Spencer: Microsoft working toward ‘renewed focus on Windows and PC gaming’

Microsoft is working to develop a "renewed focus on Windows and PC gaming," according to MS Studios head Phil Spencer.

Polygon reports from a Q&A last week during GDC, where Spencer revealed PC gaming is on the company’s priority list in 2014.

"I think Valve’s an incredible company," he said. "They’ve been the backbone of PC gaming for the last decade, and as the Windows company, I appreciate what they’ve done. They have, in a lot of ways, focused more on PC gaming than we have."

Spencer added that the initial results of this shift should come about prior to the end of 2014.

"A renewed focus on Windows and PC gaming inside Microsoft is definitely happening. You will see more focus from us — not to go compete with what Valve has done, but because we also understand as the platform holder it’s important for us to invest in the platform in a real way. We’re fundamentally committed to that."

When pressed about the status of the company’s notorious Games for Windows Live platform, Spencer explained an answer would arrive shortly.

"You will get a clear answer from us very soon," he said. "We have a longer term plan for multiplayer gaming and marketplace on Windows. We understand what we have today in market … isn’t great. We do understand there’s some continuity of getting from where we are to where we want to be [and] that shutting the lights off [on Games for Windows Live] isn’t exactly the right thing to do.

"We’ve got to make sure we’ve got a thoughtful plan that supports the people that currently have games on Games for Windows Live. It’s a conversation we’re having."

"[There]might be some transition bumps, getting from here to there, but we’re going to invest significantly more in that space, not less. It’s just whether what we have today is the core of what we have [in the future] and it’s probably not.

"We’ve got to have this message out in a thoughtful way [within the next few] months and not anything more than that. It’s in the real near term. This is something that we’re working on now… because we want to be clear on it."