What Does Microsoft Mean When It Says “Being A Good Publisher” For Multiple Platforms?

When it comes to the hierarchy of gaming, it is no question which platform holders lead the industry. As for Microsoft, being the outlier of the three, it looks to innovating & pioneering new approaches to keep up with competition. Lately, its approach has also been to acquire talent outright for its platform. And part of the Activision Blizzard King deal, it was admitted that its lost to both PlayStation & Nintendo in the console race.

But despite the outpacing of its Japanese opponents, it is still pushing to deliver content for users in its ecosystem. Previously, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reassured that the firm is “All-in” on gaming at the start of the Xbox Series lifecycle. Additionally, Nadella addressed that Xbox is to “double-down” on game development with the $70 billion acquisition behind now.

Lately though, many fans are concerned whether Microsoft is to pull a Sega and go full multiplatform moving forward. Reports tell that the firm is ramping up a Hi-Fi Rush announcement for Nintendo Switch with lingering rumors for Sea of Thieves on PlayStation too. Speaking to Bloomberg Business, Nadella phrases Microsoft is in a good position to be a publisher. You can watch the segment in the video below:

“We love gaming. In fact, Flight Simulator was created before even Windows, but we were number three, number four,” Nadella comments. “And now with Activision, I think we have a chance of being a good publisher, quite frankly, on Sony and Nintendo and PCs and Xbox. And so, yeah, we are excited about that acquisition closing. I’m glad we got it through, but I think each category by category is the view.”

This statement leads to suggest that Microsoft is embracing the idea of becoming a publisher. And well, it already has been. Select Xbox Game Studios titles have already went to other hardware like Cuphead, Ori and the Blind Forest, and even As Dusk Falls most recently it was announced. But for the context of his remark, that referred to Activision Blizzard King. Namely with Nintendo being a key component moving forward as previously promised.

In terms of its in-house titles as reported previously, that window remains opaque for the time being. But it could be on the horizon. According to a prior statement from Nadella, he addressed his disliking of exclusive releases and to do away with the concept. You can read the full report by heading here.

What is your thoughts on the recent statement from the Microsoft CEO?