Where is Microsoft headed from here on out?

[Mr Puggsly]

Pemalite said:

Mr Puggsly said:

Windows Store isnt going head on with Steam. I think thats pretty evident with their games on Steam. We are talking about two markets on the same platform, Windows. MS doesent need to steal users from Steam nor is it worth the efffort. Instead get users using both which is happening.

Windows Store is competing with Steam. No two ways about it, Steam is vastly superior.

They are both digital distribution platforms.
They are both on PC.
They are both selling video games, some exclusive to their stores.

Mr Puggsly said:

Windows Store games should always be compatible with Steam games for online play.

Except they aren't.

Mr Puggsly said:

On a side note, it would be awesome to see more cross plat purchases. When you buy a Xbox games digitally, you own it Windows Store as well. All 1st party and some 3rd party do this.

I agree, cross-plat purchases are a fantastic idea, I wish it was a common thing in the industry... Then I wouldn't have baught Minecraft PC, Minecraft Xbox 360, Minecraft Xbox One, Minecraft Playstation 3, Minecraft on Android and I will likely get Minecraft on the 3DS at some point. Haha

...DAMMIT MOJANG!

Mr Puggsly said:

Im talking about making the Windows software literally run on Xbox, in a curated way. The potential of support would be significant from that.

I think that is where they are taking it anyway... From a developer perspective, Microsoft's tools have been heading towards the idea of one development software platform, many hardware platforms.

Still, on the PC it's hard to deny Steams superiority over all else... And Valve deserves the success, they supported the PC whilst other companies ignored it.

I see Windows Store and Steam competition kinda like Hulu and Netlflix. You can enjoy both on the same device but they offer different content to justify using both. The popular titles on Windows Store obviously is not the content on Steam. MS is adding lots of content exclusive to their store even while sharing some with Steam.

Killer Instinct is the recent exception. It supports cross play between Xbox, Windows Store, and Steam. We need more of that.

Is anybody arguing Steam's success is not deserved? I think MS has a following among PC gamers but their support has just been kinda crappy. Sharing games between Xbox and Windows is great and their store is clearly more active from it. I assume that was the goal.