Hardware Why doesn't MS just release/sell the XBOX OS for PC?

[GrailBomb]

If it's just a custom version of Win10 and runs on pc hardware, why not just release the OS for PC so people can use it or even dual boot.

What are your guy's thoughts, what do you think would be some of the common drawbacks and benefits, and the likelihood of something ever happening?

 

[spectral]

If it's just a custom version of Win10 and runs on pc hardware, why not just release the OS for PC so people can use it or even dual boot.

What are your guy's thoughts, what do you think would be some of the common drawbacks and benefits, and the likelihood of something ever happening?

It's not quite as simple as that or probably simple as I say either. While it is true the Xbox One is essentially PC hardware, its custom versions of it, not off the shelf parts. The Xbox OS isn't Win 10, it's just based on it. It's designed to run on very specific hardware and is heavily optimised for that hardware. These optimisations on consoles are why such low powered hardware can run games that take a much more powerful PC to run the PC versions, even at the same graphics quality.

 

[thomadash]

If Microsoft were to do that and sell it, people WILL find a way for other people to access it for free. Also, a Windows PC isn't always as powerful as an Xbox. A PC that costs as much as an Xbox would most likely be extremely underpowered to run an Xbox OS. It could also substantially decrease Xbox console sales and increase Windows PC sales, possibly from other companies, so we all know Microsoft wouldn't like that!
It's an interesting idea, but it just wouldn't work.

 

[tech3475]

I doubt MS would release the Xbox OS, at least as we know it.

First issue is that the Xbox is not a true PC, with things like RAM being different.

Second, the Xbox OS consists of a Hypervisor and VMs for games/apps. VMs have potential issues when it comes to things like performance, compatibility, etc.

Ironically the idea of dual booting could be more of a benefit to Linux, since you'd have to reboot anyway to play games.

I reckon MS will be more likely to change the XDK/APIs to ease cross development, perhaps even making it mandatory on the next gen systems.

 

[GrailBomb]

I figure the two major arguments would be compatibility, and hurting console sales.

I'm sure these are valid arguments they have considered, but I don't think compatibility would be a major issue with some tweaking of the OS, all OS have system requirements, so anyone purchasing it would likely be aware of this, and as for console sales I can only imagine that would be offset by the amount of people purchasing, along with the games provided on it.

Honestly with gamepass ultimate it is not even the OS that is important, rather why not just release an app with the xbox one interface, kind of like steam big picture mode, since the current interface for the xbox pc apps sucks.

 

[tech3475]

I figure the two major arguments would be compatibility, and hurting console sales.

I'm sure these are valid arguments they have considered, but I don't think compatibility would be a major issue with some tweaking of the OS, all OS have system requirements, so anyone purchasing it would likely be aware of this, and as for console sales I can only imagine that would be offset by the amount of people purchasing, along with the games provided on it.

Honestly with gamepass ultimate it is not even the OS that is important, rather why not just release an app with the xbox one interface, kind of like steam big picture mode, since the current interface for the xbox pc apps sucks.

The reason I say compatibility is because there's some significant differences between the two platforms AFAIK, for example, RAM is shared on the Xbox while typically split on gaming pcs.

Plus I doubt MS would want to split the user base by making it a separate purchase, it's more likely they'd integrate any 'Xbox OS' into the Windows OS for free.

I also say performance more because of the nature of VMs on PCs, especially if running on top of Windows.

In regards to hardware sales, I don't think MS would actually care as much since they earn revenue from games if bought through their store and they've even embraced cross compatibility in recent years through cross buy, presumably hoping it will increase software sales and hardware adoption.

I do agree that a 'big picture mode' would be nice.

 

[lisreal2401]

No point. Xbox One is just embedded Windows 10 and the actual features it could benefit PC, specifically Xbox 360 stuff wouldn't work due to that being done with custom hardware on the Xbone.

And it has about 2 non Kinect games that aren't on anything else (Crimson Dragon and Halo 5)

 

[EmulateLife]

The Xbox One has a little over 1 year left before the next Xbox is out, and they've been half assing it (IMO) for the last 3 years. They are already looking forward to the next Xbox.

 

[GrailBomb]

The Xbox One has a little over 1 year left before the next Xbox is out, and they've been half assing it (IMO) for the last 3 years. They are already looking forward to the next Xbox.

Which makes it an oppertune time do something like this, it doesn't have to be the xbox one os necessarily, it could be the next generation, and it doesn't even have to be a complete os, it can just be the interface.

I really am not getting the focus on compatibility issues, you guys can't honestly believe that the minds at MS can not figure out how to get there own xbox os to run on regular pc hardware.

 

[spectral]

Which makes it an oppertune time do something like this, it doesn't have to be the xbox one os necessarily, it could be the next generation, and it doesn't even have to be a complete os, it can just be the interface.

I really am not getting the focus on compatibility issues, you guys can't honestly believe that the minds at MS can not figure out how to get there own xbox os to run on regular pc hardware.

of course they could, normal windows 10 is much more complex than the Xbox variant. However it wouldn't be as simple a job as you seem to think it will be. But honestly what would be the real point? It's suited to a controller not KB and mouse, which most PC users will be navigating with. It would also only support windows store/game pass games and most PC users have games across multiple different clients. Its easier just to have an app to open and run the game. Not to mention even Xbox users tend to not even like the interface.

 

[EmulateLife]

Which makes it an oppertune time do something like this, it doesn't have to be the xbox one os necessarily, it could be the next generation, and it doesn't even have to be a complete os, it can just be the interface.

I really am not getting the focus on compatibility issues, you guys can't honestly believe that the minds at MS can not figure out how to get there own xbox os to run on regular pc hardware.

Why do you want this so bad how does it benefit you? It's just an ugly green interface who cares.

 

[GrailBomb]

of course they could, normal windows 10 is much more complex than the Xbox variant. However it wouldn't be as simple a job as you seem to think it will be. But honestly what would be the real point? It's suited to a controller not KB and mouse, which most PC users will be navigating with. It would also only support windows store/game pass games and most PC users have games across multiple different clients. Its easier just to have an app to open and run the game.

I agree with this, it would be much easier to focus on gamepass ultimate cross compatibility, but at the very least give us a console style interface to go with it, steam does this with big picture mode, it should be pretty essential to the experience.

Why do you want this so bad how does it benefit you? It's just an ugly green interface who cares.

For reasons mentioned above, as someone who uses gamepass ultimate on both pc and console, and often has a pc hooked up to there tv for couch gaming, it is essential to have a good controller interface.

 

[spectral]

I agree with this, it would be much easier to focus on gamepass ultimate cross compatibility, but at the very least give us a console style interface to go with it, steam does this with big picture mode, it should be pretty essential to the experience.



For reasons mentioned above, as someone who uses gamepass ultimate on both pc and console, and often has a pc hooked up to there tv for couch gaming, it is essential to have a good controller interface.

I'm sure the interface will undergo many changes. They may even have it styled on scarlet eventually. You also have to remember that the PC app is still a beta and also already a massive improvement over the windows store interface.