Microsoft certainly got people talking last week after they announced that their once Xbox One exclusive shooter, Quantum Break, would be making the relatively easy jump to PC for launch day. It’s a move that shouldn’t have been that surprising, but nonetheless got a lot of people chatting about the relevance of the Xbox as a business – and it made some people a little mad too. That’s blown over now, allowing for conversation over another key decision that Microsoft’s new strategy seems to have employed.
Quantum Break, like many other incoming Microsoft exclusives, will be coming to PC, but won’t be hosted on Steam for purchase.
Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg confirmed this in a podcast with Major Nelson, while also addressing some of the concerns fans seemed to have with the Xbox One losing its exclusive. During the internet Greenberg explicitly stated that their PC titles will be Windows Store exclusives.
“Quantum Break on Windows 10 is a Windows Store exclusive.”
This is the case for Fable Legends too, which is meant to launch on PC and Xbox One sometime this year. It seems that Microsoft want to leverage the integration Windows 10 has with the store rather than support a competing storefront, although it’s interesting to see them do this in the face of potential sales via PCs biggest digital distributor.
Along with news of sales exclusivity, Greenberg also aimed to calm fears that Microsoft was moving away from an Xbox One focus, revealing that multiple projects in the pipeline were set to stay console exclusives. Greenberg said that games are being judged on a case by case basis for this expanding ecosystem experiment, although he conceded that not everyone will agree with what they do.
“Some times we’re innovating, some times we’re experimenting, sometimes we’re charting new ground on different things,” he said. “We always want to hear people’s feedback, we’re always listening. While they might not always agree with 100 percent of everything we do, we love the feedback.”
And for franchises like Forza Motorsport and Halo, that makes sense. I see Microsoft being very selective with what exclusives they bring to both platforms, and I don’t think decision like these are made over a coin toss. As Greenberg states, they’re experimenting – and if that means more people to get play games, I’m all for it.
PoisonedBelial
February 15, 2016 at 08:31
I’ll have to use the Windows Store?
This means using a MS account to sign into my PC…
Erm, nope…
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:08
LOL
HairyEwok
February 15, 2016 at 08:35
I wouldn’t say it’s a relatively easy jump to PC with those specs they said you need to play it.
Mossel
February 15, 2016 at 08:38
Those were apparently the ultra graphics requirements.
Recommended will need a GTX970.
HairyEwok
February 15, 2016 at 09:39
If that’s the case then it shouldn’t be as much of a problem. The GTX 970 is the norm for graphic recommended hardware these days.
Mossel
February 15, 2016 at 08:37
“Some times… some times… sometimes.” Which is it?
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 08:40
At some time you’ll have to use it sometimes.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 08:40
Which mean I’ll probably miss it.
Because: Effort.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 08:42
I don’t like the Windows Store much.
I’d love to have Forza though, but the way Win10 is looking with pretty much everything focussed around the damn store, I’m more put off than anything else to really use that store ever.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 08:42
Ok Xbox guys, relax. Nobody’s going to buy the PC version now. In fact, I’d rather buy the Xbox before I use the Windows 10 store, so your platform is safe.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 08:43
Agreed
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:09
It’s like they never met a PC gamer
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 08:46
Well that means is it’s gone from “I wonder what this game is all about” to “it’s not on Steam so it doesn’t exist”.
I quite like Win 10, been using it for months, but I couldn’t be arsed to sign up for the app store.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 08:46
Yup, pretty much this. Win10 is cool, but I’ll be damned if I ever use the store.
Commander Admiral Chief
February 15, 2016 at 08:47
Always a catch
Fox1 - Retro
February 15, 2016 at 08:49
Now let’s look for a reason to complain…
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 08:49
…
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 09:00
heh heh heh heh heh
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 08:52
*scrolls up to where it says “Windows Store Exclusive” *
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 08:53
I see 2 things happening with this:
1) When sales suck MS will spout stuff like “Our month on month sales of Quantum Break on PC are up by 65%”
2) 6 months later, due to slow sales, they’ll quietly make it available on Steam and put it on sale right away.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 08:56
Unless like EA they just try to power through it. However to power through it you need a massive mainstream game like say Battlefield. QB is not exactly that.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 08:57
Exactly.
And since MP games don’t interest me, neither does Origin.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:00
Mass Effect.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:10
I played the first and second. Wasn’t blown away. Both of those were on Steam.
Haven’t played the third.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:11
Easily the best in the series man. You’re missing out. Origin is worth it for that alone, I promise. Even if you never use it again afterwards.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:14
I will probably get it, and I do want to.
The only problem is I never open Origin and my Steam is always open (even now), so i forget about those games.
MS should learn this.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:16
Now that you mention it, I do the same thing. In fact I had to open Uplay the other day because a friend gave me a game key. Turns out my Uplay was so old that it couldn’t update the client, I had to uninstall and reinstall just to use the damn key.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:16
Haha. That’s happened to me with Origin 😀
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:16
What wait?!
One was the best in the series. 2 and 3 went slightly too much action and too little RPG.
The series as a whole however was fan bloody tastic.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 08:57
Everyone wants to have their own exclusive sales and game client these days, but you know what, most of those clients are terrible and no one wants to use them.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 08:58
Yes exactly. Opening up the various other clients for other games annoys me enough to put me off playing those games. The Windows10 store is just another headache.
Fox1 - Retro
February 15, 2016 at 08:58
I just visited the Windows Store 2 minutes ago and IT WORKED.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 08:59
Exclusive is a dirty word
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:00
SHHHHH! THERE ARE CHILDREN HERE!
Fox1 - Retro
February 15, 2016 at 09:02
They are always here 😛
Fox1 - Retro
February 15, 2016 at 09:00
Does Valve put their exclusives on any other platform?
EDIT: Store.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:02
Orange box was all over. They don’t really own any other games. 🙂
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:02
Valve owns Steam. A platform used by anyone who isn’t EA. Even Ubisoft games are on Steam – they just require you to have Uplay installed too. And since Valve own the best digital games distribution platform in the world, why wouldn’t they release their exclusives there?
Fox1 - Retro
February 15, 2016 at 09:08
I doubt Steam will give MS the access they need to transfer cloud saves between Xbox and PC. Until that happens, I don’t see MS exclusives going to Steam. I’m happy the way my MS account is shared between PC and XBOX Live. Any credit I have on XBL can be used on any MS device running Windows 8/8.1/10.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:11
Sure, there’s that. But if I had both a PC and X1 – I’d just buy the game on the console. F*&^ the Win10 store.
Fox1 - Retro
February 15, 2016 at 09:13
TBH, I have found more games to be cheaper on XBL in the past 6 months. MS aren’t locking the pricing to the current exchange rate and they are doing bundles. Something like R11/$.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:08
Lots of the games on Steam are available elsewhere.
The difference is, Steam has been around for years. It’s a go-to place. So now because the other companies want a piece of the pie too they want to not put their games on Steam because they can make more money through their own client?
From a business perspective it’s idiotic, because you have the customers, the convenience, the traffic and the interest on Steam already. They could sell way more through Steam.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:11
*Everything through Stream
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:13
XD
You’d think other companies would learn by seeing the hate for clients like Uplay.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:14
Exactly this, yeah.
Umar
February 15, 2016 at 08:55
Makes sense though, they’re in quite the position to push their store. If they’re gonna make this, Gears, Halo and Forza available on the Windows Store, it could be quite the incentive for people to start using it.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 08:56
Or to just never buy the games. This could potentially backfire hard.
Umar
February 15, 2016 at 08:58
I personally don’t think it would be that bad. People started hoping onto Origin pretty quickly as well, could happen with Windows Store.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 08:59
Origins launch title was BF and ME3. QB has nowhere near that type of pull.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 08:59
I don’t think any MS game has that kind of pull.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:01
I wanna say Halo but most PC gamers had great FPS experiences like Half Life and Wolfenstein so Halo falls way short of anything we would play.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:02
Doom. I’m so amped for that, you have no idea.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:04
Same. But I am keeping my enthusiasm in check because the last Doom almost completely put me off FPS.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:13
Ditto
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
February 15, 2016 at 09:27
Hehehe, it’s been way too long a wait for a proper fast paced fps…
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 09:03
This times over 9000.
The way Xbots fawned over Halo I figured it’d be one of the best shooters I’d ever played. It was a fun game, not much better than average overall.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:13
Halo is mediocre at best. But it’s the last of their precious exclusive FPS games so don’t you dare badmouth it
Umar
February 15, 2016 at 09:03
Really? I would think Halo and Forza is more than enough pull.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:04
Not even close. Kromas covered Halo, and Forza isn’t enough to sell consoles, therefore won’t be enough to make people use a terrible Windows store.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:05
Now if they brought back the dev from Freelancer for freelancer 2 … oh wait they went on to make Star Citizen. 😛
Umar
February 15, 2016 at 09:07
Hmmm, dunno, different platform VS a new consoles are 2 different things though, but conceptually I guess it still applies. I just thought those games held more weight.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:08
Halo is very mediocre.
But Forza is pretty awesome. No denying that.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 09:09
Car games. Meh.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:10
You’re meh!
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:11
I like meth!
I mean meh!
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:02
I’m haven’t hopped onto Origin.
I own a few games on it (most are the free ones), but I have none installed and haven’t used Origin in nearly a year.
I can easily live without all those games. Since we’ve been able to live without all the Xbox Exclusive games all these years, it’s not going to change much for me.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 08:58
This right here is the reason people mainly pirate.
GFWL was atrocious. Windows store is not much better.
Stop sending me Office sub add you asshats I already own a god damn 365 licence!
Umar
February 15, 2016 at 09:02
Well hey, I know nothing about the store, but it just seems like the logical thing to do, in MS standards. They have some tasty exclusives, might aswell try and push it through their store. Just hope it’s not gonna be as bad as GFWL
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:03
Their exclusives are not really that tasty.
Umar
February 15, 2016 at 09:05
Forza and Halo? Maybe I’ve fallen behind in the times, but I always believed those were some of the biggest names in their respective genres.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:06
On console yes. On pc … nowhere near any sort of relevance.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:07
Basically, Xbox doesn’t have much better.
#Shotsfired
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 09:10
You are lying to yourself……
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:13
Halo … crappy rehashed story with sub par gameplay and horrible driving (when applicable)
Forza … some people may like it but the last car game I enjoyed was Carmageddon 25 odd years ago.
Also if you really liked Halo you are not a PC gamer and won’t understand why it is crap.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:13
heh
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:14
Yes exactly!
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:15
As a fan of racing games I can honestly say that Forza is the only exclusive that interests me….but not enough to use the Windows store. There are better racing games.
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 09:17
LOL!????
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:03
Windows has learned the art of pissing people off.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:03
Learned? I think Windows has been doing it longer than EA.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:04
At least MS don’t pretend to be holy while shitting on their own people.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:05
No, they play the oblivious card instead. “Huh? What? Oh, don’t worry, we’re listening” – “Hmmm, seems they caught us this time. Shit, ok what’s the next scam on the list?”
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
February 15, 2016 at 09:00
Microsoft looking to buff out their shitty little Windows store catalog… lulz.
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 09:06
200 million PC’s running Windows 10 now, it’s seems logical!
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:17
What’s the other alternative…. Linux?
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:17
I love that Apple OS doesn’t even come to mind.
Damn hippies.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:19
Do you know why hipsters grow man buns?
So that they guy behind has something to hold onto
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:21
I recently upgraded my phone.
For half the price I got a phone with 3x the processing power and spec level of the iPhone.
Tried to mention it to an iPhone user but they just try to cut you off when you talk tech, because they know it’s just a fashion accessory.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 09:24
On the weekend I went & switched my phone from contract to pay as you go. The consultant couldn’t believe I only spend, on average, 3 min a month on my phone. Not talking to people is cheap.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:25
Haha. Wow.
I actually also downgraded my contract.
You can even order pizza online these days without talking to anyone. 😀
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:29
To date I’ve never had a cellphone contract. I just go prepaid and upgrade with a cheapie every few years when the current cheapie dies. Its much cheaper.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:30
I just went contract because I needed a stronger phone for work stuff. I tend to use excel files on my phone when I’m not at the office, so I need some processing power.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:27
Same here XD went as cheap as I can go. They wanted me to take a data package instead but I have wifi at home, the office and the pub.
Mossel
February 15, 2016 at 11:16
To be fair, Android is more demanding than iOS. Thus with an iPhone you only need a third of the processing power for it to perform exactly the same… if not better.
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:17
I work on various flavours of Linux all day long.
Still won’t use it to game. 😛
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:19
Can you use it to game?
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 09:20
Yeah you can load Steam OS over it.
Limits what you can play though and nothing works well on Linux.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:21
That’s my point though. If you don’t want to run Monopoly OS 10 you are kinda stuck in gaming limbo
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:05
As an OS windows 10 is really good. I mean REALLY good. However all the bloatware that gets added can get annoying.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 10:17
Here’s a wacky idea, release a gaming OS
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:24
Like SteamOS. 🙂
Problem is getting HWM support. It is why linux suffers it is why Apple OS suffers. Windows has the best HWM support due to its monopoly in the form of Direct X. Devs almost exclusively code for DX because it is established and used by everyonew due to Windows. AMD tried pushing Mantle and ofc the OpenGL guys tried real hard as well.
The best option right now is Vulcan but even that is an issue because you either code for Dx12 or you code for Vulcan as coding for both adds more cost to production.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 09:18
No! Don’t summon the Linux users!
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:19
LOL
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 09:22
So alternatives are good? But isn’t Windows Store an alternative to Steam? Hmmmmmmm……..????
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:22
Windows Store couldn’t even be an alternative to Uplay.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:28
Maybe they are trying to resurrect Games for Windows Live?
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:29
Oh my glob no.
You should see the Steam reviews for games that uses GFWL. All they are, is: “Not recommended – Uses GFWL”
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 09:36
I’ve played games that used GfWL. Never again.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:40
“Could not connect to gfwl – exiting”
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
February 15, 2016 at 09:41
Woooo, huh uh, nee, that… Breath in, count to four, exhale…
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
February 15, 2016 at 09:40
I cannot tell you about the thousands, yes, thousands of Rands I’ve lost using that service, from having games not activate thanks to a regional account setting to applying updates that break the updating service… I could have been a rich man today… had it not been for GFWL….
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
February 15, 2016 at 09:33
Nee, nope, huh uh, nee, fok nee…
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:33
XD
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:33
LOL!
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:25
My point it there isn’t any. Same as there isn’t any alternative for Steam
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 09:28
Well then embrace and use the Windows Store and make sure it becomes an alternative……?
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:29
Nope
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:30
Nein
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 09:31
Well then surely you can’t complain about a lack of alternatives……????
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:32
Shall we rephrase then? Viable alternatives that work and aren’t soul crushing and shit.
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:32
Thanks, me not so good making words
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:32
Me’z got ur bak!
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 09:35
*Insert mandatory comment re @Hammersreyn man buns……????????????
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:35
Who is Hammersreyn? O_o
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:35
Not me o/
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:41
If it’s a pseudonym so people don’t know it’s you, it’s not a very good one 😉
Hammersteyn
February 15, 2016 at 09:42
pseudonym? That’s a made up word! 😛
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:49
https://45.media.tumblr.com/e21db7234373895d851b44bc0821f2c1/tumblr_mmr883PokL1s5bb8ko1_400.gif
Aries
February 15, 2016 at 09:33
Windows store is soul crushing
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 09:34
Which is odd, because it’s main colour is green and not orange.
Pariah
February 15, 2016 at 09:35
I lol’ed a little too hard at this. XD
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:31
No
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 09:31
Nuh-uh.
HairyEwok
February 15, 2016 at 09:43
I wonder what’s happening on the Mac side of Gaming.
Captain JJ 'saurus
February 15, 2016 at 09:44
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
February 15, 2016 at 09:45
Hahahaha!!!
Pieter Kruger
February 15, 2016 at 09:56
Bottom line is the game looks great and you can play it on either Xbox One or PC or both! If you like the game get it, if not, just don’t buy it and move on already…..????
Ryanza
February 15, 2016 at 10:05
No DRM. Oh, just more DRM. Microsoft’s DRM. Yeah fuck that. Plus Quantum Break will be shit. Expensive shitty DRM.
Don’t Support DRM. Cyberpunk 2077 is coming.
HvR
February 15, 2016 at 10:57
EVERYONE GRAB YOUR DIGITAL PITCHFORKS AND HEAD TO TWITTER.
WHAT DO WE WANT?
MICROSOFT STEAM 180!!!!
WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
RIGHT AFTER OUR BACKLOGS ARE CLEARED!!!!!
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 10:59
Only one MS game could have possibly brought windows store some relevance. Minecraft.
Too bad everyone already purchased it ages go.
HvR
February 15, 2016 at 11:00
Would have been fun watching 8 to 10 year old ripping into Nelson on twitter
Kromas untamed
February 15, 2016 at 11:07
In other news. MS twitter shut down after explosion of violent and obscene threats from 8 year olds.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 15, 2016 at 11:24
Doesn’t that happen every time a new COD is released?