What you need to know
- According to emails received by Windows Central, which Microsoft has confirmed are authentic, Xbox head Sarah Bond recently briefed her team on various topics.
- In emails, Sarah Bond reiterated Microsoft's plans to build new Xbox hardware focused on delivering “the biggest technology leap ever seen in a generation.”
- Sarah Bond also revealed that Microsoft has created a dedicated team to future-proof our digital Xbox game libraries across future hardware models to further “build on [Xbox’s] Strong history of offering backward compatibility.”
- Additionally, it was revealed that Xbox has become the most prominent platform for Diablo 4 since the game's inclusion in Xbox Game Pass.
Sarah Bond was promoted to head of Xbox a few short months ago and began a reorganization to streamline Microsoft's gaming organization to position itself for the future. Now acquired by Activision-Blizzard, Xbox has become a gaming powerhouse, with massive platforms across Xbox console and cloud, PC gaming, mobile titles, and subscription services. Even when it ignores the millions of Xbox Game Pass subscribers, Microsoft counts many other subscription service game companies among that group, from Fallout 1st to Minecraft Realms and World of Warcraft.
The complexity of Xbox's business is undoubtedly a huge challenge, but there are equally huge opportunities ahead for the company. To that end, Sarah Bond recently sent out an email to rally her troops, while sharing some interesting news in the process. Microsoft confirmed to us that the correspondence was real.
“It has been almost six months since we came together as an organization. Our collective accomplishments in this time frame are tremendous. Everyone should feel extremely proud of what we have achieved and excited about the opportunities before us.” Sarah said “We are moving full speed ahead with our next-generation devices, with a focus on delivering the biggest technology leap ever in a single generation.”
Sarah also touched on Microsoft's innovations in gaming AI, which is understood to be a big part of Microsoft's vision for the future of Xbox. We were recently told that departing XEmTech leader and AI innovator Karim Choudhary was known within the organization for putting gamers and developers first. This influence looks set to continue to drive Microsoft's thought processes about technology. “We are innovating in game AI, focused on delivering player-first, developer-first value for discovery, engagement, and speed of content creation.”
Additionally, Sarah describes how Microsoft continues its work to integrate Activision-Blizzard and Battle.net games into Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. Microsoft brought Diablo 4 to Xbox Game Pass a short while ago in collaboration with the Microsoft Store platform team on the Windows side. Bond revealed that due to Diablo's arrival on Game Pass, Xbox is now the No. 1 platform for the game. “We're integrating Activision Blizzard King titles into our services – we've launched that Diablo IV On Game Pass, Xbox has quickly become the #1 platform for D4 gamers.” Bond reiterated some other games on the horizon for Xbox, “We're integrating with Battle.net, all while launching CoD: Warzone Mobile and preparing for what's next Hellblade II, I confessAnd Indiana Jones and the Grand Circle“.
Xbox is building a new team to sustain the game and the future
Recently, game preservation has become a growing concern, as the shift to digital licensing models and online services has made it much easier to permanently shut down games. It's a big problem in mobile gaming, where publishers and companies like Apple and Google have no problem wiping games out of existence. Even major platforms like Nintendo have been known to close stores, putting many games out of commission. Microsoft is closing parts of the Xbox 360 Store this year for new purchases. However, hundreds of backward compatible Xbox games have exited the Xbox 360 and continue to live on on the Xbox One and Xbox Series And now it seems that they will live even further.
As part of emails to her team, Sarah Bond revealed that Microsoft has now created a dedicated team to ensure future-proofing the existing Xbox game library against future shifts in hardware models, ensuring our games remain available long into the future. “We've put together a new team dedicated to preserving games, which is important to all of us at Xbox and the industry itself.” Bond said. “We are building on our strong history of offering backwards compatibility for our players, and remain committed to delivering the amazing library of Xbox games for future generations of gamers to enjoy.”
We've formed a new team dedicated to preserving games, which is important to all of us at Xbox and the industry itself. We're building on our strong history of offering backwards compatibility for our players, and remain committed to delivering the amazing library of Xbox games for future generations of gamers to enjoy.
Sources tell us that Microsoft may have more to share publicly in this area around its annual Xbox Showcase, which is expected to take place on June 9, 2024 (according to the edge).
Sarah Bond also paid tribute to Karim Choudhury, who is retiring from Microsoft after 26 years with the company. “Earlier this week, at the farewell party for longtime Xbox leader Karim Choudary, we shared stories about the obstacles we've overcome and the amazing things this team has done.” Sarah continued “As I listened to those stories, I realized that the Xbox team embodies those same three qualities.”
I recently outlined some of the pain points that Microsoft will have to overcome in an extensive article I wrote last week. One concern I've been raising is clearly about what might happen to our digital libraries in a world where publishers seek growth at the expense of console. Not only does it seem as if Microsoft has no plans to give in when it comes to gaming hardware, it seems as if Microsoft is preparing to ensure that no matter what happens, we should be able to maintain long-term access to our Xbox games. I know Microsoft is very proud of Windows' backwards compatibility capabilities, considering you can run games from the 1980s via MS-DOS without issues. I also know that Microsoft wants to make sure that Xbox is known for a similar dedication to preserving things.
Sarah Bond addressed the challenges facing the wider gaming industry, where gaming hours are increasingly concentrated around a few so-called “black hole titles” such as Fortnite, Roblox and Call of Duty, and players are increasingly reluctant to try anything new. The console market overall has also shrunk since then Peak in 2008Which leaves platform owners wondering where the next generation of growth will come from as costs continue to increase.
“While the growth of the gaming industry is slowing, our growth continues.” Sarah pointed to Microsoft's ability to diversify and pivot. Microsoft's knack for diversification has helped it overtake Apple to reclaim the crown of the world's most valuable company. Xbox is now bigger than Windows itself, a fact that might have seemed impossible ten years ago. There are still huge challenges, but as I said, equally huge opportunities are also presenting themselves.
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