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[ManaByte]

GDC 2025: Opening a Billion Doors with Xbox

As we look toward 2025 and beyond, Xbox remains dedicated to expanding gaming accessibility across devices, simplifying development workflows for creators, and delivering seamless experiences across all screens.

developer.microsoft.com

 

[analog_future]

 

[ExtendEmbraceExtinguish]

Good. Now Start next gen already for us console peasants via oem.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Is the handheld friendly windows wrapper Phil was talking about like 2 years ago?

 

[LectureMaster]

 

[Hookshot]

Can't we go back to the good old days,? Days when people used to accidentally have a "tranny" tab open instead of this.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Steam is just a storefront that can easily be replaced. I forget who said that here.

 

[LordBritish]

Cant you add your steam games to GOG in the same respect?

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

 

[Thabass]

Does this mean I get to play Geometry Wars 2 on my phone and/or PC?

If so, W.

 

[Badlucktroll]

 

[BennyBlanco]

Microsoft is combining ‘the best of Xbox and Windows together’ for handhelds

The Windows handheld gaming experience may change in 2025.

www.theverge.com

Is this what were looking at?

 

[jshackles]

They probably just mis-spelled "Stream"

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Microsoft is combining ‘the best of Xbox and Windows together’ for handhelds

The Windows handheld gaming experience may change in 2025.

www.theverge.com

Is this what were looking at?

Not just their handheld

 

[jm89]

They probably just mis-spelled "Stream"

Considering the other tab options, probably this.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Not just their handheld

I like the idea of a fixed spec HTPC that functions well with a controller, but I have to wonder how they will try to drive business to their PC store that nobody cares about if Steam is right there.

 

[winjer]

 

[Punished Miku]

We're back Xbros

 

[ManaByte]

Considering the other tab options, probably this.

MS calls that Cloud.

 

[LordBlodgett]

Looks like they are building a loader which allows for Steam. Sort of like GOG Galaxy.

 

[Little Chicken]

 

[kiphalfton]

What is the significance of this?

 

[PauloRoberto]

What is the significance of this?

Way less than a lot of people here want to believe... simply a way to access Steam library using Xbox app. This way, MS can use Steam users and count them as Xbox users.

 

[Astray]

Will be hilarious seeing this backfire.

 

[Omnipunctual Godot]

Please, God. Give me a reason to turn on my Series X.

 

[Ev1L AuRoN]

I mean, an xbox where I can use my steam library seems to good to be true, I wonder who will buy anything on the microsoft ecosystem having steam as a superior offer, that's pretty much microsoft wanting to lure in steam users to gamepass.

 

[VolticArchangel]

Oh boy here we go

 

[ReBurn]

Phil, let me play my Steam library on my Series X you coward.

 

[ExtendEmbraceExtinguish]

Steam is just a storefront that can easily be replaced. I forget who said that here.

Potentially can if mega publishers appear and can output beyond competition. Steam is a storefront powered by valves IPs as glue. Valve will survive due to our catalogues and steam sales but cloud will be the main competition in 20 yrs (globally).

Real question is can a publisher provide multiple keys for one purchase I.e helldivers 2 purchase via psn gives you keys to psn/steam/epic/other note tied to 1 account. If so all storefronts are worthless vs a publisher.

 

[Boo Who?]

I mean, an xbox where I can use my steam library seems to good to be true, I wonder who will buy anything on the microsoft ecosystem having steam as a superior offer, that's pretty much microsoft wanting to lure in steam users to gamepass.

I already use my Xbox to stream my Steam games from my PC via Apollo and Moonlight.

 

[rodrigolfp]

-Nvm. I was blind.

 

[memoryman3]

Phil, let me play my Steam library on my Series X you coward.

Most publishers would prefer it if you bought the game twice. Most of the Steam library is on the Xbox console, but not the Xbox PC application…

 

[BennyBlanco]

Please, God. Give me a reason to turn on my Series X.

Turn it on and factory reset it before listing it on ebay

 

[ManaByte]

Real question is can a publisher provide multiple keys for one purchase

Yes they already do with Play Anywhere. They'll link MS and Steam. The next Xbox will run Steam and Play Anywhere will be Xbox, MS Store, and Steam entitlements. Wait for it.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Could be a tab for 'Steamworld Digg' could not fit the entire name on the tab.

 

[Little Chicken]

Steam on Xbox hardware is a nightmare scenario for some it seems.

 

[DenchDeckard]

This is a fucking game changer if it's on a more traditional console......

 

[reinking]

Accessibility for gamers is awesome but how does this move the needle for Xbox? I am not trying to be a smartass but to understand the expectations. Is it supposed to sell hardware? Is it supposed to sell more Xbox games to PC players? Will MS/XB get a cut from Steam sales if sold through the app? Tie it to advertising revenue? All of the above?

 

[Calverz]

I think this is just some way of being able to add steam games to the Xbox launcher. Similar to adding non steam games to steam.

 

[Punished Miku]

Steam on Xbox hardware is a nightmare scenario for some it seems.

They just know its a really great feature merging open stores, digital competition, pretty much all games, Gamepass and a console like system UI. Nothing but win. Scares people stuck on PS with discs.

 

[Black_Stride]

Phil, let me play my Steam library on my Series X you coward.

Microsoft is having trouble wooing developers to do Smart Delivery let alone Play Anywhere and you expect them to be able to do Steam Crossover at any reasonable scale?

 

[Topher]

So Xbox app will allow you to launch other store's games from their launcher kind of like GOG Galaxy does?

Eh....cool, I guess

 

[Zacfoldor]

What is the significance of this?

TBD.

I can lay out what I understand. Our man @ HeisenbergFX4 is way out ahead on this.

At minimum, the next Xbox will play Steam store in addition to MS store. It may be a partner machine that runs on Windows and plays PC versions of all games or it may be a bespoke piece of hardware that can also play Xbox games, but either way it is likely(almost certainly) to play steam games.

This is great news for everyone buying the new box.

There are concerns. 1. How can MS keep the price of the box low if they aren't the only storefront in the box and 2. What happens to non-play everywhere BC after this generation? --- this is a major change and no one is sure how it will affect the market. However, because this move was a pivot by MS and not their original plan(some of us assume), most assume they are on their back foot here and this may not be a slam dunk. Exciting times. The hardware reveal will be huge. I can't remember, are we looking at 2027 for release?

 

[adamsapple]

 

[Topher]

This is a fucking game changer if it's on a more traditional console......

"Xbox app"

 

[TehGoomba7s]

Gonna be interesting to see the reaction from the people who freak out about having choice of graphics modes in games. Too much tinkering. How are they gonna react to different marketplaces on their "console"

 

[a'la mode]

Honestly though, I like living room sofa gaming, give me a low cost decently specced Xbox Next to hide under the TV with Steam integration and I might just get one. And that's coming from a Sony pony.

 

[Coloress_Kafka]

Why is "owned" listed twice??

 

[Loomy]

Accessibility for gamers is awesome but how does this move the needle for Xbox? I am not trying to be a smartass but to understand the expectations. Is it supposed to sell hardware? Is it supposed to sell more Xbox games to PC players? Will MS/XB get a cut from Steam sales if sold through the app? Tie it to advertising revenue? All of the above?

MS wants people buying games they publish from their store and playing through their app.


Regarding the mockup, there's no way Steam games or PC in general, is just plug and play on current Xbox hardware, so it's definitely not going to be for the consoles in that image. That mockup also has the "Owned" filter shown twice, so I'd take this with a heaping tablespoon of pink himalayan salt

 

[Loomy]

Why is "owned" listed twice??

Design oversight. Copy paste components in Figma. Forget to update one.