Microsoft has proven how successful Xbox Game Pass has been for them, with the service boasting 18 million subscribers, up from 15 million previously revealed. With constant updates, new games, and challenges being offered, the value of the service is a big talking point across the community.
This week the courtroom battle between Epic Games and Apple has offered a wealth of insider information to the public. The whole ordeal began last year when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store for bypassing the in-app store and offering V-Bucks directly to the consumer, effectively bypassing Apple and the cut they take on all purchases made within the ecosystem. With the entire industry watching the courtroom unpack the evidence provided for the case, there’s been a lot of insight on how these massive companies operate and even try to create new opportunities for each other.
Tom Warren of The Verge has done a marvellous job at unpacking the entire court case. While there are a ton of excellent nuggets of information being entered as evidence, including Epic pushing Xbox to offer free multiplayer and time it to overstep Apple’s 30% cut of purchases, it’s the other bit of news that’s caught a lot of attention.
“At the highest levels of MS[Microsoft] we are committed to pushing on these policies and continuing to expand our console platform capabilities,” Phil Spencer wrote in an email to Tim Sweeny. “You can chime in as you feel comfortable. But I did want to just let you know that I have your point on xCloud on other consoles (haven’t given up), F2P outside of Gold (we will get there and I want to partner with you), and our Store entitlement ideas as items I’m going to review with you to make progress.”
Microsoft’s xCloud streaming service is an additional way to play within the Xbox ecosystem from their phone or tablet by streaming full video games to their device. As a perk of subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the option to stream and download games are available to you. While both Nintendo and Sony offer their own version of streaming, getting xCloud on other ecosystems would be a huge win for Microsoft.
And it isn’t like consumers don’t want the option of xCloud on PlayStation or Nintendo, there is a ton of talk on social media about the possibility. However, there are many hurdles to clear for this to happen including the recent evidence offered at the trial that Sony is extremely protective of their environment.
Click the link and learn about diversity. I think the session is doing a great job of revealing why Xbox's culture seems to permeate everything it does right now. Phil is speaking to that.
— Jeff Grubb (@JeffGrubb) April 28, 2021
I’m staying hopeful and would love to see xCloud be allowed as an app on the PlayStation Network and Nintendo Switch Online. We know it’s possible and it works well, it’s only a matter of time in my opinion. After all, the new big game on Twitter is guessing what hints and easter eggs are tucked away on gaming executive shelves.
the Nintendo Switch sure is showing up on Microsoft's Xbox shelves a lot lately… pic.twitter.com/gyDBV7lqLs
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) April 20, 2021
