Microsoft’s bold vision for a strictly digital future wasn’t received with overwhelming popularity, but the company recently reiterated its intent to push digital content and possibly reintroduce digital game sharing.
When Microsoft originally announced the Xbox One they promised a user experience with more focus on digital media and an exciting program called “Family Sharing,” which would have allowed users to share their game library with friends and family. This feature was scrapped after the infamous policy change and fans were worried it would never return, but a new interview with Xbox chief Phil Spencer suggests that we might get digital game sharing after all.
Spencer spoke with Gamespot about the company’s plans for the future of Xbox and hinted about the possibility of game sharing and gifting for the Xbox One.
“We believe in a digital future on our box. I know when I say this I always get beat up, but I think some of what we were trying to say last summer was right.”
“We understand what games you own and who you are and how you move around and who you might want to loan rights to your games or gift your games to. We totally believe in that future. And any other marketplace you play in, these kind of mechanisms are out there.”
“We are now fully heads down on thinking about and building out the future of our digital marketplace to enable what people would expect, and hopefully some things that will delight them beyond their expectations.”
Family Sharing was definitely one of the features I was most excited about after watching the initial Xbox One announcement. It’s exciting to know that Microsoft isn’t completely abandoning the original vision for their console.
Miles is the mad commander of TEAM XBRO. He is a Seattle native who recently moved to the sweltering heat of Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an avocado farmer. When he’s not up writing until his eyes bleed, he likes to play a Prince level of instruments and listen to terrible death metal. Follow him on the official What’s Your Tag? Twitter page – @whatsyourtag
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Digital sharing was the innovation I was most excited for with the Xbox One, so I was bummed when the whole idea was scrapped. I’d love to see it come back in the future, along with a much better digital pricing model. I still can’t get behind an argument that digital downloads will cost the consumer less when most publishers still try to get full retail out of the consumers who are saving them shipping, packaging and pressing costs. Plus additional costs by not being able to trade the game in to be re-sold used without any kickback to the publisher.
I thought this was a pretty nifty feature of the Xbox One and was a little less than thrilled when the intransigent masses killed it. I know MS had to go with what the customer wanted for now, but I think the customers now are doing a mighty fine job of stifling innovation in the game industry.
I feel the same way in many cases. People fear change or in most cases, just don’t take the time to understand it. Devs are pushing for digital sales because companies like Gamestop are crushing new game sales. Being able to trade games with your friends digital is not only convenient, but it’s just pretty damn cool.
That’s the worst truth about it. The ‘gaming community’ doesn’t want anything to change from what it knows and loves. The last two experiences with Gamestop were enough to convince me that I don’t want to patronize their stores at all any more. As both a developer (though not of games at the moment) and a guy who plays games (I hesitate to call myself a gamer), I was looking forward to a new method of content delivery. Thanks for the response; I’d been thinking I was the only one who wasn’t crucifying Microsoft for attempting to innovate the space.
I was honestly excited about thew original vision for the Xbox One. Nostalgia is the main reason I like to purchase physical versions of games and a strictly digital marketplace like Steam would drastically drop the price of games as well. Gamestop is a terrible company and it’s also disappointing to see developers supporting them by offering pre order bonuses.