Xbox may give up profits to boost Play Anywhere, as most devs prefer Steam or PS Store

Xbox Play Anywhere can be a convenience to multiplatform gamers on consoles, handhelds, and PC. However, Microsoft has struggled to convince developers to embrace the feature. Insider Moore’s Law Is Dead has heard that the company is now offering a greater profit share to cooperative studios.

With ROG Xbox Ally sales flat, Microsoft is encouraging devs to optimize titles for the Windows handheld. Although it’s not guaranteed, ideally, Play Anywhere games perform acceptably on lower-powered devices. To this end, supporters will reportedly now receive a “higher revenue share for the first million dollars in sales” made on the Windows Store.

After talking with studios, the YouTuber believes the company has an ulterior motive. Many creators are hesitant to publish their projects on the marketplace. Instead, they gravitate toward Steam, which has a massive following. The PS Store is also a more appealing way to target players. Yet, without convincing skeptics, the new Xbox console may fail.

How does Play Anywhere factor into Helix?

According to MLID, it “seems like more groundwork is being laid” for Project Helix. Although the hybrid system is expected to run on a version of Windows, Xbox Play Anywhere will still play a role. The leaker earlier reported that the GDK unveiled at GDC 2026 gives the option to code exclusively for Helix. PC compatibility requires minimal extra work, but it’s not a requirement.

Microsoft hopes that most games will boot on Helix, handheld gaming PCs, and various Windows devices. What’s unclear is whether Steam and other rivals will be welcome. In any scenario, the company wants to lure publishers to its own storefront. Apparently, it’s so eager that it’s willing to sacrifice earnings to convince partners.

Xbox may find the task difficult, even with over 1000+ Play Anywhere games. That’s only a fraction of the titles sold on Valve’s marketplace and Sony’s PS Store. Besides less exposure, some devs are hesitant to maintain another version of a game with unique cross-platform features.