Choice
2016 was very big on choices when it came to gaming, and we’re talking beyond just having competitive platforms for you to choose from. Platforms are opening up and even putting their games on devices you probably would have never expected. Nintendo, the company with the tightest grip on its properties, ventured out into the mobile space where they’ve been raking in the downloads. Sony has put its game-streaming service on certain smart TVs as well as on PCs, allowing fans to jump into a large chunk of the PlayStation library without buying one of the consoles.
The company that has been doing the most with this new choice-focused initiative, though, has to be Microsoft. The company had already spruced up its PC and mobile apps, allowing Xbox fans to communicate with others in the community, browse content, set up play sessions, and more. But Play Anywhere was the biggest step in giving Xbox fans true freedom. All Microsoft games are available on both the Xbox One and Windows 10 at launch, with cross-platform play meaning you don’t have to miss out on playing with your friends. Even better is that Quantum Break, one of the first Xbox One exclusives to release simultaneously on the home console and Windows 10, made its way over to Steam, meaning Microsoft may just be looking to provide even more choice in the future.
It will be interesting to see how much more choice players are given in the coming year.
