Microsoft boss happy the company didn't launch a handheld console
And considers mobile the most important future platform
Xbox boss Shane Kim has been speaking to Eurogamer at this week's Microsoft Gamer's Day and voicing his opinions on a Microsoft handheld.
Asked whether the company wishes it had made the decision to enter the handheld space now DS and PSP are both such a success, Kim says he's actually pleased it didn't.
"I'm very happy we didn't get into it, because launching a handheld platform is like launching another Xbox 360. You have to be fully committed, as an organisation, from a resource standpoint, to doing that. Frankly we've got a lot on our plate with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. We don't have any experience in that space. Our content assets don't naturally lend themselves to driving success in that particular market, so we're happy to let Sony and Nintendo slog it out."
He does however go on to reiterate the importance of other mobile markets to Microsoft. Earlier this year the company announced it would be bringing game software to its Zune portable music player, theoretically meaning games could be cross platform between PC, Xbox 360 and Zune.
"I do think mobile is probably the more important platform in the future, and the number of Windows mobile devices and hardware that's capable of running Windows mobile in the future is really a compelling opportunity, and one where we don't have to worry about launching a new hardware platform too," says Kim.
The direction Microsoft is planning to head in the portable games market is clearer, then. What we'll now be interested to find out is when the company is planning to release the Zune – currently only available in the US (and shortly in Canada) – worldwide. Unfortunately, very little other news emerged from the Gamer's Day on the device, so we're kept guessing for the time being.
