Slapping a New Label on Gaming: Is Xbox PC the Real Deal? 🎮💻
Microsoft's gaming store, apps, and services for Windows 11 appear to be branded as 'Xbox PC' officially.
Microsoft's been slipping a sneaky new moniker in their gaming promotions - "Xbox PC." But is this just a catchy phrase or a full-blown branding strategy?
Finger on the Pulse of Game-y Stuff:Sign up for our newsletter and stay up-to-date on everything Xbox, Windows, and gaming-related! 🎉🕺
There's no smoke without fire, and it looks like Microsoft is developing a toothsome double helping of Windows 11 gaming. They've pledged to laser-focus on improving the gaming experience for the OS, competing with the likes of Steam Games, Epic Games, and GOG.
Pushing the Envelope on Performance:Windows 11 might give Steam a run for its money, outperforming it with impressive power efficiency! But the tradeoff could be sacrificing Windows 11's broader versatility.
Microsoft's PC gaming efforts have been a mouthful until now. Calling them the "Xbox app on PC" or the "PC Game Pass app" isn't exactly catchy, given the app's various applications, anywhere from Android and iOS to Xbox consoles.
When Microsoft announced the upcoming game "Gears of War: Reloaded" for Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and PlayStation, they casually slipped in "Xbox PC" in their original blog post. Some picked up on the new branding, but it wasn't clear if it was a one-off or something more.
Recently, the trailer for "MIO: Memories in Orbit," a robotic metroidvania, showcased hard branding for "Xbox PC." This is the first time this new branding has popped up on a third-party game trailer - so far that we know! It seems Microsoft is gaining ground on getting its partners to use "Xbox PC" when referring to games on the Xbox app for Windows 11.
Watch This Space:Supersize your popcorn, my friends! With Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase 2025 scheduled for this Sunday and Summer Game Fest's event this Friday, keep your eyes peeled for more "Xbox PC" branding, especially in relation to Project Kensho - Microsoft's partner PC gaming handheld with ASUS.
Why the stealthy introduction? Maybe Microsoft wants to earn gamers' affection rather than demand it. After all, it's facing some stiff competition from the darling of the PC gaming world, Steam. Xbox PC, with its Xbox Game Pass, cloud integration, and its very own underrated sales events, might offer a tempting alternative.
But Steam's long-standing maturity, feature set, and dependability are tough nuts to crack. Where's my cloud save indicator, dammit?!
Stay tuned as we reach out to Microsoft to suss out if "Xbox PC" is officially making a permanent platform on the gaming scene! 🎮💫🚀
- The Xbox PC branding, a new phrase from Microsoft, may not just be a catchy marketing ploy, but a strategic shift towards enhancing gaming experiences on Windows 11.
- As Microsoft refines the gaming aspects of Windows 11, it aims to rival platforms like Steam Games, Epic Games, and GOG.
- The Xbox app on PC, with its wide applicability across platforms like Android, iOS, and Xbox consoles, has traditionally been hard to summarize effectively.
- In a recent announcement, Microsoft revealed "Gears of War: Reloaded" for Xbox Series X|S, Steam, PlayStation, and emphasized the Xbox PC moniker.
- The trailer for "MIO: Memories in Orbit," a robotic metroidvania, recently displayed clear branding for Xbox PC, marking its first appearance on a third-party game trailer.
- Microsoft's efforts to get partners to use "Xbox PC" in their references to games on the Xbox app for Windows 11 are gaining momentum, suggesting a more permanent presence of this branding in the gaming landscape.
