The next version of Windows will be integrated with Microsoft’s Xbox Live. It’s kind of an obvious move for Microsoft, who could be trying to grow Xbox Live from a digital videogame delivery system into a digital delivery system for all kinds of media. Putting Xbox Live inside the operating system that nearly every PC owner uses seems like a good way to help that along.
Microsoft Interactive Entertainment VP of global marketing Mike Delman explains, “If we have that and the PCs to leverage, that will be a big Live base. It’s our job to make ‘buy a movie in one place and play it everywhere, buy a game in one place and play it everywhere.’ Making things portable will be a big focus of ours.”
Delman isn’t shy about comparing the Xbox Live system to Apple’s digital distribution systems that allow users to purchase content whether they are at home or anywhere else: “There will be a lot of similarities in design and service philosophy. Whether it’s us or Apple or anybody else, people want to be able to navigate through multiple devices in a certain ecosystem very seamlessly so we’re committed to that.”
Windows 8 is expected to launch sometime next year.
