According to Xbox executive Kudo Tsunoda, the Xbox One has "a lot more going on" than the PlayStation 4 and other competing platforms. In a new interview, Tsunoda talks about how Xbox One features like backward compatibility, as well as cross-play and cross-buy with PC, give the Xbox One the upper hand.
"For a long time we've had PC gamers and console gamers who weren't really able to play together," Tsunoda told GameIndustry International. "That's why cross-play is still such a powerful idea. You should be able to play what you love, and play together, regardless of what device you're playing on. It's about connecting people."
"It's a really unique value that only we can offer," he added. "You still need very gamer-focused values, but there's lots of things you can do with our technology. We've really got a lot more going on [than our competitors]. We're doing things that can't be done on any other console."
Tsunoda went on to say that allowing people to play games "wherever they want, on whatever device they choose, and making that easy" is Microsoft's long-term goal for the overall Xbox ecosystem.
On the subject of backwards compatibility specifically, Tsunoda said he's happy to deliver a feature that fans have been clamoring for.
"With backwards compatibility, it isn't something that we just think gamers might want," Tsunoda explained. "We know. We're looking for and soliciting that feedback. It was the No. 1 most requested feature for Xbox One by far."
For its part, Sony has said it has no plans to bring backwards compatibility to PS4.
Not only does the Xbox One have features and functionality that can't be found or delivered on competing platforms, but the console has a bigger lineup of exclusives than anyone else, Tsunoda said. "We've got a lot more exclusive games than any other platform," he stated.
Some of Microsoft's biggest upcoming Xbox One exclusives for this year include Halo 5: Guardians, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Fable Legends and Forza Motorsport 6. Looking into next year and beyond, Microsoft has Quantum Break, Sea of Thieves, Recore and Inside, among others.
Sony, on the other hand, has admitted that its first-party games lineup for this year is "a little sparse."
What do you make of Tsunoda's statements? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
