Microsoft at E3: Xbox maker suggests streaming will replace consoles

When you think of Microsoft, you probably think of Word or Windows first; omnipresent computer software that, despite its usefulness, does not elicit enormous excitement. At E3 each year, the video games industry's biggest event, Microsoft packs out a stadium-sized room with fans for its annual press conference, many of whom have travelled from all over the world. People are passionate about Xbox and its games – Minecraft, Halo, Gears of War – in a way that nobody is about Microsoft Office. Microsoft's most senior figures appear to have woken up to this relatively recently. Phil Spencer, who ran Xbox's game development studios for years, was made executive vice-president of gaming within the company in September 2017.