Microsoft Xbox head Asha Sharma stated in an internal meeting that Xbox plans to increase investment in various PC applications, including Blizzard's Battle.net, and streamline the process for developers to collaborate with Xbox. She believes that Xbox has previously focused too heavily on a single PC application and has not fully leveraged the user base reachable through other platforms.
Sharma specifically noted that Battle.net's user retention performance is close to that of Steam, but Microsoft had previously underinvested in the platform. Xbox will provide more support for Battle.net moving forward, covering both its own titles and selected third-party games. "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" has become the first third-party title accepted on Battle.net, which already hosts some Xbox-owned titles.
In addition to Battle.net, Sharma indicated that Xbox will continue to invest in other PC applications as long as they can reach diverse audiences. She also mentioned Windows apps and collaborations with device manufacturers scheduled for this fall.
Developer processes are also a key focus of this adjustment. Sharma acknowledged that collaborating with Xbox currently remains challenging. The team is working to simplify target platforms, adjust the Partner Center, and clean up APIs to improve their machine readability, aiming to make it easier for developers to monitor performance and utilize relevant business tools. According to Windows Central, the current process may lead to delays and uncertainty.