The two platforms each have their personality

Aug 13, 2015 22:39 GMT  ·  By

With the launch of the Windows 10 operating system, Microsoft has apparently inaugurated another approach when it comes to gaming on the PC, and the company has been talking about ways to bring the PC and the home console closer than ever in order to create one ecosystem for all players.

A dedicated app is allowing all those interested to stream content from the Xbox One to their computer, although gamers were forced to uncover a high-quality option on their own after the company disabled it by default.

There are also remote control options for the home console, and the development team at Microsoft is saying that it plans to enhance the functionality in the coming months with more features.

At some point in the future, gamers will also have the option to stream content from the Windows 10 PC to the Xbox One.

Microsoft has also been talking about cross-platform play for some of the titles that it will publish in the future, allowing the two communities to face each other, even if the feature will not be offered for all releases.

There are also statements that might be interpreted as a sign that exclusives for the Xbox One might no longer exist in a few years, with all the Microsoft titles created internally coming to both the Xbox One and the PCs powered by Windows 10.

Integration can offer some cool interactions

Microsoft has long been criticized for its approach when it comes to gaming on the PC, as the company has largely retreated into the Xbox space, allowing companies like Valve to dominate the PC space with Steam.

At the same time, the lack of a platform holder means that it is easier than ever to experiment on the PC and to create the kind of experiences that will never be offered on the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One, or the Wii U from Nintendo.

The type of integration that Microsoft is promoting at the moment will give them a simple and relatively quick way to expand their gaming ecosystem.

If Windows 10 becomes very popular and DirectX 12 delivers the promised improvements in performance, the company even has a solid shot to convince other companies to use its own store rather than those of its rivals.

Two platforms, two types of gamers

But Microsoft would probably be able to create a better future for gaming on both Windows 10 and Xbox One if it tried to keep the two platforms separate.

For example, Halo Wars 2 is a real project right now, under development at The Creative Assembly and apparently designed to significantly expand on the core ideas of the original.

Microsoft will clearly deliver the title on both the Xbox One and the PC, but I suspect that the quality of the experience would be better served if it only arrived on Windows 10.

There are certain types of video games, like Halo Wars 2, that are better suited for the PC and it would be a good idea to allow them to stay as close as possible to their nature, regardless of the fact that they might have more sales if they also arrive on the Xbox One.

Mixing game launches for the two platforms could also lead to busier schedules, a genuine problem given how many titles are now arriving during a year.

Microsoft needs to keep the Xbox One and the Windows 10-powered PCs separate, and it should strive to give each of the two devices a clear personality and a set of video games that emphasize their strengths.

I would appreciate the chance to play Halo 5: Guardians on the PC and the company should deliver its biggest releases on both devices, but it should also try to make sure that it does not create an amorphous blob of gaming that constantly targets the lowest possible denominator.