Microsoft May be Closer Than Ever to Importing Xbox Games Infrastructure to PC

[Raevenlord]

In a report via Ars Technica, it seems that Microsoft is actually inching ever closer to having PCs powered by Xbox games (and Xbox servers). After the company pushed some free copies of State of Decay to a limited number of beta testers for its upcoming Windows 10 updates (and asking for feedback on the game's behavior), a number of users tried (and managed) to dig deeper.

It seems that Microsoft used the Xbox's distribution services instead of the usual Game Store ones for distributing State of Decay, which would mean a tight integration of its console distribution platform and its Windows PC one. Furthermore, the state of Decay files came in encoded on a proprietary, Xbox-bound .xvc file system. State of Decay, as it is being delivered, also tries to update the DirectX installation on the users' PC, which speaks of it being aware of some PC-specific requirements for it to be run, which wouldn't be present shouldn't that be the case. This is all part of Microsoft's GameCore initiative, which aims to build a common set of system services and APIs that allow for higher development integration between both the PC and Xbox platforms, lowering the coding barrier for games to run on both, and perhaps even enabling PCs to be recognized as equals to Xbox consoles when it comes to content distribution. Maybe we'll finally be able to get The Master Chief collection and... Red Dead Redemption in our PCs?



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[dicktracy]

I welcome Microsoft to take over PC gaming and along with all those Xbox games. Valve doesn't make real games anymore, so no reason to support Steam. Matter of fact, I don't even have Steam installed...

 

[Zendo911]

I welcome Microsoft to take over PC gaming and along with all those Xbox games. Valve doesn't make real games anymore, so no reason to support Steam. Matter of fact, I don't even have Steam installed...

Actually, there a lot to go for in the PC market. With the rumors that Microsoft is releasing 2 models of Xbox in the upcoming E3, the half-generational upgrade cycle, and the added keyboard and mouse support, I see Microsoft trying to compete with PC gaming with their higher end model. I'm a PC gamer, but a hypothetical Xbox at say 600 dollars with pumped up specs and proper keyboard and mouse support would definitely get my attention as a replacement for my PC couch gaming. Not all of us are into the 144hz ultra competitive gaming.

 

[Camm]

The only fear I have is the death of modding, which is a primary draw card on PC.

 

[Basard]

If I wanted to play shitty Xbox games I wouldnt spend 500+ on a gpu, 300+ on a CPU, and another 700+ on other stuff to stick onto it... I would just buy a shitty Xbox.... Lol.....

They gonna cap all the FPS to 30 or 60 when they export them to PC?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I welcome Microsoft to take over PC gaming and along with all those Xbox games. Valve doesn't make real games anymore, so no reason to support Steam. Matter of fact, I don't even have Steam installed...

Yeah, As if Microsoft remembers how to make real PC games anymore. Everything is made with xbox in mind first, than pc.

 

[dicktracy]

Yeah, As if Microsoft remembers how to make real PC games anymore. Everything is made with xbox in mind first, than pc.

Still better than Dota 2 and CS Rehash 9.0 lol.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

There are exactly 0 titles I would ever buy from any console platform to play on PC. Not fan of moba's and the other 60% of console games are dumbed down.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Still better than Dota 2 and CS Rehash 9.0 lol.

Not to say that they dont have some great games that have been ported over... FORZA, Age Of Empires, Age Of Empires, and Age Of Empires....

Did i forget to mention Age Of Empires?

The thing is even my opinion is heavily convoluted because Microsoft themselves act more as a publisher when it comes to PC whereas they make a lot of stuff for Xbox. Its not like in the late 80s and early to mid 90s when Microsoft had multiple development studios just for the PC under its wing, We had flight sims and mech warrior and so many more franchises and IPs i probably cant even remember.

Microsoft dont care about the PC platform. Its been proven so many times. Once in a blue moon some big shot from microsoft will come out, say how they done the PC platform dirty and they want to try to fix that, make amends and make PC gaming great again. Makes a few promises, reaffirm their commitment and support for the PC platform. swears on God, swears to Jesus, Mary and the Holy Ghost that he will make PC gaming great again.... 6 months later, that same guy retires with a suitcase full of money and there is nothing to show for all the promises he made and I highly doubt there was anything done at all.

Fluff pieces and bones aplenty. Microsoft can keep throwing bones for dogs to chase when it suits them but this dog here has vaulted the fence and is long gone. I dont think im the only one that ignores whatever microsoft has to say when it comes to PC gaming and just carries on with life.

Too many empty promises.

 

[moproblems99]

I dont think im the only one that ignores whatever microsoft has to say when it comes to PC gaming and just carry on with life.

I wish we could shitcan DirectX and get Vulkan going. Then I could say goodbye to Microsoft forever.

 

[Rockarola]

I welcome Microsoft to take over PC gaming and along with all those Xbox games. Valve doesn't make real games anymore, so no reason to support Steam. Matter of fact, I don't even have Steam installed...

No system specs, singing the praise of consoles...how would you install Steam on your Xbox? ;-)
Valve is not (really) a developer anymore, but while it is far from perfect, Steam is still the best distribution system on the PC.

 

[moproblems99]

Does XBox have achievements? I don't see how it could survive without them.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

If I wanted to play shitty Xbox games I wouldnt spend 500+ on a gpu, 300+ on a CPU, and another 700+ on other stuff to stick onto it... I would just buy a shitty Xbox.... Lol.....

They gonna cap all the FPS to 30 or 60 when they export them to PC?

It would depend largely in how they implement it and what developers do. Could they build games to scale up with better hardware, and make all games playable as long as your PC meets a certain set of specs? There would have to be a pretty big carrot here, as someone like me just wants to know that every game he buys will run sufficiently on the hardware he already has. I won’t begrudge those chasing more FPS or higher IQ, but my gaming time is so limited, I just want to play my games with minimal intervention. Now that consoles background update, it’s rare that a game isn’t ready to play when you are.

 

[eidairaman1]

If i wanted xb games id buy a console.

Ms can go shove it.

 

[Batou1986]

The recent ports of the Forza games where really well done DX12 and all but Microsoft store is a hot mess.
Trying to download F7 wound up using over 250gb of data to install a 70gb game for me.
Until Microsoft figures out how to make windows 10 and the Microsoft store function at least as well as a Russian F2P game client I wont be buying anything.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

The recent ports of the Forza games where really well done DX12 and all but Microsoft store is a hot mess.
Trying to download F7 wound up using over 250gb of data to install a 70gb game for me.
Until Microsoft figures out how to make windows 10 and the Microsoft store function at least as well as a Russian F2P game client I wont be buying anything.

Yeah, Forza 7 is a really nice game with lots of settings on PC, but the MS App model is bad. MS does such a lousy job with DRM. All those graphical settings can reset every time you update your driver. And I could never figure out where my screenshots saved.

 

[Vayra86]

Games For Windows Live, Satya. I rest my case.

Oh by the way, how's Continuum going for ya... and all those other attempts at integration and One Windows. I still remember the first thing to turn off after a Windows 10 install was the Game DVR function.

This attempt was dead before it even got finalized. MS is once again on a push nobody wants. Xbox gamers don't care because it adds nothing to them and PC gamers don't want it because they only stand to lose. The console barely even has exclusives, who the hell cares.

Its pretty funny seeing Microsoft and their furious attempts to get 'gaming' in order. They're like a drunkard on the way home, and still haven't arrived. Maybe they'll meet their old Nokia friends along the way, and be careful, that's Kinect you're almost stepping on!

 

[BakerMan1971]

Well that's one way they could stick it to Sony
If they include cross platform play with their Keyb/Mouse enabled exbexers then I am all for it

Gaming Community First

 

[Shambles1980]

fyi microsoft.. i wont be getting a subscription to play online

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Games For Windows Live, Satya. I rest my case.

Oh by the way, how's Continuum going for ya... and all those other attempts at integration and One Windows. I still remember the first thing to turn off after a Windows 10 install was the Game DVR function.

This attempt was dead before it even got finalized. MS is once again on a push nobody wants. Xbox gamers don't care because it adds nothing to them and PC gamers don't want it because they only stand to lose. The console barely even has exclusives, who the hell cares.

Its pretty funny seeing Microsoft and their furious attempts to get 'gaming' in order. They're like a drunkard on the way home, and still haven't arrived. Maybe they'll meet their old Nokia friends along the way, and be careful, that's Kinect you're almost stepping on!

I was a pretty diehard MS fan back before Windows 10, so almost everything you mentioned I owned. You forgot Surface RT as another disaster—the limited but expensive device that didn’t even support an Xbox controller without a USB adapter. MS half-bakes everything. Windows 10 has been the culmination of a lack of corporate vision and direction. I just get the feeling the silos are deep at MS.

 

[SoNic67]

Games For Windows Live, Satya. I rest my case.

Oh by the way, how's Continuum going for ya... and all those other attempts at integration and One Windows. I still remember the first thing to turn off after a Windows 10 install was the Game DVR function.

This attempt was dead before it even got finalized. MS is once again on a push nobody wants. Xbox gamers don't care because it adds nothing to them and PC gamers don't want it because they only stand to lose. The console barely even has exclusives, who the hell cares.

Its pretty funny seeing Microsoft and their furious attempts to get 'gaming' in order. They're like a drunkard on the way home, and still haven't arrived. Maybe they'll meet their old Nokia friends along the way, and be careful, that's Kinect you're almost stepping on!

You are wrong. It's about synergy.
I for one would like to play my PC game with my friends that have it on Xbox. Lots of people would like not to have two systems in their house for just that purpose.
As for "games that are created specifically for PC". Laughable.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Maybe we'll finally be able to get The Master Chief collection

As long as proper keyboard and mouse support is a thing, I'm in on this, even though I despise DRM.. I'm not playing an FPS on a controller. Controllers are great for a lot of things. First Person Shooters are not one of them.

 

[Vayra86]

You are wrong. It's about synergy.
I for one would like to play my PC game with my friends that have it on Xbox. Lots of people would like not to have two systems in their house for just that purpose.
As for "games that are created specifically for PC". Laughable.

The moment you bring console and PC together in a competitive environment, you also bring the wide variety of options into it, which will destroy exactly that which console gamers love so much: equality and simplicity. Same specs, same controller, no frills. Marrying the platform with PC destroys that single USP that consoles have right now.

As for the games/content itself: PC is still the platform with the highest number of true exclusives. And what's more, the vast majority won't even run proper on a console. Ironically the Xbox platform stands to lose a big part of the playerbase because you can get a gameplay advantage playing the same game on the PC. You get cheats, mods, free to choose peripherals, and quite often cheaper games too.

So you can laugh all day... your loss. Its a very shallow world on the console, I'm not sure if that's something to be proud of.

 

[lexluthermiester]

As for the games/content itself: PC is still the platform with the highest number of true exclusives. And what's more, the vast majority won't even run proper on a console.

This, yes. A lot of people bemoan that many PC games are ports of the console version, which is rubbish most of the time. Development runs concurrently most of the time. Consoles have exclusives, but PC has a lot more!

As for "games that are created specifically for PC". Laughable.

So you can laugh all day... your loss. Its a very shallow world on the console, I'm not sure if that's something to be proud of.

Sonic67, as much as I feel the perspective you have, I have to agree with Vayra86 here, that is a bit on the shallow side. I'm more middle ground. I have and enjoy both PC's and consoles for different reasons.

 

[moproblems99]

The moment you bring console and PC together in a competitive environment, you also bring the wide variety of options into it, which will destroy exactly that which console gamers love so much: equality and simplicity. Same specs, same controller, no frills. Marrying the platform with PC destroys that single USP that consoles have right now.

As for the games/content itself: PC is still the platform with the highest number of true exclusives. And what's more, the vast majority won't even run proper on a console. Ironically the Xbox platform stands to lose a big part of the playerbase because you can get a gameplay advantage playing the same game on the PC. You get cheats, mods, free to choose peripherals, and quite often cheaper games too.

So you can laugh all day... your loss. Its a very shallow world on the console, I'm not sure if that's something to be proud of.

Add on top of that, a subscription is required for XBox Live and PSN. When that comes to PC, may God* have mercy on our souls.

*Insert whatever you want here.