin with. You made zero sense.

[gangsta_red]

@crazycoconuts

"Nintendo, iOS, etc. don't want their customers seeing Xbox logos and on their platforms period."

*Looks at Minecraft for Switch and iOS*

https://media.giphy.com/med...

Are you saying that iOS...is a company that doesn't want their customers seeing the Xbox logo...??

????????????

So, I guess EVERY game on iOS that has a different developers logo when you start it up is okay with iOS...but they draw the line with the Xbox logo?

"The purpose of the platform is to have a captive audience that channels through your services, not let your competition disintermediate you."

This makes absolutely no sense. Android, iOS and PC are open type platforms that any developer can put their games on (with some rules of course), obviously Nintendo is willing to also allow any developer who wants to use MS's tools to do the same.

That's cool is you don't see this going anywhere, it may not but definitely not for the reasons you just said.

[RauLeCreuset]

History shows Xbox isn't above instigating a PR campaign in the guise of being pro consumer to get their rivals' customers to do the work of lobbying their rivals for them. There's no shortage of people who maintain gamers should want Xbox to succeed in the console market for competition's sake, but this would open the door to allowing them to avoid the consequences of failing to offer a truly competitive console.

[Razzer]

I would think Nintendo and Apple would have been consulted before MS moved forward with this SDK as both companies could block apps from using it. Remember, neither Nintendo or Apple have a competing service like Xbox Live on their platforms. Makes me believe Nintendo has no intention of ever implementing one. Apple used to have Game Center but they all but killed that off. Android is wide open so doubt there is need to even ask Google.

Whether any devs actually ever use these APIs remains to be seen. I can see Bluehole adding this to the mobile version of PUBG.

[rainslacker]

I don't think Google or Apple care about MS using their Live services on their platforms. On both, you can easily log into XBL, or Live accounts through a program that requires them. neither platform restricts the usage of 3rd party accounts. Google or Apple wouldn't allow MS to circumvent it's own platform to make it part of Live or XBL though. Many MS programs exist on both Apple and Google platforms, and one can easily log into Live services through them, and many 3rd party programs exist on both platforms that allow for the use of log ins through Live services, or sometimes things like Facebook.

Nintendo standards don't prevent the use of 3rd party account registration in game, or the use of features attached to that account, but don't allow anything to be done outside the game software itself. That still has to be controlled by the OS. Same as it is on PlayStation. Same as it is on Xbox, with the exception of EA Access, which is still linked to one's XBL account, and MS handles distribution of the actual products offered on the EAA service.

[ILostMyMind]

@gangsta_red
But why would someone want "XBox Live features" on a non-XB console if they already have all of them?

And is it for free?

[gangsta_red]

"What this means is that the meat-and-potatoes base layer of Xbox Live will now be an option for developers on non-Xbox devices: friends lists, achievements and clubs are all mentioned. What it doesn’t mean is that you’ll be able to download Xbox games on Switch. This is simply an extension of the Live service, not the games or stores associated with it."

Wait ..so this doesn't mean MS is leaving the console business or trying to destroy consoles???

[bumbleforce]

It means xbox is gonna be a platform which includes consoles

[Razzer]

No, but it does mean MS is focusing on its roots which is software and services rather than hardware. Personally, I'm all for it. Xbox consoles are not going anywhere, but they won't be the centerpiece of MS gaming strategy.

[gangsta_red]

Agreed completely.

I believe MS will be encompassing all of these for now. Prepping hardware for the next gen but definitely future proofing with software/services which will be where these media giants are all headed for soon enough.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Except there will be at least two SKUs of the next Xbox...streaming box, regular Xbox Two.

Also Microsoft has always made hardware...in fact some of the best in the industry for years...

Mice, keyboard, webcams, other preriphals, Surface, Surface headphones, Laptops, even the ill-fated Lumias were good quality hardware. Xbox and 360 were cutting edge at the time (no need to go on about red rings ...later iterations more than made up for the red ring).

Microsoft has always done software and hardware.

[Razzer]

"Except there will be at least two SKUs of the next Xbox...streaming box, regular Xbox Two. "

I didn't say Microsoft was abandoning hardware. Actually, I said "Xbox consoles are not going anywhere". I've been a fan of MS PC hardware since they created the Intellimouse and the Natural Keyboard.

[RosweeSon]

It’s means they focussing on their services where are the games they not mentioned games just getting themselves into the more successful systems.

[darthv72]

They never were. The goal of MS from the beginning was to build a platform that could play host to the plethora of games that developers wanted to make. Like how they run Windows. The only reason they built the xbox hardware was they needed a way into the console gaming market. The hardware is not as important to MS like it is to Sony. Sony is a hardware company first and software second. MS is the opposite while Nintendo is both equally.

This is why I have been saying all along that how one company does things is not automatically the same as another. There is no rule they all must follow. So sales of units dont matter to MS like it does Sony (and its fans) but expansion of the games and services and MAU's are what MS is really looking at.

[crazyCoconuts]

They want to supersede just the Xbox consoles but they won't succeed. They can't even win over the PC and they own that platform. They keep trying to sink their talons in with the OS upgrades and PC gamers keep disabling it.

[gangsta_red]

We get it, you hate MS.

[crazyCoconuts]

Hate is a strong word. I'd go with unimpressed

[bluefox755]

@crazy I'd go with highly disappointed. Personally, I want them to succeed in a way that benefits gamers rather than just their shareholders. It seems they have no interest in this route anymore though.

[Ju]

That just means that who own the network makes the money. MS just has a too small install base on the XBox to show that. I wonder how this should work. Live isn't the biggest platform on the PC either, it not even in the top 3 I suspect, with Steam, EA and whatever comes next.

So how is this supposed to work? You pay for Live on the other platforms now, too? And the devs need to pay royalties to MS to support it in games? And you get the games through what? The MS store? Of course MS sees the chance there. I doubt it will take off, though. I can't see how every developer would want to pay more to MS to get their games to mobile or the Switch.

[gangsta_red]

Read the article. Or just read the quote I left.

It has nothing to do with paying for live. There's no mention of any kind of paying any royalties.

If any dev wants to crossplay between mobile, PC, Switch, Xbox...they have the **option** to use the tools MS provided that will make it easier to implement achievements, friends list and any other feature that comes with Live for now.

Live is a pretty big platform. I don't know where this idea comes from that it isn't

[rainslacker]

Live is the largest social AND business network in the world. You mean XBL, which is part of live.

I think you're overthinking how MS is going to try to monetize the platform.

It's not so much about getting people to buy, it's about getting people to be part of the network. If someone is part of the network, they're more likely to use the services over time.

Think of it like this. When you log into windows, you're now required to have a live account. MS makes no money off it. But, through that live account, you have access to everything MS provides. Some of it paid. Some of it services. Some of it free, some supported by advertising, some of it stuff you pay for. At every step, MS is trying to get people to recognize their account, as their identity, and make it so more and more companies use live to associate people. This allows MS to know what people are doing. It allows MS to have more people to market to. It allows MS to have a bigger network of people to sell to. So on and so forth.

It's why they focus on MAU's now, instead of actual sold numbers.

There's a reason that MS offers a lot of it's development tools and SDK/API's for free. it's because they know that if they get used, they get a user, which is more valuable in the long run, than a lump sum of money they may get from a developer.

[Ju]

I doubt this very much, that live is the largest network. With only 40M XBoxes sold and it being the biggest driver for the platform MS is down 50% against PSN; the largest revenue driver for Sony. What's even more, Live (or XBL) is nowhere competitive outside of XBox. The PC market is fragmented and the number of games which actually support live are MS first party titles. That's it.

While, PSN does not only gaming, but also TV (PS Vue) and Game Streaming (PS Now). MS has nothing in that regards which competes with Sony.

Of course this is the obvious intend to expand that failing market of just 40M devices where they can capitalize on. Who ever thinks otherwise is simply naive. Take of the pink MS goggles and look at facts, please.

People think this won't cost money are in for a surprise again. Sure, if you already have an account, it might well be available on all devices. But why would someone who plays on the Switch only hand over money to MS to just play games on that console? Like I said, that business model doesn't even work on the PC so well.

The Live account on Windows does not give you any benefits. You cannot game with the free account nor do you get anything else but the store access - where you spend money again. Without store integration a free account is mute. Neither MS nor Apple nor Android will have a MS/XBL store to purchase games.

[rainslacker]

It's really basically what's available now that people can see for themselves. All consoles allow for logging onto 3rd party services. The extent of what one can do while logged into those services may vary between platforms though.

As a hypothetical, lets say you log into XBL within Minecraft on PS4. It's possible to have a 3rd party log in like this, so long as everything stays within compliance standards. in this scenario, XBL should be able to access XBL services that relate directly to the game. Things like leaderboards or player stat tracking/usage. While I couldn't say for sure, if the game is programmed to do it, I assume they could enable XBL trophy tracking as well. Just a stat update, which causes the achievement to pop whenever the trophy pops.

This doesn't circumvent anything required to meet compliance on PSN connectivity, or usage on the PS hardware, and MS would also get it's MAU and have it's player have some sort of investment in XBL.

it's possible that Sony may make an exception to the policy to actively block such a thing if it were coming from MS. AFAIK, its untested, and Sony blocked MS XBL logins on Minecraft, because MS wanted to handle content updates, and locked them behind the login. Anyhow, because MS is a direct competitor, and this may fall under the general compliance clause of not trying to undermine the platform, and it being at the sole discretion of the platform holder, Sony may say know if MS tried to enable this functionality, just as Nintendo may say know if they feel MS is trying to use their platform for their own competitive advantage.

[crazyCoconuts]

I agree, and I think Sony and Nintendo would block such attempts. Where we've seen exceptions are where the game publishers have immense leverage over the platform holders. Fortnite and Minecrafts of the world. What are you going to do, not have Fortnite on your platform? So platform holders make exceptions. I bet MS and Sony were reluctant to let Ubisoft have their own trophies in game and EA have their own logins, but those companies have leverage and it's no big deal today. But MS is a direct competitor and outside of Minecraft has NO LEVERAGE. So of course they'd be happy to have Switch owners log into their Xbox Live accounts but unless they plan on buying Nintendo or building a lot of great games that will run on the Switch, this will amount to a whole lot of nothing.

[Tres21]

Question. Heard Epic was developing tools for other developers to use that sounds similar. Party options,
achievements, social interactions and such across devices. I was just wondering what the difference is? They both seem to be tools, ppl have the choice to use to help in developing across platforms from companies who have already done it 2 make it easier.

[PhoenixUp]

The company that didn’t want EA Origin on its last console is getting all buddy buddy with Xbox Live on its current console

[Eidolon]

Yeah but it's Microsoft, not EA.

[RosweeSon]

Yeah Sony haven’t mentioned nor can I see they’d be bothered about having Xbox live on their PlayStation network just like if this was suggested in 360 heydays Microsoft would have said jog on. Now they on back foot tho it’s a different matter. Some people are proper mugs. I have no biased to any manufacturer just don’t like seeing bad products praised and good ones knocked for stupid reasons, ie it’s not your box of choice. Microsoft been dribble this Gen 360 was great xb1 was and is forgettable.

[Fist4achin]

So that's why they are not coming out with anything mobile themselves. Smart!

[Eidolon]

I've always wanted an Xbox handheld, though. :(

[Fist4achin]

That would have been awesome!

[SierraGuy]

Hey Nintendo say goodbye to your closed safe ecosystem.

IOS...hacked
Android...hacked
Windows...hacked
Any other device they decide to include...hacked.

Have fun.

[King_Noctis]

You forget to include:

Switch...hacked.

It is delusional to think MS caused all those devices to to be hacked. The thing some people say.

[SierraGuy]

Nobody here said MS caused all those devices to be hacked, but since we're here windows is the largest platform and thats why it's hacked the most.

Switch...hacked x2.

[ApexWolf22]

It means you no longer have a reason to buy an Xbox if you can access it from elsewhere.

[sinspirit]

Well, that depends on if their new studios actually deliver or not for their next box. If all those games have PC versions than I personally have no reason for their console.

I said this before, but it's clear to see that Microsoft is preparing for their consoles last breath and underwhelming sales just in case and are pushing to gain as many users for their Live/XBox network so that if they don't succeed with a console anymore then they will at least carry over some of them to PC. But, the thing is that current console are very close to PC's, and MS is gearing towards treating their "console" just like the SteamBox. So, it doesn't really need to have the sales that a console normally does. But, they'll still sell a simpler alternative for gaming while PC gaming is quickly growing regardless and they will retain users on their PC XBox services. If they stop hardware altogether, then they already have a multiplatform barebones system being put in place to try and keep presence there. But, at the end of the day they still want control of their users and are reaching to keep as much as they can.

[Sirk7x]

I'm imagining Xbox as a service, that offers both games and streaming options. Being able to load the app on the next Gen Switch and stream Xbox games if you are subscribed. Or PC, Xbox hardware, perhaps mobile. It makes sense, no one else is going that direction. Plus, those companies will have to run Microsoft servers to do so anyways, so it's a double win for MS, as they'd have to pay for that too.

[Ju]

MS can't even get everyone on board to use Live on PC, now we pay for Live on Switch and Mobile? Great idea...but not going to pay for another service. Because it sure ain't free - for the players.

[Wulfer]

It means the gaming world as you know it will soon come to a end. Bigger fish are trying to make a entrance into this market. Look when Apple is looking to buy Activison to enter the market you can say the games about to change. MS and Nintendo are just making the first moves. Sony will probably be bought by a bigger fish to stay in the game.

[Elda]

Next.

[StormLegend]

It means no one is gonna buy any new xbox console when you can play it all on the switch. Sony sales will double once XBL is on Nintendo console because it wont be any competition then.

[blacktiger]

that's not happening on Nintendo Switch, unless Nintendo is filing for bankruptcy

[RosweeSon]

More money per month for another yearly subscription, pass

[Hedstrom]

I wont sting you said the scorpion, just let me ride on youre back over the river!

[Inzo]

It looks like MS is moving over to service and publishing and shifting its focus away from xbox as an exclusive brand. Which begs the question, why acquire all those dev companies? The logical answer is they will develop multiplats under MS publishing.

[GoodnessGreatness]

Xbox becoming a service because their console sucks.

[FanboysKiller]

The switch is not just for kids enough said.

[Miacosa]

Nothing much for now it's just like when you're asked to sign-in to Uplay or Capcom when you by their games so that they can track you and maybe give you marketing rewards.