Microsoft PC chief: Unannounced game aimed at GPU, CPU upgraders

If you thought the new-look Age of Empires meant Microsoft was moving on from PC hardware junkies and into the casual space, think again: Microsoft Game Studios GM Dave Luehmann has confirmed to VG247 that the company is working on at least one game that will “encourage that type of behaviour.”
Asked if Microsoft still planned to cater for those that spend large sums of money to upgrade PC rigs for games, Luehmann confirmed the company is staying with the core.
“There are other products, and I can think of one in particular, that will really encourage that type of behaviour,” he said, speaking in Germany earlier this month.
The exec said that Microsoft’s future PC core offering will be part of a whole range of games designed to ensure the entire spectrum of PC gamers is catered for.
“I think you need to go where your audience is,” he said. “Think of it as a barrier to entry. So, there’s a cost barrier to entry, there’s a hardware requirement barrier to entry. Using web games as an example, think about that funnel, from very, very casual to core MMO players. How do you bring your customers into a funnel, into a relationship with a company and then give them lots of different product offerings?
“If they want to go deeper into that funnel, we’ve got a good option.”
“There’ll be more announcements”
Luehmann confirmed that Microsoft’s commitment to PC as a gaming platform is ongoing, following on from a set of gamescom announcements related to the firm’s PC games.
Microsoft announced Age of Empires Online and Microsoft Flight earlier this month. Fable III has also been confirmed for PC.
“There’ll be more announcements, there’ll be more products over the next 24 months, as there have been rolling up to now,” said the boss.
“We don’t have specific titles that we’re talking about, but there’s more in the development queue than you’ve seen.”
Microsoft may be working on at least one core title, but its thinking to PC gaming in general has changed significantly. Luehmann said that Age of Empires Online in particular – with its connected features, persistence and more casual aesthetic – signified a new approach.
“A $50 product, then two years later another $50 product and maybe an expansion? I think that needs to change,” he said.
“I think that’s a business that’s been successful, and it can still be successful – certainly retail’s still a very valid part of everything that we’re doing – but you can divide that up in a bunch of different ways. You can see micro-transaction games, you can see macro-transaction games: we’re going to experiment.
“We’re going to try to push that model forward and try new ideas, and I think that’s first-party’s job.”
He did say “core MMO players,” right?

23 Comments
Crysis
maybe Marvel Universe online? just to piss off SOE
Grimrita
Proof will be in the eating. Microsoft already succeeded in destroying PC gaming by releasing Vista.
Zonejeu
I don’t think anybody confirmed Alan Wake coming to PC ? Maybe they’ll announce Gears of War 3.
humanfish
‘ere Pat, remember that crazy old DJ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmZQyY-g4z4
He’s back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PMAXdaw-pM
Michael O’Connor
One game?
Oh wow, don’t strain yourself there, Microsoft.
AHA-Lambda
he did say at least one
good grief we might get two!! *faints*
Michael O’Connor
@6 Based on Microsoft’s current output, that would be a record.
freedoms_stain
It’s probably just going to be an exercise to encourage Win7 sales to gamers still holding on to XP.
MS is not the way forward for PC gaming. I would cut their involvement entirely.
The Hindle
Screw PC gaming Microsoft, how about more exclusives for the 360? After Fable 3 there is 6 months till Gears 3 with nothing being released in between.
Edit i meant hardcore
AHA-Lambda
so halo 3 exclusive to windows 7 after everyone is done playing halo reach then?
LOLshock94
wht did vista do
freedoms_stain
@10, you could probably run Halo 3 on the integrated graphics in a 3 year old laptop, how would that attract “cpu and gpu upgraders”.
Hunam
@9
There are a bunch of kinect games between the two, all exclusive obviously.
The Hindle
@13 Yea i meant hardcore imo not this Kinect crap.
AHA-Lambda
better question is what do tey do after gears 3? =/
rainer
Why?? that sort of behavior and market was what dug a whole in the ground for PC gaming in the first place & why such studios moved over to consoles to justify their graphics budgets.
Your better off ignoring the graphics whores and just making a PC good game.
macronia1
That seems good if they announce Alan wake or GOW 2,3
Alan wake was in development for PC .. and they stopped .. may be they will continue
blackdreamhunk
how about screw Microsoft! the gaming Industry is a joke! personally I have out right stop buying a lot of games. I personally hate Microsoft!
from the drm garbage to game devs treating pc gamers and fans like dirt, why should I support them. what is hardware companies now losing money on hard ware?
where is alan wake for pc? right Microsoft does not give a dam about pc gaming or pc gamers! How is epic games trash talking pc gaming how about id software?
DSB
As much as I hate to agree with BDH, he’s right on the money.
I don’t mind buying into third party services that try to be user-friendly, like Steam, but when your intent is to control and inadvertently punish the paying PC customer like GFWL or Ubisoft Online, I’m just not gonna bother.
Either way, if you make a game that starts cutting people off at the quadcore level, you’ve already lost more than 65% of the market.
Good luck with that.
Erthazus
They can fuck off and if they will have Gears Of War 2-3 on the PC than it’s going to be a freakin great idea.
NightCrawler1970
Coca Cola wouldnt be happy when a company use the same txt font, smell a lawsuit comming…
unacomn
Dear Microsoft, how about fixing that big security hole in Games for Windows Live that allows anyone who bought any GFWL game to play any other pirated GFWL game free in multiplayer?
blackdreamhunk
pc vs consoles, pc gaming will destory console every time! best youtube video ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nalmGefcNpk&feature=sub
Comments are now closed on this article.