Xbox's chief strategy officer sees the current hardware pricing spike as a chance for games streaming.
Xbox's chief strategy officer, Matthew Ball, views the current surge in hardware pricing as a unique opportunity for games streaming. Speaking at The Games Business Live, Ball highlighted the increased usage of Xbox Cloud Gaming. However, he emphasized that streaming is just one component of Microsoft's gaming strategy.
The hardware pricing surge is occurring amidst the significant impact of the AI boom, leading to price hikes by major players like Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Valve. Ball expressed that this situation presents an ideal window for streaming due to a shortage of console supply and the appeal of outstanding games. He reiterated Microsoft's commitment to Xbox and the various platforms available for players, including PC and xCloud.
Microsoft's Project xCloud, later rebranded as Xbox Cloud Gaming, was initially teased in 2018 and officially launched on console in 2020, followed by a PC release in 2021. Pav Bhardwaj, senior global product manager at Xbox Game Pass, highlighted the increasing popularity of streaming as a viable alternative to consoles. Ball also promised a consistent flow of exclusive titles to enhance the Xbox gaming experience.
