In my recent article, The Future of Gaming: Consolidation and Cross-Platform Gaming?, I talked about how I saw the future going. Here’s the Microsoft section of that article:
Microsoft: Multiple Platforms with one Account
Microsoft recently acquired Skype for some $8.5 billion dollars which has 
generated a lot of buzz. Some believe that they will instantly make it a pay-only service. But I believe they have far larger ideas for it. Kinect is most likely coming to the PC very soon and Skype would be the ideal platform for its video chat features and all of it could instantly be tied right into the existing Kinect video chat. Skype has been, for some time, one of the leaders of online communication, text, audio and video so it seems only right that Microsoft would want to snap that up and integrate it into their flagship products. It could also be an instant win for gamers as it could be the new backbone for communication on LIVE whether you access it from your Windows PC, Xbox 360 or Windows Phone 7 smartphone . With one login you have access to not only your friends and family but also a wide range of gaming possibilities
Now the big question is, will they consider a portable gaming unit or simply push Windows Phone 7 as their primary portable gaming platform. Tablets are surely going to continue to be hot and with a version of Windows specifically for tablets it means more gaming for us.
It should also mean cross-platform gaming as smartphones turn super and tablets become commonplace. Purchasing a game from the LIVE network and being able to play on multiple devices with friends on different devices is definitely something I would like to see. Plus, with some recent moves, like the Skype acquisition, they are set to offer more than just cross-platform gaming.
Of course, in light of all that’s happened to the Playstation Network lately, that had best be doing numerous, rigorous security checks and tests right now because it would be an absolute embarrassment if they were to come out and say they were hacked and data was stolen.
A recent announcement by MS was that Games for Windows will close and move to Xbox.com. Some herald this as the platform’s poor performance with gamers and generally, it wasn’t all that great. There’s too much competition in the digital delivery of games. You’ve got Steam, GamersGate, Origin, blah blah blah... Everyone wants their own way to get as much money as they can.
