Ed Fries Says Consoles Remain the Core in Cross-Platform Era

Ed Fries, co-creator of Xbox, and former vice president of game publishing at Microsoft, said consoles remain an essential part of the gaming landscape despite growing platform convergence. Speaking on The Expansion Pass YouTube channel, Fries argued that accessibility and simplicity continue to distinguish consoles from increasingly complex PC gaming setups.

He said he prefers the simplicity of being able to “sit down in my comfy chair” and play on a big TV with a controller, rather than deal with complex PC setups. Building gaming PCs, he added, has become “more like a hobby,” while consoles continue to offer a straightforward experience for a wider audience.

He also dismissed recurring predictions about the decline of dedicated hardware, stating he does not believe “consoles are going away.”

That continued relevance, he argued, aligns with the industry’s broader expansion. “We are (here) 25 years later. We are still making games and having fun, and the business is bigger than ever,” he said. He even noted that the gaming market has grown to nearly $200 billion USD, with roughly 7% year-over-year (YoY) growth.

Fries further stated that gaming has become “an important part of culture” and everyday entertainment.

Platform Convergence Reshapes the Ecosystem Without Replacing Consoles

Fries pointed to Microsoft’s Project Helix as an example of evolving hardware strategies.

He described it as “a really interesting project” with the potential to run both console and PC games, suggesting that convergence may broaden access rather than replace consoles. He also referenced shifting platform relationships, citing Bungie’s cross-platform publishing approach.

It felt unusual to “launch Marathon and see a PlayStation logo” while playing on Xbox, Fries said, pointing to how platform boundaries are becoming less defined. Likewise, Fries’s remarks frame consoles as part of a broader ecosystem where console, PC, and hybrid solutions coexist.

As the gaming business continues to expand and cross-platform strategies become more common, his perspective suggests dedicated consoles will remain central. They also continue to provide an accessible way for players to engage with games.