Steam on Xbox

[Citizen Cook]

The internet is buzzing over Phil Spencer’s latest comments to Polygon with many speculating that he’s alluding to the idea of opening up the Xbox consoles to allow other storefronts like Steam to work on the currently closed platform.

I think this would be great. We see developers targeting Steam Deck and the benefits of developing for a fixed platform, the same benefits would obviously apply to Xbox.
But how would Microsoft monetise this?

Personally, I’m clambering for a Steam console and this would be the next best thing.

Thoughts?

https://www.polygon.com/24108670/xbox-epic-games-store-phil-spencer-interview

[Citizen Cook]

Originally posted by eram:

console games would have to be ported to pc, they already do that and you can buy some of them on steam. you cant just add xbox games to steam and expect them to work on your pc.

Doesn’t the Xbox already run a lightweight version of Windows beneath a closed UI?
Couldn’t Microsoft create a series of apps (Steam/Epic/Ubisoft etc…) that access Windows directly?

[xBCxRangers]

My god. It's happening. My gaming DREAM is coming about. A Spencer Newell partnership.

This is AWESOME.

[Citizen Cook]

Originally posted by eram:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Doesn’t the Xbox already run a lightweight version of Windows beneath a closed UI?
Couldn’t Microsoft create a series of apps (Steam/Epic/Ubisoft etc…) that access Windows directly?

you cant just load an xbox game on pc no. it needs its own release or a proper port. Streaming an xbox game to a pc is totally doable if they want to pick that route.

I’m thinking the other way around. You put PC games on Xbox.

[Brian9824]

Its pretty funny to see xbox fall so far. Combined with their other comments about how they have considered dropping out of the console race, multiple developers saying they see no reason to support xbox, etc its not looking very good for Microsoft's future.

Xbox is sinking apparently and the future of the system is very much at risk

[Citizen Cook]

Originally posted by brian9824:

Its pretty funny to see xbox fall so far. Combined with their other comments about how they have considered dropping out of the console race, multiple developers saying they see no reason to support xbox, etc its not looking very good for Microsoft's future.

Xbox is sinking apparently and the future of the system is very much at risk

I think that’s why they are thinking so radically.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by brian9824:

Its pretty funny to see xbox fall so far. Combined with their other comments about how they have considered dropping out of the console race, multiple developers saying they see no reason to support xbox, etc its not looking very good for Microsoft's future.

Xbox is sinking apparently and the future of the system is very much at risk

I think that’s why they are thinking so radically.

Yeah, I mean its looking very bad for Xbox to continue at this rate as a console. They already announced most of their exclusives are going to be released for the PS5 now because their sales are abysmal and they are losing a ton of money on the console.

Developers are now questioning why they would even bother to develop for the Xbox

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by eram:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

I’m thinking the other way around. You put PC games on Xbox.

either way you cant just copy and paste something from 1 to the other, it would need some actual work to become playable.

Yep, even if it becomes a thing you still have to convine developers to actually develop and make the games. I mean if a developer wanted a console port of their game they already could have made one. So having "steam" on xbox wouldn't make your Steam games playable on xbox, it would let Steam sell console versions of games on xbox, something developers could already do if they wanted to via well xbox.

[Citizen Cook]

Originally posted by eram:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

I’m thinking the other way around. You put PC games on Xbox.

either way you cant just copy and paste something from 1 to the other, it would need some actual work to become playable.

I assume Microsoft would do that on the backend. I mean, look at the work they did do get Original and 360 Xbox games to work on Xbox One. Maybe when you launch say, the Steam app on Xbox it dual boots the console into Windows? Or on future Xbox hardware it simply runs Windows with a nice controller friendly UI the same way that the Steam Deck has SteamOS running over the top of Linux.

[xBCxRangers]

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by eram:

either way you cant just copy and paste something from 1 to the other, it would need some actual work to become playable.

I assume Microsoft would do that on the backend. I mean, look at the work they did do get Original and 360 Xbox games to work on Xbox One. Maybe when you launch say, the Steam app on Xbox it dual boots the console into Windows? Or on future Xbox hardware it simply runs Windows with a nice controller friendly UI the same way that the Steam Deck has SteamOS running over the top of Linux.

Dude, this would be huge. Bottom line.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by eram:

either way you cant just copy and paste something from 1 to the other, it would need some actual work to become playable.

I assume Microsoft would do that on the backend. I mean, look at the work they did do get Original and 360 Xbox games to work on Xbox One. Maybe when you launch say, the Steam app on Xbox it dual boots the console into Windows? Or on future Xbox hardware it simply runs Windows with a nice controller friendly UI the same way that the Steam Deck has SteamOS running over the top of Linux.

Well they only mentioned adding the STORE, not adding support to try to run PC games. So that is a major distinction

[xBCxRangers]

Originally posted by eram:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

I assume Microsoft would do that on the backend. I mean, look at the work they did do get Original and 360 Xbox games to work on Xbox One. Maybe when you launch say, the Steam app on Xbox it dual boots the console into Windows? Or on future Xbox hardware it simply runs Windows with a nice controller friendly UI the same way that the Steam Deck has SteamOS running over the top of Linux.

a native OS that runs xbox and pc could work if Microsoft wanted to. probably a lot of work but at least in theory is possible.

BUT.....even Microsoft as big as it is do not have the resources to port other peoples games to xbox even if the devs of said games gave them permission.

Alienware did it with their Steam Machine. They had Win 10 on that years ago. I tried it, but back then Steams controller support was near non existent, and most all the games i wanted to play, not available. Today, almost anything can be played with a controller.

And on Xbox, given these machines they can probably get a Win 11 desktop on there.

And apparently they're already on this for their Cloud...

https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-insider-preview-mouse-and-keyboard-support-xbox-cloud-gaming

This is probably the best era for gaming, being the Triple A games are so bad, these folks are having to innovate in ways we haven't seen in years.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by eram:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

I assume Microsoft would do that on the backend. I mean, look at the work they did do get Original and 360 Xbox games to work on Xbox One. Maybe when you launch say, the Steam app on Xbox it dual boots the console into Windows? Or on future Xbox hardware it simply runs Windows with a nice controller friendly UI the same way that the Steam Deck has SteamOS running over the top of Linux.

a native OS that runs xbox and pc could work if Microsoft wanted to. probably a lot of work but at least in theory is possible.

BUT.....even Microsoft as big as it is do not have the resources to port other peoples games to xbox even if the devs of said games gave them permission.

It sounds more like they are planning to quit consoles alltogether, and focus on small form PC's that they then intend to market as a console with their own variation of a customized windows OS. So basically doing what you can already do right now.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by xBCxRangers:

Originally posted by eram:

a native OS that runs xbox and pc could work if Microsoft wanted to. probably a lot of work but at least in theory is possible.

BUT.....even Microsoft as big as it is do not have the resources to port other peoples games to xbox even if the devs of said games gave them permission.

Alienware did it with their Steam Machine. They had Win 10 on that years ago. I tried it, but back then Steams controller support was near non existent, and most all the games i wanted to play, not available. Today, almost anything can be played with a controller.

And on Xbox, given these machines they can probably get a Win 11 desktop on there.

And apparently they're already on this for their Cloud...

https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-insider-preview-mouse-and-keyboard-support-xbox-cloud-gaming

This is probably the best era for gaming, being the Triple A games are so bad, these folks are having to innovate in ways we haven't seen in years.

Steam machine wasn't a console as its been explained. It was just a pre-configured PC with a different OS that anyone could build for cheaper which is why it didn't succeed.

[xBCxRangers]

Originally posted by brian9824:

Originally posted by eram:

a native OS that runs xbox and pc could work if Microsoft wanted to. probably a lot of work but at least in theory is possible.

BUT.....even Microsoft as big as it is do not have the resources to port other peoples games to xbox even if the devs of said games gave them permission.

It sounds more like they are planning to quit consoles alltogether, and focus on small form PC's that they then intend to market as a console with their own variation of a customized windows OS. So basically doing what you can already do right now.

Good enough for me. All they need is some stream device to get access to my Steam Library and i'm good. That and my Xbox games, and controller support.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

I belive it when I see it, but there no way Microsoft gonna let stores take sales cut away from xbox console because that what console market rely on is sales cut, and it's a fact, or else this means console for microsoft is basically nearing to an end since no point to even exist if they no longer can make any profit on the console itself they made, and sell.