Microsoft’s Xbox Strategy is the Most Inspiring Story of 2017 (Premium)

2017 was an amazing year for Microsoft by any measure. But my year-end recap leaves out a bigger, overarching story around Xbox that spans multiple news stories, decisions, announcements, events, and product releases and updates. It's a narrative that spans multiple topics.

And it goes like this.

Losing the console wars is the best thing that ever happened to Xbox.

I know. That sounds crazy on the face of things.

But think about it. By not succeeding at the traditional corporate metric---units sold--- in gaming, Microsoft was forced to rethink its entire strategy. In doing so, it is now approaching this market like a newcomer would, and not an established player. It is providing much more value to customers. And it is taking advantage of cross-platform integration that it may otherwise have handled more tepidly if at all.

Yes, I normally complain about Microsoft's use of alternative metrics---for example, its "engaged user base" on Xbox Live---over what I think of as hard numbers. (I refer to this practice as "making lemonade.") But in shifting gears and focusing on just making the platform better for everyone, because it has to, Microsoft has rewarded loyal and new Xbox gamers in completely new and exciting ways. And it has found a strategy by which Xbox can be successful. A win-win.

I've already argued that the doubter and haters are wrong about Microsoft's Xbox strategy. In 2016, I called this then-nascent strategy "an audacious plan." And in 2017, I called it a full-fledged turnaround. "Microsoft, finally, is doing the right thing for Xbox," I wrote. "And, more important, for Xbox fans."

Exactly.

Here are some of the wonderful and pro-customer advantages that Microsoft's Xbox strategy has given us.

Backward Compatibility. All three Xbox console generations have run on different architectures, but Microsoft has always provided backward compatibility with previous generations, a wonderful gift to gamers who have invested in the platform over time. With Xbox One, this strategy reaches a new pinnacle, with the ability to play a growing library of both Xbox 360 and original Xbox games. Some of those latter games are almost 20 years old, folks.

Xbox Play Anywhere. After coasting for years in PC gaming, Microsoft has woken up to a key differentiator it can offer over the competition by providing digital purchasing rights, and cross-platform play, progress, saves, and achievements, across both Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. It's called Xbox Play Anywhere, and with compatible titles, you can begin playing a game on an Xbox console, pick it up later on the PC, and then go right back to the console later still and never lose a step. Incredible.

Minecraft. As the poster child for Microsoft's pan-Xbox dreams, Minecraft is a cross-platform and cross-generational success story for the ages. But Microsoft in 2017 took things to a whole other level when it made most of the many different versions of Minecraft---on Window...

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