Xbox has changed a lot in recent years. So much so that it has even stopped prioritizing the sale of consoles to bet on a strategy in which they want to bring the Xbox ecosystem to all types of devices. The shift made during this time has provoked criticism and reaction even from veteran Microsoft executives who have spent a lot of time in Redmond. one of them is Mike Ybarra, former president of Blizzardwho in recent days has once again offered his perspective on Xbox and the industry.

Is Valve a competitor to PlayStation?

A Bloomberg report was the reason why Ybarra decided to give his opinion on Xbox, PlayStation and Steam. In this information, journalist Jason Schreier pointed out that sony has decided reduce the number of ports of their games single player to pc on Steam. Ybarra reacted on They see Valve as a new and great competitor. Valve is going to reach the salons,” he points out.

Ybarra comments that Valve will debut “in the console market with the Steam Machine and probably with third-party variants running SteamOS.” The former manager considers that Sony’s decision is a calculated strategic response to a new competitor. That its exclusive games are ported to PC and end up being played in a living room with Steam Machine is the same scenario that it shares with PlayStation in the living room.

All of this is closely related to the next Xbox, which aims to be a hybrid between a PC and a console with access to Steam and other digital stores. This would also further dilute PlayStation’s exclusive catalog if its games continue to come to PC. On the other hand, he points out that the Steam Machine should not be underestimated in terms of price since it should cost at least $500, but could be worth considerably more when it goes on sale. The Valve advantages are difficult to replicate on consoles: refund policy, sharing games as a family or not paying to play games online.

Ybarra says popular games like Valorant or Fortnite will not be compatible with Steam OS due to its anti-cheat systems, which could limit the platform’s reach among younger audiences. The former president of Blizzard thinks that Xbox was PlayStation’s direct rival for decades and has now is no longer a platform that worries Sony. His place is now occupied by Valve, at least that’s what he thinks.

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