Microsoft Has Apparently Dialed Back the Scope of Xbox Play Anywhere

[ffronw]

Microsoft Has Apparently Dialed Back the Scope of Xbox Play Anywhere

//cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/1334/1334890.jpgMicrosoft quietly narrowed the scope of Xbox Play Anywhere by altering an announcement from June.

UPDATE: Microsoft responded to our query with the following statement:

"When we unveiled Xbox Play Anywhere, we said that every new Microsoft Studios title shown at the Xbox E3 2016 Briefing will support Xbox Play Anywhere. We understand that a recent blog post didn't specify that the only Microsoft Studios titles we've confirmed to date as Xbox Play Anywhere were shown at the E3 2016 Xbox briefing. We've updated the blog post and apologize for any confusion. You can go to www.xboxplayanywhere.com [http://www.xboxplayanywhere.com] to see the current list of participating games."

It sounds like the blog post that raised the issue may have been in error, and the update was simply to bring things in line with plans for the program.

ORIGINAL STORY: When Xbox Play Anywhere was announced during E3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/167704-Xbox-Play-Anywhere-Brings-Xbox-Games-to-Windows-10-Starting-with-Gears-of-War-4], it sounded like a boon for both PC gamers and Xbox One gamers. Under the program, games available on Xbox One would also be available on Windows 10.

That was reinforced by a post on the Windows Blog (never be another Xbox One exclusive [http://web.archive.org/web/20160629122251/https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/06/29/windows-10-anniversary-update-available-august-2/].

Unfortunately, that may not come to pass. Microsoft has quietly edited the aforementioned post to read (emphasis mine), "Every new title published from Microsoft Studios that we showed onstage at E3 this year will support Xbox Play Anywhere and will be easily accessible in the Windows Store." You can see the edited post this video [https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/06/29/windows-10-anniversary-update-available-august-2/#ktS2pDXedoHgK9eH.99].

While it's not super surprising to see Microsoft roll this back a bit, it is disappointing. Play Anywhere was looking to be a huge boon for PC gamers, but it may be less so with this change. Additionally, even this edit doesn't explain Dead Rising 4, which was announced at E3, but doesn't appear on the list of Play Anywhere titles [http://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/xbox-play-anywhere].

We've reached out to Microsoft for a comment on this change, and we will update this story with any response we receive.

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[JUMBO PALACE]

I'm torn about this.

I understand that some studios within Microsoft might not be comfortable developing for PC, so why force them to work on a version of their game that they aren't equipped to handle. Just because Turn 10 doesn't mind optimizing for PC doesn't mean Rare has the same ability or interest. Just picking 2 studios as examples.

The other part of me is cynical and bitter and is mad that they're going to continue to keep Halo from me. I really thought we were making steps in the right direction Microsoft. Don't relapse on me now.

Course.. judging by the reception of Halo 5 and from what I've seen of Gears 4... Forza is really all I'm looking for from Microsoft at this point anyway.

 

[Fulbert]

Those still would be Windows Store titles anyway, so eh.

 

[Darth Rosenberg]

Though, cue the people being all "hurrdurr micro$ are lying to xbone owners". Probably two of the dumbest naming terms used by gamers today. They both stopped being funny soon after the Xbox One abandoned all of its initial restrictions.

Eh, Mattrick's little era and that reveal was a complete idiotic disaster, so whilst I think the whole 'M$' and 'X-bone' terminology is rather pathetic (more small details that build a picture of petty, antagonistic gamer culture) I'm not exactly surprised teh internetz has kept it going.

As for the apparent semi-turnaround: I do think it's unfortunate - Play Anywhere seemed like it might be a rather bold new world in some respects, and it seemed very admirably ambitious and progressive.

Still, didn't someone recently announce there'd be no more exclusives on XB1? I'm probably neglecting some painfully obvious detail, but it kinda seems that contradicts the Anywhere-But-Not-Really tweak in terms of a policy going forward.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Those still would be Windows Store titles anyway, so eh.

Yeah, it's hard to get excited for games exclusive to GFWL 2.0.

 

[Jadak]

Additionally, even this edit doesn't explain Dead Rising 4, which was announced at E3, but doesn't appear on the list of Play Anywhere titles.

Umm... Yes it does, or rather, it doesn't need to.

They just said all games shown will be available. That doesn't exclude other games. They didn't say "elusively these games and no others"

Presumably all of the games on the list are still intended to be available, they just don't want to box themselves in by claiming that all future games they publish will meet this criteria.

 

[ffronw]

Additionally, even this edit doesn't explain Dead Rising 4, which was announced at E3, but doesn't appear on the list of Play Anywhere titles.

Umm... Yes it does, or rather, it doesn't need to.

They just said all games shown will be available. That doesn't exclude other games. They didn't say "elusively these games and no others"

Presumably all of the games on the list are still intended to be available, they just don't want to box themselves in by claiming that all future games they publish will meet this criteria.

The edit says that all the games shown at E3 would be Play Anywhere titles. Dead Rising 4, which was shown at E3, is not a Play Anywhere title. Both of these things cannot be true.

 

[Jadak]

Additionally, even this edit doesn't explain Dead Rising 4, which was announced at E3, but doesn't appear on the list of Play Anywhere titles.

Umm... Yes it does, or rather, it doesn't need to.

They just said all games shown will be available. That doesn't exclude other games. They didn't say "elusively these games and no others"

Presumably all of the games on the list are still intended to be available, they just don't want to box themselves in by claiming that all future games they publish will meet this criteria.

The edit says that all the games shown at E3 would be Play Anywhere titles. Dead Rising 4, which was shown at E3, is not a Play Anywhere title. Both of these things cannot be true.

Ah, my bad. I read that backwards.

 

[Link XL1]

gears 4 and halo wars 2 on PC are all i care about. so... eh?

 

[thewatergamer]

Yeah...I wasn't interested in the first place because of GFWL 2.0 so I guess I haven't really lost anything

 

[infohippie]

Huh? Oh, Microsoft still makes games sometimes. That's nice.
Hey Microsoft, where's Mechwarrior 5, you fuckers?

 

[Cartographer]

GFWL 2.0 has problems before it's even implemented?

Well, I never would have believed that, with Microsoft's track record and all.
Colour me shocked and dismayed.
[sarcasm emoji]

 

[josemlopes]

Additionally, even this edit doesn't explain Dead Rising 4, which was announced at E3, but doesn't appear on the list of Play Anywhere titles.

Umm... Yes it does, or rather, it doesn't need to.

They just said all games shown will be available. That doesn't exclude other games. They didn't say "elusively these games and no others"

Presumably all of the games on the list are still intended to be available, they just don't want to box themselves in by claiming that all future games they publish will meet this criteria.

The edit says that all the games shown at E3 would be Play Anywhere titles. Dead Rising 4, which was shown at E3, is not a Play Anywhere title. Both of these things cannot be true.

Last time I checked Dead Rising 4 wasnt even Microsoft exclusive but just a timed one, meaning that it isnt a Play Anywhere game for obvious reasons.

 

[Leg End]

Anyone who called this, come collect your prize money.

They both stopped being funny soon after the Xbox One abandoned all of its initial restrictions.

Quite funny to me still as Microsoft had the audacity to even put those insane restrictions out there in the first place.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Microsoft backpedaling. What a surprise. So it's Xbox Play Somewhere now, huh?

 

[votemarvel]

In regard to developing for both PC and Xbox One, isn't that what the Universal Windows Platform was meant to make really easy?

Microsoft have had to backtrack. They have the lowest selling console between them and Sony, so if people were choosing a console would it not make sense to go for the one with the actual exclusives?

Then there was the risk of alienating their console fanbase with PC players getting to play on Xbox Live without the need to pay the Gold fee.

 

[COMaestro]

Last time I checked Dead Rising 4 wasnt even Microsoft exclusive but just a timed one, meaning that it isnt a Play Anywhere game for obvious reasons.

It's still being published my Microsoft Studios though, and the post reads, "Every new title published from Microsoft Studios that we showed onstage at E3 this year will support Xbox Play Anywhere and will be easily accessible in the Windows Store." So no, it's just MS backpedaling even more and poorly communicating it.