Xbox head Phil Spencer thinks that gaming can do for Microsoft what music did for Apple.

Spencer spoke about Microsoft's expanded gaming focus in an interview for Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hryb's podcast.

"I fundamentally believe that gaming can be a real catalyst for Microsoft's re-emergence as a consumer company," Spencer said. "I go back and I look at 1999 with Apple. And they, on the back of music, became a very relevant consumer brand."

Though Apple's focus has expanded beyond music, the effects of that focus can still be felt at all parts of the company. Microsoft has the same opportunity with Xbox, Spencer said:

"I don't think it's a lay-up. I think there's a lot of things that have to be done. But it would be great to be at the part where people look back [at our history] and said, this is when Microsoft committed to gaming across everything that we did, led with what we do on Xbox One."

Spencer said that Microsoft's new CEO Satya Nadella personally told him "gaming is going to be a first-class citizen within this company."

That focus starts with Xbox but extends to all of Microsoft's products, Spencer added.

He called out some "PC-specific work that I'm really excited about", though he said the company is likely still months away from unveiling it to the public.

News broke of Spencer's promotion last week, though he spoke about expanding Microsoft's PC gaming focus in late March.

Posted: Apr 07, 2014 9:43 pm
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/457773/spencer-xbox-can-do-for-ms-what-ipod-did-for-apple/