Yesterday, Microsoft announced the renaming of Beam to Mixer (apparently, they couldn't use the Beam name globally).
A slew of interesting new features was revealed, such as the ability for up to 4 streamers can combine their streams into a single viewer experience. But Mixer also launched a beta app for iOS and Android, allowing streaming even from mobile devices.
Still, it was a bit surprising to learn from Head of Xbox division Phil Spencer that Mixer might even end up on other platforms, including PlayStation's.
Yep.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) May 25, 2017
Phil Spencer also revealed that the early feedback and sign ups for Xbox Game Pass, the new Netflix-like subscription program for the Xbox One console, is "really strong". He then added that while Microsoft expects some games entering and leaving Game Pass each month, the vast majority of the titles should be available for several months.
I'm glad you like it. Just the start but the early signups and feedback have been really strong, thanks for that.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) May 26, 2017
We expect you'll see some games cycle in and out each month but a large majority will stay for multiple months.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) May 26, 2017
Spencer previously stated that he believes Game Pass could provide developers with an alternative business model for their story based single player games. We'll have to see whether this Netflix-like model can be successful in the gaming industry, though.
I’ve looked at things like Netflix and HBO, where great content has been created because there’s this subscription model. Shannon Loftis and I are thinking a lot about, well, could we put story-based games into the Xbox Game Pass business model because you have a subscription going? It would mean you wouldn’t have to deliver the whole game in one month; you could develop and deliver the game as it goes.
We’re in a golden age of television right now. The storytelling ability in TV today is really high, and I think it’s because of the business model. I hope as an industry we can think about the same. [Subscription services] might spur new story-based games coming to market because there’s a new business model to help support their monetisation.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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