NOTE:  LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE WAS PULL FOR BREAKING EMBARGO

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/microsoft-recommits-to-pc-as-place-for-new-video-games/

Microsoft is about to test whether its Xbox gaming franchise is strong enough to reach outside the living room.

At a media event last week, Microsoft outlined plans to grow a business built primarily on a game console to one also focused on the personal computer, pushing its own studios to release games for the PC and positioning Windows as a platform to buy games across device types.

“We are 100 percent committed to the PC-gaming space,” said Phil Spencer, who leads Microsoft’s Xbox group. “That is a long-term commitment from us.”

Microsoft, which helped move the personal computer from a hobbyist’s tool to a ubiquitous device for work and entertainment, was an early leader in making PC games, home to such iconic franchises as “Flight Simulator” and “Age of Empires.”That’s a familiar tune for video-game industry watchers who have seen Microsoft fall short on similar promises over the years, a point Spencer acknowledged. “We know we have a lot to prove,” he said.

But after the launch of the Xbox video-game console 15 years ago, Microsoft’s focus on PC gaming flagged. Cash and attention were thrown behind making games for the Xbox. PC-focused studios were shuttered.

With Microsoft newly committed to following potential customers on whatever device they happen to be using, the Redmond company is again targeting the PC. The initiative is designed to boost the appeal of the Windows 10 operating system and broaden the reach of Xbox, arguably Microsoft’s strongest consumer brand.

Last week’s daylong event in San Francisco, which fell outside the drumbeat of major video-gaming trade shows, was officially held to tout games coming this spring for Xbox and Windows.

Notably, all the titles Microsoft featured will have variants available on the PC.

Among them is “Forza Motorsport 6: Apex,” a version of the auto-racing franchise developed by Microsoft-owned Turn 10 Studios. “Apex,” a slimmed down version of its Xbox cousin, will be released free to users of Windows 10 this spring.

Racing games have long been used as showpieces of the amount of visual detail developers could pack into games running on new hardware and software. “Apex” is positioned as an effort to show off the gaming potential of Windows 10.

Windows 10 is Microsoft’s link between the Xbox and the PC. A variant of the operating system has powered the Xbox One since an update arrived inNovember.

Microsoft’s engineers are working to tie its game console and the PC closer together, promoting technology that allows users of the Xbox Live multiplayer gaming service to compete against counterparts on the PC.

“Historically, gamers stay in their own lanes,” said Lewis Ward, who tracks the industry for researcher IDC. “Microsoft wants to prove to the developer community that this is actually a much bigger ecosystem (by) crossing from the living room into the PC.”

The technology to back up Microsoft’s ambitions isn’t ready yet.

Major games featuring PC-to-Xbox interplay haven’t arrived as finished products. A separate project to link Microsoft’s PC-focused Windows store with the selection of games and applications available on Xbox has not been completed.

The Windows 10 application store includes a reboot of a Microsoft effort, started almost a decade ago with Games for Windows Live, to be an online storefront for digitally downloaded PC games. That business is dominated by Steam, the digital store run by Bellevue’s Valve. Amazon.com also hosts digital game sales.

Mike Ybarra, who leads the Xbox software-engineering group, said games are a crucial part of any digital application store, pointing to the huge volume of video-game transactions on Apple’s iOS platform.

Microsoft is trying to add a bit of exclusivity to its store with “Quantum Break,” a highly anticipated third-person shooter by Remedy Entertainment, the studio behind “Max Payne” and “Alan Wake.” The game, set for release in April, will be available for download exclusively via Windows 10, instead of Steam.

“The attempt to sell games on the PC has never been very strong for Microsoft,” IDC’s Ward said. “Windows 10 gives them the opportunity to deal themselves back in.”

Ultimately, Spencer says, Microsoft’s goal is to meet gamers on any device, enabling them to pause a game they were playing on an Xbox and pick up where they left off on a laptop, or, eventually, even more mobile devices.

“The logical extension for us is from television to expanding to television and PC,” Spencer said in an interview. “In the long run, we want Xbox Live to be anywhere somebody wants to play.”

Embargo broken?

Not all info has been released but according to the article ALL games will see PC counterparts.

Edit... that is all games mentioned at the show. 

F2P you say.

I don't really see it as much of a commitment to PC gamers, more or less a commitment to those who use their OS or specifically their one OS and their one store, not previously existing OS's or people buying from other vendors who happen to sell games they once owned. As far as I can see MS just wants to turn 10 into another version of Xbox in terms of one place to buy (no other choices, no other vendors or clients), no ability to mod said games (files aren't modifiable in any way) and really just a lacking choice of a massive library that other clients and vendors offer, can't say I;m interested in their current plans though as they are going down a path I do not wish to follow, about a year and a half ago I was looking forward to seeing what they had in mind but that path has shifted since then.

Also going by the poll options, lets really not try turning this into a consoles VS PC article, we could really do without that happening again.

WTF, so now they will release Xbox One games for free on PC ?, we don't know the size, but release a game from a franchise that is one of the hearts of you console, for free, is self-killing your-self, it really seems that now every game made by Microsoft, will come for PC, they just don't had the last ones like Halo, or Forza, because they wanted to push the Console, maybe because Forza, and Halo, sold under the expactations, now they will try to see if the game sell well on PC, and try to compete with Steam.

But the difference from Console, and PC, if Steam, make a better deal for the same game on their store, the player can just Double Click the app, buy it on Steam, and Microsoft, will not receive a Coin, with Consoles, someone that have a Xbox, cannot just Double click, and purchase something that Sony, is offering.

The point is, that you will never have a true "Install Base", on PC, Because everyone's install base will be your install base.

About the new strategy, the writing was on the wall.  At some point Phil made it clear that he wasing trying to pass the PS4.  His goal was to make the gaming business as profitable as possible so that Xbox could go on.  He said something to the effect of:  I can make any promises if I can't prove that the gaming division can be profitable.  I don't know how Live membership plays into this on PC (if at all) but of all publishers, Microsoft has been the most unsupportable in years past of gaming on PC.  The controlled enviorment factor plays a big part, but isn't it weird that everyone seems shocked about Microsoft supporting its own operating system (and yes that a singular operating system).  It will be interesting to see how folks react tomorrow when the full list of games comes out. 

Bring halo to steam, baby.

Windows' Store perhaps?

I don't honestly care what affect it'll have on Xbox, but definitely appreciate seeing more titles come to PC.

I do, however, think that pulling the plug on another Xbox is too stupid a blunder for Microsoft to commit.  Yes, they fucked up this gen, but, I think they should've learned from it tremendously.  I think the Ps4 would've still won the gen regardless of the early PR mistakes from MS, however, given it's current sales you can't deny that there's money to be made there.  Shit, Sony fucked up worse last gen than Microsoft did this gen (imo), and look at how they rebounded?  If Microsoft can learn from their mistakes, why shouldn't they do another?  Granted, Sony has built themselves quite the brand recognition throughout the world, but there's no reason to believe that if Microsoft corrects their missteps from last gen, I don't see why they can't continue building (positively) on their own.

Basically, they just need to not be anti-consumer pricks, realize a good chunk of the gaming community still (yes, still) doesn't have reliable internet (both companies could stand to keep this in mind), and release a good product (without design defects, would also be a plus...though, if the 360's any indication, not necessary).  Invest in first your first party devs, ensuring you'll have compelling IP moving forward, without having to open your wallet for 3rd party deals, and for fucks sake, don't force your devs to use periphery they don't want, and don't only release hardware bundled w/ expensive periphery...because many people like choice, and aren't always able to shell out the extra X, for something they're not sold on anyway.