Microsoft’s Head of the Xbox Gaming Division, Phil Spencer is trying to clarify the company’s plans concerning the two new versions of the Xbox One hardware announced at E3 2016, as well as the migration of the Xbox brand to PC’s.

In an interview published Wednesday at GI.biz, Spencer talked about the idea of keeping consumers engaged with the Xbox brand; whether they are playing on the original Xbox One, the Xbox One S, The upcoming Project Scorpio, or a Windows 10 PC.

“[T]he business is not selling the console. The business is more of an attached business to the console install base. So if you’re an Xbox One customer and you bought that console 3 years ago, I think you’re a great customer. You’re still using the device. That’s why we focus on monthly active users. That’s actually the health of our ecosystem because it’s really you want this large install base of people that are active in your network buying games, playing games. That’s the actual judge of the health.”

He then went on to try to assuage skepticism over the notion of Project Scorpio leading a shift in the traditional 5-year console life-cycle, to a more iterative model that could see minor hardware upgrades released every two years.

” [O]ur model’s not really built around selling you a new console every one or two years. The model is almost the exact opposite. If I can keep you with the console you have, keep you engaged in buying and playing games, that’s a good business.”

“I want to build games and services that can reach people where they want to play.”

Spencer went on to define Project Scorpio as Microsoft’s answer to developer requests to take advantage of 4K gaming, and to add the more powerful unit as a compliment to the Xbox One ecosystem; not replace it with more powerful hardware that forces players to leave behind the content that they already have.

Will you buy the Xbox One S, or hold out for Project Scorpio?

Further in the interview, Spencer talked about the flexibility of the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative, which allows anyone with an Xbox Live subscription to play Microsoft Studio’s titles on either PC, or Xbox One consoles.

“Hey, if you’re playing in both places, I don’t want to have you buy the game twice.” We’ll authenticate you in both places through your Xbox Live account so you can play in both places. We’re just trying to put the customer at the center of it and I think usually good things happen when you do that.”

Spencer had made waves earlier in the day with a few contradictory statements regarding Project Scorpio, telling MCV that Project Scorpio would strictly be for folks who had already upgraded to 4K televisions, with no discernible enhancements for those of us with a 1080p television. Later, he backtracked a bit when he told VideoGamer.com that it would be up to developers to determine how they use the extra power Project Scorpio provides.

Yours truly covered this in an E3 2016 video update earlier in the day:

Watch live video from NerdBacon on www.twitch.tv

So to recap: Xbox One Project Scorpio is mostly intended for those of us with a 4K television, but it’s up to developers to decide what to do with the extra power.

There is plenty more from Spencer in the interview, so make sure you head over to GamesIndustry.Biz to read the full story.

Written by The Watchman

The Watchman is a journeyman gamer who has seen and played a good chunk of gaming history.
He’s also an actor, a reporter, a pro wrestling connoisseur, and some say he’s a cat whisperer.
If you have any questions or just want to drop me a line, hit me up at thewatchman@nerdbacon.com
Or follow me on Twitter @DavetheWatchman
You can also game with me!
Look me up on Xbox Live @ DJKhadoken
Or on PlayStation Network @ Eaglevision_dl