Microsoft confirms Xbox Live integration with Windows 8

Mike Delman, VP of global marketing at Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business group has said the company plans on integrating Xbox Live into Windows 8 as an entertainment service.

Speaking in an interview with the Seattle Times, Delman said Windows 8 integration along with Windows Phones will make Live "the primary entertainment service."

"I think that's going to be a good play for us," he said. "If we have that and the PCs to leverage, that will be a big Live base. It's our job to make [it to where you can] 'buy a movie in one place and play it everywhere, buy a game in one place and play it everywhere.' Making things portable will be a big focus of ours."

As far has how the services and content will be part of Windows 8 is concerned, Delman said there will be a "lot of similarities in design and service philosophy."

"Whether it's us or Apple or anybody else, people want to be able to navigate through multiple devices in a certain ecosystem very seamlessly so we're committed to that," he said. "Xbox Live will the pervasive media service across devices.

"We have a ton of assets. Unifying the assets will be good for us and good for consumers."

Windows 8 is expected to be released next year, with a possible full reveal during Consumer Electronics Show in January 2012.

[pic]