Rumors suggesting Microsoft plans to abandon Valve's Steam store are false. While the publisher will keep selling games on the dominant storefront, reporter Jez Corden at Windows Central reports that Xbox is quietly restructuring its broader PC gaming presence. The company is exploring multiple avenues to capture more of the desktop market without cutting ties with its biggest competitor.
Physical console hardware is becoming a tough sell due to high component costs. Microsoft does not expect to sell massive quantities of consoles during the ongoing memory crisis. Because of this, the company is focusing on where players already gather. Upcoming projects like the Xbox Helix handheld are designed to act essentially as gaming PCs. This is a massive shift.
Xbox is preparing to expand its existing platforms rather than relying solely on external partners. Multiple sources indicate that Microsoft and Blizzard plan to open the Battle.net launcher to outside developers. This means third party games could soon appear on the Blizzard storefront. Beyond Battle.net, Xbox is working with publishers like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft to integrate their independent stores directly into the Xbox PC app. This setup will let developers sell games directly to users while keeping Xbox features like cloud saves active.
A new system codenamed Positron is also in development to link console libraries with PC. Sources suggest that Microsoft plans to reveal Positron soon. The tool is designed to let players convert physical console discs into digital licenses on their Microsoft accounts. If a game supports the Play Anywhere program, players will automatically receive the PC version of the game for free. Currently, about 50% of new releases support this dual platform license.
Xbox is also bringing console preservation tools to Windows. A new backward compatibility emulator has begun testing on PC, currently running 4 classic original Xbox games like Crimson Skies and Conker. Future updates are expected to add Xbox 360 games to the emulator. This library expansion will give PC handheld users access to older games that do not require heavy processing power.
The Xbox PC store still has plenty of ground to cover to match the polish of Steam. App performance on lower spec handhelds is sluggish, and search functionality remains poor. Independent game developers also report difficulties with long certification times and complex submission policies. Unless Microsoft fixes these usability issues, Steam will continue to dominate the PC landscape.
