LGC 09: Microsoft dismisses OnLive threat

Microsoft has dismissed the possibility of streaming technology such as OnLive and Gaikai damagaing its Xbox business for the foreseeable fututure.”

Speaking at London Games Conference this evening, Xbox Live EMEA boss Jerry Johnson told BAFTA HQ – packed by industry delegates – that streaming tech was not on an accelerated timeline".

I think streaming technology is something that [the industry] is betting on longer term,” he said. Right now I don’t believe that technology can scale out against the experience we can offer on a local machine.

The technology will continue to improve. As an industry we’ll have to accept that and move with it – but I don’t think it’s on an accelerated timeline for the foreseeable future.”

Johnson’s comments came as part of a discussion panel entitled Outside The Box, on which he sat alongside PlayStation Home boss Pete Edward and EA’s UK VP Keith Ramsdale. The session was hosted by Edge editor-in-chief Tony Mott.

During the discussion, Ramsdale told the crowd he believed publishers don’t need to create new IP to make money from digital distribution.

You can innovate with what you’ve got,” he said. You just have to do it cleverly.”