Microsoft once used to be a PC game behemoth- they introduced the DirectX standard for PC game development, they made many of the most popular PC games of all time, including Age of Empires, Ruse of Nations, and Zoo Tycoon, and they introduced a standardized controller for PC games. But then they went off the deep end, sabotaging PC gaming or their own PC gaming efforts once the Xbox took off, focusing on the Games FOr Windows Live platform, trying to charge an annual subscription fee, and more.
Now, just as they have said it before, Microsoft claim they will double down on PC gaming. Speaking to Edge, Phil Spencer vowed the company would renew its commitment to the platform that made its name.
Spencer praised Valve, and their contribution to PC gaming. They’ve been the backbone for PC gaming for the last decade when you think about the work that they’ve done,” he said. “As the Windows company I appreciate what they’ve done. In a lot of ways they’ve focused more on PC gaming than we have, and for me that’s something inside the company that we’ll have a renewed focus on – Windows and PC gaming inside of Microsoft is definitely happening – you saw the DX12 demos here and you will see more from us over the summer.”
He also touched on the subject of VR gaming.
“We have this huge Microsoft research organisation that’s pretty important to us as a platform holder in helping us think about what might be next,” said Spencer, who later questioned whether it’ll truly go mainstream. “I think the technology’s really interesting, and it’s something we’ve been playing with for a while.”