While there are many who might argue that Microsoft treats gaming as an unimportant part of its overall business, it seems like Microsoft itself disagrees. In what is the most conclusive evidence we have had regarding the importance of the gaming market to the company as a whole, Xbox head Phil Spencer has now been added to Microsoft’s Senior Leadership Team.
The Senior Leadership Team of course decides on the overall vision and strategy for the company- Spencer’s induction into it indicates that gaming is something Microsoft will increasingly consider in its overall plans going forward. It makes sense, too- as Microsoft transitions to becoming a services focused company, gaming could end up providing it the perfect Trojan horse that it needs to make up for the massive lead Apple and Google have over it in that regard.
Whether this means that Spencer now has greater leeway and freedom to chart Xbox’s course – or that he must adhere even more closely to company lines – is something that remains to be seen. I will continue to hope that it is the former.