
Xbox's Phil Spencer Says Amazon and Google Are Its Main Competitors, Not Sony or Nintendo
In a cloud-based future, Microsoft doesn't seem worried about other consoles.
The next generation is looming overhead, yet Xbox head Phil Spencer doesn't seem worried about the direct opposition. When it comes to Microsoft's competition, Spencer says it will be Amazon and Google, not Sony or Nintendo; in fact, Microsoft is fairly open to working with its usual console rivals.
Speaking to Protocol, Spencer identifies cloud infrastructure as a key point that Microsoft has over Sony and Nintendo. Microsoft has the Azure platform, which can enhance its xCloud streaming service, putting it up against things like Amazon Web Services rather than a new PlayStation.
"When you talk about Nintendo and Sony, we have a ton of respect for them, but we see Amazon and Google as the main competitors going forward," Spencer told Protocol. "That's not to disrespect Nintendo and Sony, but the traditional gaming companies are somewhat out of position. I guess they could try to re-create Azure, but we've invested tens of billions of dollars in cloud over the years."
In fact, Spencer says that Microsoft is willing to work with Sony and Nintendo on things like crossplay, allowing players to pick which console they want to play on. "I don't want to be in a fight over format wars with those guys while Amazon and Google are focusing on how to get gaming to 7 billion people around the world," Spencer says. "Ultimately, that's the goal."
While Amazon continues to build up AWS, Google's efforts so far with Stadia haven't been going well. Other companies, like Nvidia, are starting to roll out their own take on cloud gaming as well though, so as the next generation looms, it looks like Microsoft will have some competition for xCloud. With its own Xbox Series X and a new PlayStation both due out this year, the cloud could be an X-factor.
Related articles
PlayStation 5 Update Lets You Know If You're About to Play the PS4 Version of Game
Check yourself before you last-gen yourself.
Stardew Valley Just Got Beaches, Fish Tanks, Swimming Ducks, and a Whole Lot More
Nearly five years on, Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone just pushed what he says is Stardew's "biggest update yet."
Alien: Isolation Is Free on Epic and Just As Good as It Was in 2014
Get the motion tracker and don't go in the vents.
Shigeru Miyamoto Expresses Confidence in the Younger Generation of Nintendo
The legendary creator says the spirit will stay alive.
You may also like
USgamer Staff Past and Present Say Goodbye (Clone)
End of an era.
USgamer Staff Past and Present Say Goodbye
End of an era.
Press Start to Continue
A look back on what we tried to accomplish at USgamer, and the work still to be done.
Mat's Farewell | The Truth Has Not Vanished Into Darkness
This isn't the real ending, is it? Can't be.