Former Sony exec Shawn Layden, who has never been shy about sharing his thoughts on one-time nemesis, Xbox, says Microsoft is incredibly well-positioned to become a multiplatform powerhouse like SEGA, provided the company ditches those pesky consoles.

An interview podcast we find ourselves increasingly citing, one that continues to get knowledgeable and interesting guests, Layden appeared on Kiwi Talkz (thanks VGC) and explained his thinking on Microsoft's battle plan: "Multiplatform is a strategy, particularly in a world where the cost of development is increasing so dramatically. What does it do to their brand? It makes the conversation harder to create FOMO (fear of missing out); you’re trying to do that by bringing everyone to your platform by saying, 'If you’re not here, you’re missing out,' but if it’s available on all platforms, that’s one of the marketing tactics you can’t use."

The path Microsoft has apparently chosen for Xbox is not without precedent: "We’ve seen it before. I was in the business when SEGA brought their Dreamcast titles to PS2. In time, SEGA became a software-only company with a great transformation, so it has historical precedence."

What do you think? Could you see Xbox one day occupying a SEGA-like position in the industry, known for its beloved gaming IPs, such as Sonic, Persona, and Yakuza/ Like a Dragon, rather than hardware? Let us know in the comments section below.

[source youtu.be]