Microsoft to invest in Battle.net to compete with Steam

Microsoft intends to increase investment in the Battle.net platform to compete more effectively with Steam. During an internal meeting on October 6, Xbox head Asha Sharma noted that the launcher reaches a specific audience that Microsoft struggles to engage through other channels.

Sharma highlighted that Battle.net maintains player retention levels nearly as high as Steam, despite Microsoft having previously invested minimal resources into the platform. Since the acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, Microsoft has identified the potential to leverage the loyal Blizzard player base to expand its PC gaming business.