Recent teases by Microsoft’s GDC Schedule has revealed their intentions to bring Xbox Live to more platforms. The move has many people day dreaming of playing Breath of the Wild at a steady 60fps on the Xbox One, and getting to play Halo on the go. But what exactly do we know is coming?
The Features
This will incorporate a lot of new features on platforms like the Nintendo Switch, and allow cross platform gaming to be even more streamlined than ever. Nintendo and Microsoft are looking to push cross platform gaming into the spotlight for the future of the gaming industry, while Sony is still mainly on the sidelines, launching a cross platform beta to halt the complaints of their consumers, while showing little interest in taking it further.
Farther Out There Predictions
- Games with Gold goes cross platform
- Deals with Gold goes cross platform
- Minor/Unsuccessful IPs go cross platform
- New Cross play games are announced
- New Nintendo Switch Online subscription option bundles Xbox Live Gold into it
The Details
Games with Gold coming to the Nintendo Switch would be in a lesser capacity than on on the Xbox One. There will likely be on compatible game a month for the Switch, instead of the four that the Xbox gets. But it would be beneficial to both sides. Xbox would gain new users, and Nintendo would get some of the heat off of their back in regards to a lack of benefits of NSO.
One of the original stated benefits that NSO was supposed to have implemented at some point is exclusive discounts. We haven’t seen that happen quite yet, but Xbox Live going cross platform would help this. They already have a system for this in effect, and it would again, benefit both parties. It would accomplish a long awaited promise by Nintendo, and bring in revenue for both.
While we won’t see Halo on the go, or Mario in 60fps, there are some titles we might see go cross platform. The biggest would be Microsoft’s acquired Rare properties. They haven’t successfully used these IPs in years, and many are the exact type of games that Nintendo would do very well with, such as Banjo Kazooie. Xbox could see an array of titles. From forgotten IPs like Golden Sun, or to help boost long struggling series such as Fire Emblem and Star Fox. Microsoft would likely help fund the titles, while also boosting sales, which could lift the financial risk off of Nintendo’s shoulders.
New cross play games are a given. With them pushing it so hard, it is pretty obvious that this is what they want for the future. So, to take it a step further, we will have three games with added cross play by the end of 2019, at the least.
And an option that bundles these more premium features into NSO is also fairly easy to call. It will be optional, the original price ranges will remain, but more lucrative options will also be added.
