Microsoft’s shift towards multi-platform game publishing is shifting the company’s focus away from in-house gaming hardware. The company’s long-rumored handheld console has allegedly been shelved in favor of collaborations with third-party partners. According to Laura Fryer, one of the Xbox project’s founding members and a former Microsoft executive, it’s easier for Microsoft to license its brand to existing hardware rather than investing in creating an original device.
Fryer believes that while this strategy can be successful in the short term, it raises questions about Microsoft’s long-term relevance. The company has a vast library of IPs, but Fryer wonders if they have a plan to create new hits and sustain interest in the Xbox brand 25 years from now. Despite acknowledging the recent success of Oblivion Remastered, which was outsourced to a third-party developer, Fryer expresses skepticism about the viability of this approach beyond its immediate future.
Microsoft has recently announced partnerships with Asus and Meta for upcoming devices, further solidifying its commitment to third-party collaborations over in-house hardware development. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Microsoft’s strategy will play out in the long term.
Source: https://gamerant.com/xbox-hardware-dead-platform-strategy-new-games-concerns-laura-fryer