Microsoft allows any developer to use its cloud technology according to Phil Spencer. No one is banned from using it, not even studios that develop exclusive games for other platforms like Windows, Wii U, or PlayStation 4. Spencer believes that cloud gaming is the future of the industry and utilizing it along with local hardware leads to the best results. Take a look at Crackdown 3 as an example.
A fan asked Spencer on Twitter about Titanfall 2 and how they would “hate to see the franchise lose out on Azure Cloud computing and servers.”
Spencer replied, “Azure services are available to any game, even other platform’s exclusives. We wouldn’t keep someone from using. I know people want me to comment on specific 3rd party games, I just can’t. Sorry.”
Hopefully other developers will use the technology and push the industry forward. I have my doubts because the gaming world is an odd place. People cling to old habits and change is hard to accomplish. We’ve been stuck with the same disc model for years now even though it’s responsible for high prices to some degree. We’ll see what the future holds.
Microsoft needs to push cloud technology in their titles and maybe add exclusive modes that demonstrate cloud computing. For example, a marketing deal with Battlefield 5 which features one map which is fully destructible like Crackdown 3’s city would show people on other platforms what they’re missing. This will lead them to demand the technology and hopefully move the industry forward.
Source: GameSpot
Asher is a games journalist, former News Writer (Gaming) at Windows Central. They contributed 1110 articles to ICXM between 2015–2017, focused on opinion pieces, game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news: wrote over 1,100 ICXM pieces on Xbox news, hardware reviews, and platform commentary before joining Future plc’s Windows Central in 2017.