Xbox may be working on a new cross-platform feature

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Summary

  • Xbox is planning a cross-platform Xbox Guide menu to standardize user interfaces across multiple devices.
  • PlayStation 5 outsells Xbox Series X/S by 3:1, but Xbox Game Pass growth continues.
  • Project Rainway aims to improve Xbox's cross-platform capabilities.



A new report suggests so Xbox could work to further increase its cross-platform efforts by implementing standardized user interfaces that can be used across multiple devices. Microsoft has emphasized making the Xbox platform more accessible, and it seems that this is one of the steps the video game giant is taking to achieve its goal.

It's been close to four years since the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 launched, and it seems that PlayStation has dominated this generation by a significant margin. A recent report reveals that the PlayStation 5 is outselling the Xbox Series X/S by a ratio of 3:1. While it may seem like a major setback for the Xbox, Microsoft has continued to expand on other fronts. Xbox Game Pass continues to add more exciting games every now and then and has seen steady growth. Xbox Game Pass isn't where Microsoft's offerings end, though, as it's also reportedly working on improving the cross-platform experience.


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In a new report, Windows Central reveals an interesting project currently underway on Xbox. Apparently, Microsoft is working on a “cross-platform Xbox guide menu” that will consist of a set of in-game APIs and user interface features. The feature is reportedly codenamed Project Rainway and aims to further enhance Xbox's cross-platform offerings by delivering a consistent experience across platforms. What these platforms will consist of has not been revealed.


Xbox aims to standardize features for multiple platforms through Project Rainway

The report further adds that the motivation behind the project has been the various social features that games like Hearthstone, Diablo IVand World of Warcraft incorporate through Battle.net. In addition, it should be noted that it can also provide similar improvements Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's Xbox cloud save support or Diablo 4's cross-progression function. Xbox aims to bring all of these features to its entire catalog, which has the potential to significantly improve the user experience.


While this sounds quite ambitious and exciting, fans are curious to know which platforms this would extend to. In all likelihood, this probably won't apply to consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch, as those platforms are less likely to allow an invasive Xbox guide menu. But with Xbox becoming more and more lenient with its cross-platform restrictions, it shouldn't be too surprising to see other platforms follow suit in the near future. For now, it will be interesting to see how Xbox continues to expand on its cross-platform efforts.

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