Microsoft is reportedly evaluating possible changes to the distribution of Xbox games on PC. According to new reports from gaming journalist Jez Corden, the company is exploring various options for its future strategy, including the possibility of reducing or even discontinuing the release of first-party games on Steam to strengthen the Microsoft Store. At this time, however, these are merely unconfirmed speculations.
Microsoft is reportedly re-examining its PC game distribution strategy.
According to Jez Corden of Windows Central, Microsoft is reportedly evaluating several directions for the future of the Xbox ecosystem on PC. Among the options being discussed internally is the possibility of no longer publishing first-party Xbox games on the Steam platform.
The rumor surfaced during a recent episode of the Xbox Two podcast , in which Corden urged caution, stressing that the information does not represent official decisions.
“I know Microsoft has some plans for how it wants to position itself on PC. I don’t know exactly what that means for Steam, but the plans I know about—and I’m choosing my words carefully—could potentially give Microsoft the opportunity to leave Steam. So I wouldn’t be surprised if, at some point, we saw Microsoft move away from Steam.”
Microsoft has not released any official statement at this time, and the reported discussions remain internal to the company.
The hypothesis could be linked to the next generation of Xbox
A more closed ecosystem would allow Microsoft to retain a larger share of sales
During the podcast, the hypothesis was also raised that a possible change in PC strategy could be linked to the launch of the next Xbox console, indicated in rumors with the code name Xbox Helix .
According to the discussion, the new hardware could be priced higher than Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 6 due to its rumored use of the “Magnus” APU. If the device allows users to purchase games through third-party digital stores like Steam, the Epic Games Store, or GOG, Microsoft would waive the commission it normally receives from purchases made through the Xbox Store.
For this reason, some observers believe that the company may want to strengthen its digital marketplace, reducing its dependence on competing platforms.
Such a strategy would be in line with a growing trend in the video game industry, where many publishers are seeking to maintain greater control over digital distribution and direct customer relationships. However, Steam remains the go-to platform for the PC market.
For now it is just a proposal
Leaving Steam would pose significant economic risks
However, there is a substantial difference between evaluating a strategy and actually putting it into practice.
Steam remains the preferred platform for a large portion of PC gamers, and abandoning this channel would potentially mean losing a significant share of sales. Convincing millions of users to purchase exclusively through the Microsoft Store would be anything but an easy challenge.
Corden later returned to the topic via X, clarifying that he doesn’t think such a scenario is likely in the short term. According to the journalist, it was simply one of several ideas being considered during broader discussions about Microsoft’s future PC strategy.
“I seriously doubt they’ll actually do it, but they’re building something that could theoretically give them that opportunity. In my opinion, they’d simply be leaving too much money on the table. It was part of a much larger discussion.”
What could change for Xbox gamers
There are currently no concrete signs that Xbox games will be removed from Steam in the near future. The information that has emerged describes possible internal strategic considerations and not a pre-approved corporate decision.
Microsoft continues to invest in its gaming ecosystem, which includes consoles, PCs, and cloud services. Any change to digital game distribution would represent a significant shift for the PC market, but at this time, it remains merely a hypothetical scenario and not an officially announced plan.
Alessandro Manzoni scrive per Italnews.info occupandosi di attualità, politica, economia, tecnologia, sport, intrattenimento e lifestyle. Si concentra su informazioni chiare e affidabili, offrendo ai lettori contenuti utili per comprendere i fatti e le notizie più rilevanti del momento.