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The task to achieve this vision is mammoth, though.
But, the next Xbox could change that.
Microsoft’s own imagery suggests a plan to bring “Steam” directly into the Xbox PC gaming apps, and most likely consoles too.
What remains contentious is whether or not PlayStation might attempt to block its games from appearing on Xbox hardware.
It would be an unprecedented move, and not something Steam has ever had to really deal with.
A per-OEM content hardware restriction creates a very large can of worms.
Microsoft’s next hardware play is a Windows-based partner device with ASUS, codenamed Kennan. So far, PlayStation hasn’t sought to restrict access to its content on any of these devices.
It could lead to OEMs buying up exclusive rights to PC games fortheirsystems, at least in theory.
It would lead to a weird universe of new DRM features that would probably cause more harm than benefits.
It would be a spectacularly petty move, and one that personally, I do not foresee Sony pursuing.
Xbox could achieve something truly special, if indeed these rumored plans go ahead.
