It’s all sunshine and roses among rival console manufactures these days, or at least that’s how one Microsoft executive feels. According to him, the “art” of gaming is more important than which console you’re playing it on.
During this year’s SXSW, Phil Spencer revealed that he owns all his competitors home systems and enjoys playing them. He mentions this as an attempt to highlight the problems of drawing a line in the sand when it comes to protecting your game console’s “brand” (or being a fanboy as they say). “There seems to be this natural faction that gets created around what console you own, and then this, I would call it unhealthy dislike, for people who own the other console…I don’t think being a fan of Xbox does not mean you can’t be a fan of something else, or you have to be an anti-fan of some other brand. At least I’m not. I own a PlayStation 4, I play games on a PlayStation 4. I own a Wii U, I play games on my Wii U. I learn a ton from what happens on those other platforms.” He says.
While it’s no secret that the PS4 is essentially whoopin’ the tail of the Xbox One on almost all fronts (with nearly a 2:1 margin), Spencer touts the success of both systems as a sign that home console gaming is still as strong as ever. “A year ago, the question was whether consoles were relevant anymore, and has the industry moved beyond console gaming… today I think we’d all say that hasn’t been a problem. If you look at what both consoles have done, it’s been an amazing year. The units that we’ve both been able to sell shows an amazing start to this console generation.” He feels.
But while Spencer touts the importance of everyone holding hands and singing Kumbaya, this is a very different attitude then just a few months ago isn’t it? Check back tomorrow as I wind back the clock and show you how this new copacetic attitude has more to do with dipping sales figures than it does with world peace in gaming. Stay tuned!