Microsoft has already announced that its Xbox Live online gaming service will be a part of Windows 8 when it ships later in 2012, but is the company also thinking about bringing the service over to non-Microsoft platforms? That seems to be what a statement from an unnamed Microsoft spokesperson indicates.
Forbes.com reports that the Microsoft statement says:
While the Xbox Live experiences and games always work best on the Windows platform, we understand that some Xbox fans may be using other types of devices. To satisfy that need, we are working to extend a few of our Xbox experiences and titles to other platforms.
Microsoft has already released at least one Xbox 360 game, Kinectimals, for Apple"s iOS devices. However, that release was a stand alone product and did not allow any direct connection to Microsoft"s Xbox Live service, other than allowing users who own both the iOS and the Xbox 360 version to unlock five new animals for the Xbox 360 port.
If Microsoft does bring Xbox Live to the iOS, Mac, and Android platforms, it could mean that users will be able do things such as unlock Xbox Live achievements and add them to their Xbox Live Gamertag total, just like they can when they play Xbox 360 and Games for Windows Live titles. They could even possibly chat with Xbox 360 players via their iOS or Android smartphone.