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Microsoft wants to bring Xbox Live cross-platform gaming to Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, and more

Xenon

Member
I like this =) Nintendo's solution is a mess and I never bothered with android's game service.
 
S

Shodan09

Unconfirmed Member
Does this move us any closer to Banjo in Smash?
 

urmie

Member
Wow, a company that actually knows how to do online account systems, this is great news. Achievement unlocked.
 

VAL0R

Banned
Whaaat!?

Phil: Yo Shiggy, y'all can have XBL services, Azure servers and Game Pass access. But we gonna need BoTW2 all up in Scarlett, son.
Shiggy: A'ight.

But seriously, Game Pass and XBL on Switch is a huge win for Nintendo fans and will print money for MS.
 
Do Switch owners have to pay both Nintendo and Microsoft? Why the hell would Nintendo sign off on this?

Nintendo is the only big gaming company that actually turns over a profit on hardware. Getting buddy-buddy with one of the other big boys, who aren't even 'the competition' in a traditional sense, pushes a lot of units to people who will then go out and buy exclusive Nintendo software.

Businesses will dance though the flowers together all day long when both partners make tons of money.
 
Funny, it’ll take Xbox of all things to bring a proper chat system to switch.

But hey, I’d love more intimate development crossovers. Botw with achievements? Fuck yeah I’d want that. Or even just smash bros running on dedicated azure servers
I don't think it's funny that it takes Live to get a chat system on it. Many times have companies used other technologies to support new things. Off the top of my head a common thing I've heard was that most cell companies share towers to provide service. If it takes Verizon to provide service to sprint users in the middle of nowhere, they gotta do it.
 

zeorhymer

Member
To me, this is weird. This runs counter to what Nintendo was trying to do in their investor meeting which was to strengthen their online space in order to get more people to buy their products and services. Lets say that XBL takes off and Switch users abandon Ninendo Accounts because XBL is more feature rich. This would cause a shrinkage in their Nintendo Switch Online which they are trying to grow.
 

StormCell

Member
To me, this is weird. This runs counter to what Nintendo was trying to do in their investor meeting which was to strengthen their online space in order to get more people to buy their products and services. Lets say that XBL takes off and Switch users abandon Ninendo Accounts because XBL is more feature rich. This would cause a shrinkage in their Nintendo Switch Online which they are trying to grow.

It's not really that weird. Obviously, we need more details around this, however it's possible that use of the Live service will be paywalled behind a higher tier of online subscription, and Nintendo would also see a cut of the more expensive plan.
 

DunDunDunpachi

Patient MembeR
To me, this is weird. This runs counter to what Nintendo was trying to do in their investor meeting which was to strengthen their online space in order to get more people to buy their products and services. Lets say that XBL takes off and Switch users abandon Ninendo Accounts because XBL is more feature rich. This would cause a shrinkage in their Nintendo Switch Online which they are trying to grow.
This assumes Nintendo and Microsoft wouldn't find a symbiotic relationship, i.e. pay $25 for Switch online separately, $40 for xCloud streaming, or pay $50 for both (or something like that).

As a general comment (not pertaining only to Nintendo and Microsoft but to all of these walled-garden wannabes): the company that can come up with hybrid subscription models will capture a lot of the market. If Microsoft is predicting this and already making their inroads to stream/download Xbox content to non-Xbox systems, that's a smart move and is definitely in line with their business plans.
 

Elenchus

Banned
Reading comprehension is lacking on GAF as usual. Proposal is not to put MS games on Nintendo and Sony’s consoles. Proposal is to extend Xbox Live cross-play to more titles (even if those titles appear on Switch). This is already happening with Minecraft, Rocket League, and I believe, Fortnite. It’s nothing new.
 

DunDunDunpachi

Patient MembeR
Reading comprehension is lacking on GAF as usual. Proposal is not to put MS games on Nintendo and Sony’s consoles. Proposal is to extend Xbox Live cross-play to more titles (even if those titles appear on Switch). This is already happening with Minecraft, Rocket League, and I believe, Fortnite. It’s nothing new.
I can't speak for others, but I was aware of that from the get-go. Some of us are just speculating about the implications and what form it might take, and what it might lead to down the road.
 

Gamezone

Gold Member
This will introduce Nintendo users to achivements, kinda. And hopefully they will implement this on PC too. Steam achivements are terrible
 

TLZ

Banned
Wait a minute... That rumor or leak about a new Switch online service to be announced from a week ago or something, is this it??
 
MS' sneaky plan for world domination.

giphy.gif
 

JLB

Banned
Rare was useless for gamers, they didn't create any real game 2008-2018, maybe things will get better after SoT. Successful MS studios become one series makers: T10 (Forza), 343 (Halo), Playground (FH) and Lionhead when they were still around was making only Fable games. MS can have successful FP portfolio only if they change their policies, don't be Nazi publisher and allow studios to make new IPs.

Nazi publisheres? Eh... other than that, Sea of thieves.
 

Codes 208

Member
Reading comprehension is lacking on GAF as usual. Proposal is not to put MS games on Nintendo and Sony’s consoles. Proposal is to extend Xbox Live cross-play to more titles (even if those titles appear on Switch). This is already happening with Minecraft, Rocket League, and I believe, Fortnite. It’s nothing new.
This isn’t entirely accurate. From what I’ve read it seems this is more of MS putting Xbox live services over to iOS, Android and switch for functionality purposes. While this doesn’t directly relate to Xbox games coming to Nintendo (because it doesn’t) or vice versa, this could act very similar on Nintendo what the Xbox app does on pc/mobile (party chat, achievements support, azure servers.)

If this was merely just about cross-play I doubt this would be as big of news as they want it to be. But we’ll know more at GDC.
 

demigod

Member
Reading comprehension is lacking on GAF as usual. Proposal is not to put MS games on Nintendo and Sony’s consoles. Proposal is to extend Xbox Live cross-play to more titles (even if those titles appear on Switch). This is already happening with Minecraft, Rocket League, and I believe, Fortnite. It’s nothing new.

Reading comprehension fails you, seriously learn to read before you mock others. This is xbox live on other platforms, not about cross-play.
 

NickFire

Member
Reading comprehension be damned. This sounds like Nintendo's best hope for a competent online service. Woo Hoo!!!!!
 

Elenchus

Banned
Reading comprehension fails you, seriously learn to read before you mock others. This is xbox live on other platforms, not about cross-play.
Reading comprehension fails you, seriously learn to read before you mock others. This is xbox live on other platforms, not about cross-play.

Source clearly says the initiative has the “goal of bringing Xbox Live support to games on Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, in addition to PC and Xbox consoles. Microsoft already has a few games with Xbox Live support across mobile devices, most notably via Minecraft....” That’s not full access to Xbox Live and/or every game on Xbox. That’s achievements and cross-play-which are already happening.

They could bring Xcloud to Switch if they’re not making a handheld, but that’s another topic. I don’t really see this topic as anything new. It’s just giving more devs the tools to do what some devs are already doing.
 
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demigod

Member
Source clearly says the initiative has the “goal of bringing Xbox Live support to games on Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, in addition to PC and Xbox consoles. Microsoft already has a few games with Xbox Live support across mobile devices, most notably via Minecraft....” That’s not full access to Xbox Live and/or every game on Xbox. That’s achievements and cross-play-which are already happening.

They could bring Xcloud to Switch if they’re not making a handheld, but that’s another topic. I don’t really see this topic as anything new. It’s just giving more devs the tools to do what some devs are already doing.

Do you really need me to bold it to you?

"Until now, Microsoft reserved Xbox Live support on those platforms for its own games, but now now, Microsoft is aiming to bring Xbox Live cross-platform play to even more titles.
Developers will be able to bake cross-platform Xbox Live achievements, social systems, and multiplayer, into games built for mobile devices and Nintendo Switch, as part of its division-wide effort to grow Xbox Live's userbase."
 

Elenchus

Banned
Do you really need me to bold it to you?

"Until now, Microsoft reserved Xbox Live support on those platforms for its own games, but now now, Microsoft is aiming to bring Xbox Live cross-platform play to even more titles.
Developers will be able to bake cross-platform Xbox Live achievements, social systems, and multiplayer, into games built for mobile devices and Nintendo Switch, as part of its division-wide effort to grow Xbox Live's userbase."


IGN’s take on the announcement. Sounds exactly like mine. Do...you...need...me...to bold it...for you? Or is speaking slowly sufficient?

“What this means is that the meat-and-potatoes base layer of Xbox Live will now be an option for developers on non-Xbox devices: friends lists, achievements and clubs are all mentioned. What it doesn’t mean is that you’ll be able to download Xbox games on Switch. This is simply an extension of the Live service, not the games or stores associated with it.

This kind of functionality isn’t even totally new: Xbox Live profiles are already integrated with Minecraft on Switch, cross-play is available between Xbox, Switch and mobile, achievements were even available in iOS game Wordament as early as 2013. This feels like more of an attempt to formalise and flatten out what already exists in pockets of games, rather than a bold new move in and of itself.”

https://m.ign.com/articles/2019/02/04/what-does-xbox-live-on-switch-mobile-actually-mean

🤫
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Hmmm, I wonder how Apple and Google are going to react to this. I mean it seems somewhat subversive to their interests to allow a competitor to Trojan Horse its ecosystem within their own.

I mean its a different situation to one where a content provider is simply supporting its own back-end, offering it as an alternative for any willing participants is antithetical to the walled-garden philosophies of the mobile providers.

The issue is should they allow XBL to get a strong foothold it would effectively block them from implementing systems of their own in future, which I cannot see Google in particular going for if they intend to enter the streaming game services market.
 

Foxbat

Banned
To me at least, it seems as though MS is ultimately trying to replicate it's Windows OS model with XBL.
 

demigod

Member
IGN’s take on the announcement. Sounds exactly like mine. Do...you...need...me...to bold it...for you? Or is speaking slowly sufficient?

“What this means is that the meat-and-potatoes base layer of Xbox Live will now be an option for developers on non-Xbox devices: friends lists, achievements and clubs are all mentioned. What it doesn’t mean is that you’ll be able to download Xbox games on Switch. This is simply an extension of the Live service, not the games or stores associated with it.

This kind of functionality isn’t even totally new: Xbox Live profiles are already integrated with Minecraft on Switch, cross-play is available between Xbox, Switch and mobile, achievements were even available in iOS game Wordament as early as 2013. This feels like more of an attempt to formalise and flatten out what already exists in pockets of games, rather than a bold new move in and of itself.”

https://m.ign.com/articles/2019/02/04/what-does-xbox-live-on-switch-mobile-actually-mean

🤫

Read what you posted, its the same thing as in the OP. This doesn’t even mention cross play like you were saying. This is XBOX LIVE WITH OTHER GAMES. Seriously, learn to read.
 

Elenchus

Banned
Read what you posted, its the same thing as in the OP. This doesn’t even mention cross play like you were saying. This is XBOX LIVE WITH OTHER GAMES. Seriously, learn to read.

What do you think “cross-platform play” is exactly? Because that’s what the source in the OP says. And when IGN mentions this is nothing new they immediately liken it to cross-play. You can stop now. This isn’t going well for you.
 

demigod

Member
Reading comprehension is lacking on GAF as usual. Proposal is not to put MS games on Nintendo and Sony’s consoles. Proposal is to extend Xbox Live cross-play to more titles (even if those titles appear on Switch). This is already happening with Minecraft, Rocket League, and I believe, Fortnite. It’s nothing new.
What do you think “cross-platform play” is exactly? Because that’s what the source in the OP says. And when IGN mentions this is nothing new they immediately liken it to cross-play. You can stop now. This isn’t going well for you.

Do you know what you even wrote at first? The only game that requires a login is Minecraft, you do not need to login to Xbox Live to crossplay on Rocket League and Fortnite. This IS new since the only game that requires Xbox Live is Minecraft, so now every other game if the developer wishes, they can implement Xbox Live into their game for achievements, social systems, multiplayer. This is NOT cross play. You have to log into Xbox Live for these features. Do you think xbox live userbase is growing because people are cross playing fortnite on PS4?

Developers will be able to bake cross-platform Xbox Live achievements, social systems, and multiplayer, into games built for mobile devices and Nintendo Switch, as part of its division-wide effort to grow Xbox Live's userbase.
 

Elenchus

Banned
Do you know what you even wrote at first? The only game that requires a login is Minecraft, you do not need to login to Xbox Live to crossplay on Rocket League and Fortnite. This IS new since the only game that requires Xbox Live is Minecraft, so now every other game if the developer wishes, they can implement Xbox Live into their game for achievements, social systems, multiplayer. This is NOT cross play. You have to log into Xbox Live for these features. Do you think xbox live userbase is growing because people are cross playing fortnite on PS4?

Developers will be able to bake cross-platform Xbox Live achievements, social systems, and multiplayer, into games built for mobile devices and Nintendo Switch, as part of its division-wide effort to grow Xbox Live's userbase.

I never said it was just cross-play. I said it involved achievements, etc. Your argument was that cross-play wasn’t mentioned. Now you’ve abandoned that argument because you have no choice. This is beyond silly. This does not give other consoles access to Xbox games or the Xbox store which is what was being tossed about around here. Whether folks have to login or not is small potatoes. That’s the massive change we should all be jazzed about?
 
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demigod

Member
Reading comprehension is lacking on GAF as usual. Proposal is not to put MS games on Nintendo and Sony’s consoles. Proposal is to extend Xbox Live cross-play to more titles (even if those titles appear on Switch). This is already happening with Minecraft, Rocket League, and I believe, Fortnite. It’s nothing new.
I never said it was just cross-play. I said it involved achievements, etc. Your argument was that cross-play wasn’t mentioned. Now you’ve abandoned that argument because you have no choice. This is beyond silly. This does not give other consoles access to Xbox games or the Xbox store which is what was being tossed about around here. Whether folks have to login or not is small potatoes. That’s the massive change we should all be jazzed about?

Show me in your original post where did you mention achievements?
 

Elenchus

Banned
Original post, goodjob. Reading comprehension fails you.

I saw that you tried to limit it to my original post. I just disregarded that middle school debate tactic. My point was that I acknowledged it involved achievements. If you think the post I do that in is a hill you want to die on be my guest. Bottom line is that there was nothing significant about this news. That’s my take. That’s IGN’s take.

But looks like you are a YouTube console warrior so I’m starting to understand why this is so important to you. You appear on a PS podcast correct?
 

demigod

Member
I saw that you tried to limit it to my original post. I just disregarded that middle school debate tactic. My point was that I acknowledged it involved achievements. If you think the post I do that in is a hill you want to die on be my guest. Bottom line is that there was nothing significant about this news. That’s my take. That’s IGN’s take.

But looks like you are a YouTube console warrior so I’m starting to understand why this is so important to you. You appear on a PS podcast correct?

Deflecting now i see, lol. Learn to read next time you try to call people out.
 

Gamezone

Gold Member
Xbox VS Switch is good. Cross play with PCs is another story. Just look how angry Sea of Thieves console gamers are because PC gamers have an greater advantage with keyboard and mouse.
 

CeeJay

Member
This is clearly a precursor to their plans for bringing their other services such as GamePass and Xcloud to other devices. For Nintendo it actually makes some commercial sense, it gives Switch owners a route into a AAA third party library that the system is currently lacking while giving MS a compatible mobile console with standard controls for Xcloud and GamePass (Nintendo will get a cut of the subscription as well). On iOS and Android I would imagine that it would be similar to how apps like Netflix work where the app store gets a cut of the subscription. I would imagine that When Amazon and Google come along with their services we will see them on Xbox as well with a similar arrangement.
 

Yagami_Sama

Member
If this means, that "cross-progress", or if the user have a game on Xbox and can share the save data / progress on Switch for example could be neat, for people who have both platforms.

And this could be also the begging of the Netflix like service, Microsoft might be planning to have and go full steam on Gaming Streaming service.
 

Jigsaah

Gold Member
So this is interesting. Apparently this is the first confirmation of Microsoft being on "all devices". Though Sony is not included in that boat as of this posting, this is proof that Microsoft is serious when they say "all devices".

Some questions for discussion:
1. Is this a good thing for the Switch? Historically, third party support has been lacking on Nintendo's previous systems. Could this be just the thing they need to dominate in future generations.

2. Could this backfire for Microsoft? Since Microsoft is doing this, it would be silly to assume they are doing this because they believe it would be bad for them. However, are there some repercussions that maybe they hadn't considered?

3. If you were working at Sony, how would you respond? Do you try to get on switch as well? Do you team up with Google or Amazon? Do you remain isolated?

Let's face it, there is a paradigm shift about to happen where "console sales" is going to take a backseat to "active users" or "subscriptions". Microsoft has planned to change this narrative since they stopped releasing console sales numbers in the beginning of the generation and it seems that this plan is about to start bearing fruit.

 
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