The only people this is going to affect is those who already have a gaming PC. These people simply have no reason to buy an XB1 but they do have a reason to buy a PS4. We'll see how this affects the market in the coming years.

I don't really follow what MS does too closely, but I THINK that by buying certain 1st party games on one Windows platform, you get a free copy of it on your other Windows platform(s). Not sure if I'm totally correct, but think I'm in the ballpark at least. It's not unlike Sony and their cross buy with PS4/PS3/Vita. Although I can see the appeal for a tiny, tiny, segment of gamers, I don't think being able to play in what essentially amounts to a LAN party setup, without the LAN, is going to make any difference in who buys what brand of console.

Let's be honest about this. The people who buy an Xbox for CoD or Madden and a few other titles really have no interest in owning a gaming PC. They're happy playing in front of their TV and surfing the web on their phones. For those people, nothing changes, and that's a very large part of the Xbox consumer base.

For existing PC gamers, how many were going to buy an Xbox to begin with? Sure, there is a segment there that buys everything because they can, but the more meaningful result is that Microsoft will now be able to sell the games they develop and publish to the PC gamers who never were going to buy an Xbox.

That's my niche, for the most part. Honestly, unless an exclusive came along that blew my mind, the Xbox One was pretty far down on my list. Now, though, Microsoft can sell me games, at least. That's a revenue stream they didn't have before.

That being said, however, I don't think this is going to make a meaningful difference either way. They're going to sell more games on PC while losing a certain amount of console sales. I wouldn't call it a wash but the plus/minus isn't going to be shocking.

I also doubt that the "Play Anywhere" thing is going to make much difference. Most people have their preferred place to play and that's the device they're going to use. There aren't many people who are going to buy an Xbox One because of that reason.

Microsoft Studios == Xbox

The Xbox division doesn't technically make any games, they only make a console on which Microsoft releases their games. If Xbox is deemed unnecessary, they'll be dropped. 

You can even run PS3 games properly.

And now that a pretty big factor (exclusives) has been devastatingly reduced, causing the question to be asked again. 

i find that doubtful, but perhaps you're right. so it would mean a friend of mine could buy game X and I would be able to play it with him on my pc? seems like they might only lose on game sales if that's the case. at the same time gives me no intention to ever buy their hardware in the future because I plan to always have a great gaming pc available.

Again, I don't know the exact details, but I am CERTAIN that at the very least, select 1st party MS games, or possibly ALL MS first party games are going to be "cross-buy". I don't know why you find it doubtful. Sony has been doing it for a while already. In fact, MS has already done it with Alan Wake. Buy the XBO version, get it for free on PC. It turned out badly though. It was like buying a new car, and getting complimentary kick in the balls.

No, not everyone who owns a PC can play Xbox games. If you own a Window's 10 PC and its as powerful as an Xbox One than yes you dont need an Xbox. Apple Users, Linux and anything older than Win10 does not have access to Xboxes library. Regardless Xboxes still sell because majority dont want to plug there PCs in there living rooms.

Good grief, what horrible logic.  The new MS is taking steps that, without a doubt, show they are focusing more on PC gaming and slowly backing away from console gaming.  And what do die hards do? Continually move goal posts.  It's the whole "graphics and resolution don't mean anything  NOW, when we raved about small advantages the 360 had last gen" argument all over again.

For gens, it's been about exclusives.  Who has the most and who has the better ones.  Now MS is saying Xbox basically has none and your answer is, "Well, you're not a true fan of gaming if you don't support no exclusives." Get out of here with that BS.  And I highly doubt Nintendo fans would agree they don't really like games because Wii U and 3DS are the only places you can play MK8.