One of Xbox’s founding members believes that Microsoft’s multiplatform strategy signals trouble for its hardware division.

In June, Microsoft announced collaborations with companies like Asus, Meta, and AMD, raising questions about the future of its Xbox hardware. The ROG Ally in particular points toward a future where Xbox becomes more of a Windows-powered portable PC that supports games from platforms like Steam. Laura Fryer, one of the first employees at Microsoft Game Studios, shared her thoughts in a recent video discussing this shift.

Fryer worked on titles like Gears of War, served as director of the Xbox Advanced Technology Group, and later became CEO at WB Games Seattle and Epic Games Seattle. In her latest video, she expresses concern about the Xbox Anywhere initiative, which she sees as more of a branding effort than a meaningful evolution—and a potential sign that Microsoft is exiting the hardware business.

She describes the ROG Xbox Ally as marketing without substance. “As one of Xbox’s founding team members, I’m not happy with where things are headed. It’s hard watching the value we built fade away. Xbox looks unwilling—or unable—to build its own hardware anymore. This ROG Ally partnership feels like a quiet, total withdrawal. I believe Xbox hardware is dead. The idea seems to be getting everyone on Game Pass. And let’s be fair—Game Pass has real value. Maybe that’s why The Outer Worlds 2 is priced at $80…”

Fryer points out that Xbox still has a strong back catalog. “The Oblivion remake was a huge success, and they can keep licensing older games. But what’s the long-term plan? Where are the next big hits? What will make Xbox relevant 25 years from now?” She said she’s excited about Clockwork Revolution but unsure if it’s enough. “Next year is Xbox’s 25th anniversary, so maybe they’ve got some major announcements planned. Maybe that’ll be the year when everything becomes clear. Until then, we wait and see.”

Microsoft continues to pursue a multiplatform strategy for first-party titles while still promising a next-gen Xbox. Future devices may follow a ROG Ally-like hybrid approach.

Source: VGC