Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently told a reporter that he considers PlayStation 5 and Switch users as part of the Xbox community. He made this remark in reference to Activision Blizzard games on non-Microsoft platforms.
Microsoft gamers are part of the Xbox community, regardless of the platform they use.
Spencer recently gave an interview with the Japanese gaming publication Famitsu. The conversation covered various topics, mostly regarding Xbox’s involvement in the Japanese game industry. However, the interview also touched on Game Pass and the Activision Blizzard buyout.
Spencer reiterated that Microsoft is not removing any games from PS5 and Switch. He indicates that Xbox will treat the fans of Activision Blizzard games as members of the Xbox community, regardless of platform.
“Just as we think of ROG Ally and Steam Deck as part of the Xbox community,” said Spencer, “we need to think of the many Nintendo Switch and PlayStation users as part of the Xbox community in the future.”
He also emphasized the need to make Game Pass for PC users feel included as well.
When asked where this community-based approach came from, Spencer talked about Microsoft’s 2014 acquisition of Minecraft developer Mojang. He didn’t go into detail but said that Minecraft’s community had a significant impact.
The Xbox executive also talked about its importance for game developers to get their titles in front of as many players as possible. Therefore, new hardware needs to expand developers’ options.
“If two pieces of hardware have exactly the same performance, then they are simply competing with each other,” said Spencer. “In that case, it doesn’t really help the market from a game creator’s perspective.”
