By Jared Elliott

Published November 22, 2024

In a recent Bloomberg interview, Microsoft Gaming chief Phil Spencer suggested a more inclusive approach to cross-platform releases for future projects. His statement follows a notable pivot by the studio away from Xbox and Windows exclusivity, namely with the introduction of Sea of Thieves and Grounded to the PlayStation 5, with the latter also available for the Nintendo Switch. Other recent titles have received similar treatment, such as Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush.

The upcoming title Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is also slated for release on PlayStation 5 this Spring, following the planned December release for Xbox and PC.

The decision to move cross-platform appears to have paid dividends for Microsoft. During his interview with Bloomberg, Spencer stated “I think the ball is moving in the right direction,” also adding “I think this idea of open platforms, where users have more choice, creators have more choice, you see the momentum, right?”

Moving into the cross-platform market appears to be paying dividends for Microsoft. When questioned about future releases in the Halo franchise, Spencer did not provide a concrete answer, but hinted at the possibility by saying “I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say ‘thou must not”.

In tandem with its platform expansion efforts, Spencer revealed that Microsoft is making strides into the mobile and handheld gaming markets. A mobile app store is in the works despite delays, and Spencer has indicated that prototypes of a handheld console are being developed.

A recent puff piece on Xbox VP Sarah Bond also suggests that handhelds are becoming a necessary risk for the company in order to compete with Sony and Nintendo. Spencer has tempered expectations regarding timeline, however, stating that market research is still ongoing and any release would likely be a few years out.

Spencer also revealed that current efforts at Microsoft are focused on the Xbox app, with goals to improve compatibility and accessibility for existing portable devices. Spencer believes is a sore spot for the organization currently, and partnerships are being sought with hardware manufacturers in order to smooth over the Xbox app experience.