Phil Spencer says Microsoft "lost our way with PC gaming"

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Phil Spencer made a fun appearance the PC Gaming Show tonight, where he took a bit of a low-key approach as he discussed Microsoft's plans for the future of gaming on Windows 10.

One of the first things Spencer did was acknowledge that, despite its promises over the years, Microsoft hasn't always been a great champion of mouse-and-keyboard warriors. "There have been times in our past where Microsoft has maybe lost our way with PC gaming," he said. But the coming launch of Windows 10 provides it an opportunity to address some of those shortcomings: The free Windows 10 upgrade offer is intended to get the operating system onto as many PCs as possible, which will help simplify the process of creating games.

He also revealed that the fighting game Killer Instinct is coming to the PC as well. "We're going to bring Killer Instinct to the PC," he said, "and we're going to allow people to play on PC, to play on console, to play back and forth."

Spencer didn't say whether that was a reference to the possibility of cross-platform play, or when the PC version of Killer Instinct will launch, but it's coming—and that's a start.

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.