Microsoft is undoubtedly saturating the news channel with its new Xbox One console, as tons of hands-on reports stemming from the Xbox Reveal event continue to roll out and over-saturate our eyeballs. However, PC gamers are probably wondering what's in store for them with regard to Microsoft's Elite 15 exclusive titles heading to its new console. To that, we say absolutely nothing. Well, almost nothing.
Matt Booty, general manager of Redmond Game Studios and Platforms, told Shacknews during the Xbox Reveal event that the Windows 8 gamer will indeed participate in some of the content offered in Microsoft lineup of 15 exclusives, but "not in the way you might expect or want."
"We have got everything from very, very casual games, like our very much improved and reimagined Solitaire, all the way to graphically complicated games like The Harvest (opens in new tab)," he said while talking about Microsoft's strategy on Windows 8 gaming.
Seriously? The Harvest app, which was originally launched on Windows Phone 7, isn’t considered by most to be a AAA-tier title like Halo and Gears of War. Does that mean Microsoft's first-party strategy will continue to focus on the lower-end of PC gaming?
"We're talking about console games, but there could be some franchises that also end up with a PC game," Booty added. "When I think about more connected experiences across those platforms, it's things that show up within that family of devices where we've got Xbox Live, like Windows Phone and Windows 8, [and] not what you might consider a more traditional desktop PC game."
In short, it's just downright cheaper and quicker to produce AAA titles on one hardware set than it is on an infinite number of hardware configurations. That's presumably why app developers flock to Apple's iOS first despite the closed system and 30-percent cut. That said, PC gamers will still need to rely on Crytek, 2K Games, Electronic Arts and others to provide quality, AAA titles for the PC.
The Xbox One will reportedly receive fifteen exclusive games within the first twelve months, eight of which will be new franchises. Remedy's Quantum Break will be one of the exclusive titles as will Crytek's Roman hack-and-slash game Ryse. Turn 10 Studios' Forza Motorsport 5 was confirmed as a launch game during the Xbox Reveal event.