Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's Xbox division, appears to hold some grand visions for the future of the company's gaming branch.
The executive would love to see Project Scorpio - the upcoming, upgraded iteration to the Xbox One - keep a console-appropriate price point, as well as one day see Nintendo's famous platforming plumber on Xbox, according to an interview by AusGamers.
While discussing the logistics of the souped-up architecture that will be present in Project Scorpio, Spencer remarked that the console is striving for "balance" - particularly the kind that allows the machine to handle true 4K and VR gaming without resorting to prices more commonly attached to similarly-capable PC rigs.
"Like, I want Scorpio to be at a console price-point, I’m not trying to go and compete with a high-end rig," said Spencer, "and because we’re building one spec, we’re able to look at the balance between all the components and make sure that it’s something we really hit that matters to consumers and gamers.”
It's a-me...Microsoft?
Regarding the desire to feature Mario on Xbox hardware, Spencer chalks the possibility up to wishful thinking.
“As someone who’s been in this industry and played games forever, I’ll still say it: Nintendo has the strongest first-party of anybody,” Spencer explains.
“They’re just fantastic and the memories that they have instilled in so many of us, who’ve played their games and had those delightful experiences...having those on Xbox would be great."
Though a pipe dream, to say the least, the Xbox exec points out that the Microsoft-owned Minecraft did make it to Nintendo's Wii U console, along with an exclusive Mario-themed coat of paint to match.
Additionally, Nintendo's recent decision to branch into mobile games, including Mario's iOS debut next week with Super Mario Run, makes the odds of future mashups slim - but not a total impossibility.
