• Windows 8 PCs might play Xbox 360 games natively

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    Cabalo
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    Published on 07-13-2011 01:29 AM    
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    How do you extend the life of the Xbox 360, a console that's nearly six-years-old and basically runs on PC architecture? If you're Microsoft, you might let hundreds of millions of Windows 8 users play Xbox 360 games right on their PCs.

    According to Insideris, Microsoft is working on plans to bring Xbox 360 gaming to its next PC operating system: Windows 8. Apparently, users who want to play Xbox 360 games on their PC will have to pay for a subscription (Xbox Live style) and there will be no Xbox 360 to PC cross-platform multiplayer because of the advantage that a mouse has over a 360 gamepad.

    That's how the rumor goes. Microsoft recently merged its Games for Windows brand under the "Xbox.com" domain in an attempt to keep PC gaming relevant (not that it isn't tempting, or ever lost its relevancy with digital platforms such as Steam). With these "Xbox 360-certified" PCs (coining a new term here!), 360 games would be hardware agnostic — similar to how Sony's allowing non-PlayStation devices, such as Android smartphones and tablets to run classic PlayStation games as part of its "PlayStation-certified" strategy.

    Kinect might have helped the Xbox 360 slaughter its competitors in monthly sales in the U.S. this year, but that $150 add-on can only go so far until gamers realize it's not doing much other than collecting dust (for hardcore games, at least). With no definitive plans for an Xbox 360 successor just yet (Microsoft's playing the 10-year plan game with Sony's PS3), building an Xbox 360 into every Windows 8 PC would totally flip the entire console market upside down.

    Armed with the knowledge that today's PCs are much more powerful than the Xbox 360, running the games shouldn't be a problem with a little bit of oil. The only question is would PC users be down for something like this. With 400 million Windows 7 licenses sold and Windows 8 said to drop sometime this fall, Microsoft has the opportunity to put hundreds of thousands of "new Xbox 360-certified" boxes on the market.
    1. Categories:
    2. Software,
    3. Gaming
    Comments 17 Comments
    1. Evelyn's Avatar
      Evelyn - 07-13-2011, 01:34 AM
      WHAT !!! (jaw dropping eye pooping effect)
    1. LazyGuy's Avatar
      LazyGuy - 07-13-2011, 02:06 AM
      what will this mean hardware requirement wise?
    1. mr. nails's Avatar
      mr. nails - 07-13-2011, 04:25 AM
      i'd be down with it as long as this subscription bullshit isn't added. if i have to pay sum dumb ass sub i won't be playing 360 games (like they want me to).
    1. Tarom's Avatar
      Tarom - 07-13-2011, 07:40 AM
      Why would anyone want to play old 6 year old Playstation games on a new PC?
    1. darkmawl's Avatar
      darkmawl - 07-13-2011, 09:01 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Tarom View Post
      Why would anyone want to play old 6 year old Playstation games on a new PC?
      First of all Xbox360, second of all games are still being released for the 360.

      I do however dislike the subscribing part of this. Atleast let Xbox360 owner use the service for free.
    1. proforma's Avatar
      proforma - 07-13-2011, 11:07 AM
      Do I also need an genuine augmented certified subscription secure account identity drm management app for MY games to play on MY computer, or is windows sufficent?
    1. brilman's Avatar
      brilman - 07-13-2011, 11:29 AM
      [QUOTE=
      Do I also need an genuine augmented certified subscription secure account identity drm management app for MY games to play on MY computer, or is windows sufficent?[/QUOTE]

      That's kinda what I was thinking too. Windows has a nice GUI but I'll stop at that
    1. Xbox_360's Avatar
      Xbox_360 - 07-13-2011, 12:18 PM
      They would be crazy to do this, piracy would go through the roof. I would not mind being able to play my Xbox games on my PC but if you have to pay for that feature why bother? What they should do is charge people that do not own an Xbox but people who can prove they own an Xbox get the service free. No Xbox live and they want us to pay what crap, mouse & keyboard disadvantage is total crap as well everybody is different I can't play with a mouse and keyboard. I know you can buy an adapter that allows the use of a mouse & keyboard on the Xbox 360 so if people want to play with a M&K bad enough they will.
    1. mr. nails's Avatar
      mr. nails - 07-13-2011, 01:21 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Xbox_360 View Post
      What they should do is charge people that do not own an Xbox...
      why? they are already charging me if i upgrade to win8.
    1. predateur's Avatar
      predateur - 07-13-2011, 01:55 PM
      games of xbox 360 are avaliable on PC , and PC's version are better so what is the utility of this option ?
    1. Xbox_360's Avatar
      Xbox_360 - 07-13-2011, 01:57 PM
      True but you are paying for the OS and this is a Premium add on. Why would MS want people with an ok PC be able to play Xbox 360 games without ever purchasing there hardware, they will lose money. That is why I am saying if you have an Xbox 360 already why would or should you pay again just to play on your PC? When you have the Xbox already with Live at hand, it should be free for those who have a Xbox already. I myself have 2 Xbox's why should I pay again, MS already made a killing off me with 4-5 years of Live, 20-30 games bought, hundreds of dollars spent in the live store.
    1. Sporkk's Avatar
      Sporkk - 07-13-2011, 02:10 PM
      It would be cool if it was free but I don't see much use if I can't cross platform play with friends that refuse to game on a pc. The pc version of games is almost always superior anyway. I sold my 360 because I didn't feel like paying for live. However it would be nice for console exclusives so you don't have to buy one for a few games. Steam has no bs yearly fee and they do a lot of awesome sales. So paying for the privilege to play 360 games on a new pc with updated hardware? No thanks unless purchasing windows 8 is the only fee required. As I said earlier it would only be handy for the rare gem that was only available on 360.
    1. bobbintb's Avatar
      bobbintb - 07-13-2011, 02:37 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by predateur View Post
      games of xbox 360 are avaliable on PC , and PC's version are better so what is the utility of this option ?
      +1

      there are xbox exclusive titles, but still...
      also, i really only see this being useful to xbox owners.
      why would someone who doesnt own an xbox use this service when they can just buy the pc version instead of the xbox version and a subscription?
    1. lisa2's Avatar
      lisa2 - 07-13-2011, 06:19 PM
      Red Dead Redemption and UFC 2010 on PC ? awesome
    1. 1000possibleclaws's Avatar
      1000possibleclaws - 07-13-2011, 07:22 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by mr. nails View Post
      i'd be down with it as long as this subscription bullshit isn't added. if i have to pay sum dumb ass sub i won't be playing 360 games (like they want me to).
      I don't see how this could be viable for Microsoft if it isn't sub based, so you're shit outta luck for playing the games legitimately.

      Kind of skeptical of this happening, but it would be exciting to see how this affects the gaming market.
    1. duke0102's Avatar
      duke0102 - 07-15-2011, 09:40 AM
      Sounds like bull to me. Sounds too good to be true
    1. peat moss's Avatar
      peat moss - 07-15-2011, 11:35 AM
      Ah the old saying again , gaming drives the computer market . You'll need to upgrade your computer of course .




      Edit : Your O/S .
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