Since February, there have been a series of rumours suggesting Microsoft would be bringing its Xbox applications, subscription services, and video games to the Nintendo Switch.
While the tech giant has already been quite busy this week with the reveal of the Halo Master Chief Collection for PC and its streaming service Project xCloud, it's now announced the new cross-platform mobile development kit, Microsoft Game Stack.
As can be seen above, this new SDK will allow developers to implement Xbox Live, Azure PlayFab, DirectX, Mixer and more on Android and iOS devices. The Microsoft Game Stack web page also makes reference to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 (see below), but there are no "specific announcements" to share right now, according to Microsoft's Gaming Cloud Chief Kareem Choudhry:
"Our goal is to really unite the 2 billion gamers of the world and we’re big fans of our Xbox Live community, but we don’t have any specific announcements as it relates to Switch today. If you’ve watched us for the past few years, we’ve taken a very inclusive approach. Phil [Spencer] has been very proactive on issues like crossplay, cross-progression, and uniting gamer networks, and we’re willing to partner with the industry as much as we possibly can."
As crazy as it might sound, would you like to see Xbox Live on Nintendo Switch? What do you think about Microsoft expanding the Xbox brand? Tell us down below.
[source theverge.com]
Comments 36
I'm curious to see where this goes
Call me back when they actually do have "specific announcements", please.
Give it about... 3 months.
They are waiting for a Nintendo direct or E3.
Nintendo will farm out their online infrastructure to Microsoft.
Or at least that's my prediction.
If Banjoie Kazooie or Conker end up as DLC for Smash Bros, take that as a sign things are progressing between the two parties.
If this happens, it makes those studios Microsoft bought up effectively third party again, which is something I can get behind.
Rare needs to return to Nintendo. Killer Instinct, Banjo Kazooie, Conker, Goldeneye... they need to come home.
Yawn....
Another day, another rumor...
Nintendo's current online infrastructure needs some work, particularly e-Shop unification, and ease of searching for stuff. However, Nintendo hosting their own network would be best. The Wii lost online play, debatably pre-maturely, since it was run by Gamespy, I think?
@JR150 This is an executive from Microsoft directly speaking about the Switch, this isn't really a rumour.
In my eyes this even reinforces the idea that we may be getting announcements in the near future.
I would love to see Microsoft games on switch
I'm guessing E3 is going to be a very eventual and interesting one this year. Come on June, hurry up and get here already!
"..we don’t have any specific announcements as it relates to Switch today" Interesting choice of words... appears to be saying something, but also plausibly might not be at the same time. 🤔
Sorry, but was there ever any evidence for a Nintendo-Xbox partnership? Where is the source of this rumour?
I think that Xbox Gamepass, a full on streaming service on the Switch, is a bit risky still. Maybe in a year or two, on the next iteration of the Switch. I'm not expecting to play all the Gears of War games on my Switch for a while. Having a couple of Xbox games would be nice though!
I think the Switch version Ori and the Blind forest will be releasing at E3 plus confirmation of Ori and the Will of the Wisps hitting the Switch a year after it's Xbox/PCdebut. That would be sweet. Also Rare Replay...please please pleaease
I see a marriage coming up! Lol just. Kidding.
buy Microsoft is heading the right direction like this.
Its even free advertising like this.
For some reason I could see this becoming a battle of the "streaming" services.
Xbox Live vs PlayStation Now vs Nintendo Switch Online.
The battle of Nostalgia is going cross platform.
(And getting us use to streaming gaming while doing it)
I don’t believe it yet and won’t do until it actually happens.
This talk is typical marketing speak that plays to both the skeptics and those hopeful the rumours are true but ultimately is a sales pitch for XBox.
This type of rumour and publicity helps the Xbox brand. They will keep this alive for as long as possible whether it is real or not and they are playing the marketing game right for now.
If there is some sort of partnership planned between Mario and Master Chief, it would be amazing to totally own E3 with it.
The fact that he doesn't try to deny it makes me think there probably is something in it.
If it was all nonsense I'm pretty sure he would just say so
Please stop it!!! Just give Banjo back!!!
I think Nintendo should buy out Microsoft.
I would love for Nintendo to troll everyone and one day say in the same sentence "we don't have anything to announce but..." then announce it
It's nice to see a promotional image of the switch with grey joy cons for once.
All I want is the rare games
something is happening and no specific announcement right now is very Nintendo talk. it doesn't confirm anything neither are they denying.
@dew12333 Nintendo buying out Microsoft?! Do you know how big Microsoft is? Nintendo doesn't have anywhere near the money Microsoft has. No where near it. Besides, Nintendo is fine where they are.
I think Nintendo would probably want this kind of announcement to be saved for something like a Direct or E3.
If this is true, BRING IT ON! I would absolutely love to play my Xbox games on the Switch.
I just want Rare Replay or more specifically Perfect Dark on Switch.
@dew12333 Microsoft was trying to buy Nintendo before the GameCube.
@Trajan Yes, they ended up buying Rare instead, look what they did to them! I don't remember anybody thinking that was a good idea at that time, but now there seem to be a lot of comments that this could be a good thing?
@dew12333 No it would be terrible.
I remember when I heard that news I wanted to get an Xbox though. Ended up really liking Halo CE. Too bad it didn't get any Rare games... :/
Good thing SFA/Dino Planet still came out on GC. I love that game.
Word on the street was that Rare was going down hill at the time. But SFA kind of dispels that for me.
Cuphead on Switch would be so good, and sell amazing in the process.
I would like to be able to play Gears on switch other than that there isn’t much on Xbox that interests me. Switch and PS4 are the kiddies when it comes to quality and quantity.
@Bunkerneath @kingbk @sandman89 Agree with all of you. Banjo is an excellent fit for a Nintendo console. Please Nintendo and Microsoft, give us this news in E3.
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