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Online distribution is "right horse" to back, says Xbox Europe boss

Speaking in the Guardian, Xbox Europe head Neil Thompson has pushed online distribution yet again as the future of digital content, saying the disc formats will be a nonsense within 18 months time.

"The horse that we're fundamentally backing is the one that says the future of entertainment content is online digital distribution," he said. "I would argue that we backed the right horse.

"If we're sitting here in 12 or 18 months time, we'll be saying 'why were people even thinking about a disc format when it's really about digital distribution?' Our strategy's been developed for the last six or seven years, and ever since we launched the platform it [online content] has been our big, big, big bet."

Rarely shy with his words, Thompson explicity attacked Sony in the piece, claiming they're struggling with their online services on PS3.

"I think it's much less significant than the transition from VHS to DVD," he added. "The fact that Sony are desperately trying to deliver an online offering means they probably understand that there's another front they have to develop for."

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Patrick Garratt

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Patrick Garratt is a games media legend - and not just by reputation. He was named as such in the UK's 'Games Media Awards', the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award. After garnering experience on countless gaming magazines, he joined Eurogamer and later split from that brand to create VG247, putting the site on the map with fast, 24-hour a day coverage, and assembling the site's earliest editorial teams. He retired from VG247, and the games industry, in 2017.

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