Yeah, Microsoft makes noises about supporting the PC gaming industry from time to time. They even joined the PC Gaming Alliance. Do they really care though? Do they really want PC gaming to succeed as a whole, or do they just want the game they release to still have decent market after they’ve been on the 360 for awhile…? Evidence points to the latter:
"If we launch a game that is on 360 and PC simultaneously, we basically shoot ourselves in the foot by allowing the German market to choose to play the PC version – because they are more likely to buy that than spend their money on the Xbox 360."
"If we launched a Halo game on PC and 360 in Germany simultaneously, 80 per cent of sales would be on the PC," he added.
Hmmm…that’s pretty damning. I don’t even need to translate that. Based on that statement, what they’d really like is for everyone to have enough money to buy a 360, buy all their games on the 360 first and then buy them on the PC too. Or at the very least, just buy the 360 version. So instead of releasing games on multiple platforms, they push their main focus, the 360. This shouldn’t be surprising to anyone with half a brain.
So they are happy to support PC gaming as long as it’s not cutting into their real business in games, the XBox. I wonder what that makes studios like Ensemble feel…are they making games that are now 360 first, then PC, like most other Microsoft studios?
What Would Matt Do: I use Microsoft technology in work and play, constantly. Some of their decisions aren’t making sense though. Word to MS, quit competing against yourself. It’s not helping us, the gamer/consumer.