Microsoft plans digital content future, dreams of unified services
While Microsoft’s original Xbox console sold only 20 million units to Sony’s 120 million behemoth PlayStation 2, one area that it definitely outshone its rival was in online gaming. Microsoft’s Xbox Live service was widely praised for bringing together matchmaking, multiplayer game play, voice chat, and downloadable content, all in an easy-to-use and well-managed package. With the Xbox 360, Microsoft has added features such as downloadable video. On the fifth anniversary of the Xbox Live service, Microsoft is now boasting that more than 8 million gamers are “actively engaged” on the network and is promising that there are many new features to come. While the company isn’t giving up any details, Microsoft executive J Allard told the New York Times that the goal is to make Xbox Live the “king of all media,” hinting that stronger integration with both mobile phones and Microsoft’s Zune music player is yet to come.
Full article: arstechnica.com
