Xbox would be working on a multiplatform interface

Thursday 19th December 2024 07:13 AM

Microsoft is reportedly working on an interesting project that would standardize the Xbox experience across multiple devices, drawing inspiration from Blizzard’s Battle.net platform. And it’s clear that it wouldn’t be luxury.

Unifying the Xbox experience beyond the console

According to the Windows Central site, Microsoft is developing a cross-platform interface under the code name Project Rainway. This project would aim to provide a uniform user experience, even on platforms that are not directly associated with Xbox. According to reported sources, Microsoft would be inspired by the social features of Battle.net, used in games like Diablo IV or World of Warcraft. These features in particular offer more communication between players and better content sharing on compatible platforms. With Rainway, things like cloud saves or cross-progression could be integrated into the Xbox ecosystem for games played on other devices.

Already seen elsewhere

The approach is not entirely new. Services like Epic Games and Blizzard, which we mentioned above, already have this approach. For example, Hearthstone, which is playable on PC and mobile, offers similar tools: synchronized progression, online chat, and even sharing codes to customize decks.

Microsoft’s project seems to target an even wider deployment, for example with portable consoles, like the Asus Rog Ally or its competitors, and in this case, it’s true that it would be a plus. Compatibility with competing consoles like the PlayStation or the Switch remains, at this stage, improbable (and even unthinkable at first, unfortunately).

Upheavals on all levels

Microsoft continues to expand its ecosystem beyond the Xbox console. This is evidenced by the recent trend of making certain previously exclusive titles accessible, such as The Outer Worlds 2 or Doom: The Dark Ages, on PlayStation. The idea is in any case to strengthen Xbox services, such as Game Pass, by diversifying their accessibility as much as possible.

On the players’ side, we would especially like publishers and platforms to one day agree to unify game purchases on several platforms. The fact of having to repurchase a game, when you want to play it on another platform, should no longer make sense in the era where games are dematerialized. I should be able to play Diablo IV on PC which I also bought on Xbox. And to go further, I should even be able to transfer this game to Playstation, if you ask me.