Microsoft this week extended the Xbox Live network to the Windows PC platform, as it launched a Windows Vista version of the Halo 2 game.
Microsoft plans in June to launch Shadowrun which is the first game that will allow Windows gamers and Xbox 360 players to get involved in cross platform match ups and play each other online on the two platforms.
The unification of Xbox and the PC seems like a big thing for Microsoft, although it is probably technically trivial. Still the gamers have to be recognized and call up the same gamertag and friends lists as if they were playing on an Xbox.
Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in Microsoft said, ‘The benefits of expanding Xbox Live to Games for Windows titles is twofold: We’re bringing together two communities that share a passion for playing online games, and we’re enhancing the online experience for PC gamers who have long desired seamless game and voice connectivity.”
Gold membership cost $49.95 per year and other Live membership is free, but cross platform gameplay and matching you against players of the same skill level is only available to Gold members
Given that the PC is an open platform for development it makes sense that every network should include the PC, but only where the device has the power to play the game as well as the console. It’s unlikely that Sony can follow suit, given that it has more power in the PS than any PC, and it’s unlikely to offer its modern games on PCs, but perhaps Nintendo might try a similar move.