Microsoft is making significant strides in the realm of PC gaming by enhancing its Xbox PC app with the addition of nearly 400 new games. This expansion aims to solidify its position in a competitive landscape that includes established platforms like Steam and Battle.net.
Expanding the Xbox Ecosystem
The Xbox gaming ecosystem is becoming increasingly robust, offering gamers multiple avenues to purchase Xbox-branded games and content on their PCs. The recent billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard underscores Microsoft’s commitment to expanding its digital footprint in the gaming market. This latest initiative to enrich the Xbox app’s catalog is a strategic move designed to create a more cohesive gaming experience for users.
Chris Charla, Xbox’s content curation manager, shared insights into this development, stating, “Earlier this summer, we began working with partners to bring all PC games with Xbox features into the Xbox app. We’re super excited to see what Xbox games come to Windows PC from game creators in the future and to welcome nearly 400 titles that previously weren’t discoverable or purchasable in the Xbox app.” Although the complete list of newly added games has yet to be released, Microsoft has confirmed that popular titles such as Shovel Knight Treasure Trove will be part of this expansion.
In addition to the new titles, the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative plays a crucial role in this strategy. This feature allows gamers to enjoy a seamless experience across platforms. “More than 100 of these newly added titles are Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning if players buy the Xbox console version, they can play the Xbox PC version as well (and vice versa),” Charla explained. This effectively provides a dual purchase benefit, enhancing the value proposition for gamers.
While Microsoft had plans to introduce Android games and microtransactions to the Xbox app for Android devices, recent court rulings have delayed these ambitions. Nevertheless, the company remains focused on expanding its offerings and enhancing user experience across its gaming platforms.
