During Microsoft's Xbox One event on May 21, the company spent a lot of time showcasing the new game console's TV integration capabilities. And while its living room box ambitions are clear, it only briefly hinted at connectivity between the new Xbox One and Windows Phones like the Lumia series.
As Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi demonstrated, smartphones will be able to connect to Xbox One so that users can perform certain activities (ordering movie tickets was one example shown). Windows Phone wasn't mentioned by name, and while it's unlikely Microsoft will keep devices from competing products from connecting, it's possible that Windows-branded devices like the Lumia line-up will be capable of heavier integration.
After all, the Xbox One is running some form of Windows 8, and that seems like it'll give Microsoft a chance to have apps from the Windows Store running on the system itself. But will it happen? PC Mag asked Microsoft's Senior Marketing Manager Greg Sullivan about Xbox One / Windows Phone integration, and here's what he had to say on the matter:
"Is there anything I can say? No. It doesn't mean there's nothing that's being worked on. There's some time between now and the delivery of Xbox One. It is true that the general idea of an increased seamlessness and integration across these elements is a goal."
As PC Mag points out, Windows Phone has an Xbox-branded media store and games that can be used to accumulate gamer points and check into Xbox Live, and it's hard to imagine Microsoft not taking advantage of the connection in the future.
There's even the possibility that the Xbox One's streaming video and music services could be extended to work on Windows Phones. But on that topic, too, Sullivan wasn't talking.
"I would offer up Windows Phone as evidence of great cross-divisional collaboration at Microsoft," he said. "Are we where we'll ultimately be? No, and we'll continue to improve it."
In June, Microsoft will be holding its Build conference, where its expected to unveil more information on the Windows 8.1 update, Windows Phones, and new tablets in the Surface series. There have been rumors in the past indicating that Microsoft is thinking about integrating their tablets with the Xbox in some way, and the Build event seems like a good time to expect more info on mobile/Xbox connectivity.
