Xbox Live ‘to be integrated with Windows 8’

The next Windows PC operating system will have full Xbox Live integration, a key Microsoft executive has said.

The company’s plan is to spread its online service beyond the Xbox home console, marketing boss Mike Delman told The Seattle Times at E3 last week.

He also claimed that Xbox Live “has been successful” on Microsoft’s smartphone operating system, Windows Phone, though didn’t explain how he reached that conclusion.

“Xbox Live will be built into the PC,” he added.

“It will be the service where you get your entertainment. We were talking about it — you will not just see consoles and handhelds at this show next year, this show’s going to morph into other devices.”

He added: "You will not just see consoles and handhelds at E3 next year, this show’s going to morph into other devices."

A release date for Windows 8 – Microsoft’s upcoming PC operating system – has yet to be announced.