In one of the most unexpected twists of the generation, Xbox players might soon find themselves playing games like Ghost of Tsushima or even God of War, the PlayStation exclusives that were once the cause of Sony’s hardware identity. But there is nothing to be too excited yet as it’s not going to happen through official ports or cross-platform deals. It could all come down to Microsoft’s bold new vision for the future of Xbox: turning it into a true PC-in-a-box.
According to a new report from WindowsCentral, the next generation of Xbox hardware may allow players to install and run PC storefronts such as Steam and the Epic Games Store directly on the console. That’s right—Microsoft is reportedly have to mind to build a setup where the next Xbox would natively support these popular clients, meaning you could boot up your Steam library and play whatever’s in it, exclusive games included.
Microsoft and Sony Have a Major Recent Shift in Their Console Strategy
For years, Xbox and PlayStation have operated in walled gardens, offering exclusive titles as key selling points for their platforms. Although Microsoft has already begun to break down those walls by bringing games like Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, and upcoming titles like Doom: The Dark Ages to PlayStation, Sony stood strong to keep its crown jewels off Xbox consoles.
But the PlayStation company has slowly but steadily brought many of its exclusives to PC in the last few years. Horizon Zero Dawn, Days Gone, The Last of Us Part I, and Spider-Man Remastered are currently available on Steam or the Epic Games Store. So if the next Xbox lets you boot up Steam, what’s stopping you from playing those favorites on your Xbox? Well… potentially Sony.
Will Sony Play Nice? History Says “Probably Not”
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has tried to open the door to PC gaming on Xbox. When GeForce Now (NVIDIA’s cloud gaming platform) became accessible via the Xbox browser, Sony instantly restricted many games including God of War not being streamed on the console. Even if Microsoft wants to go all-in with its new strategy, expect some pushback from Sony. They’ve proven they’re not too happy on their exclusives being playable—indirectly or otherwise—on a rival’s system.
Still, there’s only so much Sony can do. If Xbox’s next-gen console does run PC storefronts natively, and those sell Sony’s PC ports, then Microsoft’s console users would be able to legally buy and play them. It’s not a direct endorsement from Sony, but it could be the first time in history that allows Xbox players to get access to PlayStation’s elite titles, without switching platforms.
Plenty of Questions Remain to Ask
Will Microsoft get a cut from games sold through Steam on Xbox? How will user-generated content, mods, and other PC-centric features work on console hardware? And would Valve or Epic even agree to this integration level? With Steam sitting on over 130 million active users, Valve certainly doesn’t need Xbox, but the extra reach could be tempting.
Meanwhile, Epic Games, known for its aggressive platform partnerships, might be more open to collaboration, especially if it means getting the Epic Games Store onto more living room screens.
In many ways, this potential move blurs the lines between console and PC more than ever. The current Xbox Series X already runs a heavily customized version of Windows under the hood. Turning the next-gen Xbox into an open platform for multiple storefronts seems logical, if radical, next step. It fits Microsoft’s long-term plan of putting games and services at the center of its ecosystem, regardless of where you play.
To be honest, if it means we can finally play Bloodborne or Returnal without buying a PlayStation, gamers on Team Green won’t be complaining.
