Zune to Tackle Games...Eventually

Speaking to reporters at CES in Las Vegas this week, Microsoft Entertainment & Devices corporate VP Peter Moore stated that its Zune portable media player will gain gaming capabilities, reports Bloomberg. The catch is that the functionality isn't promised to make it into the Zune line until some time in the next 18 months--in other words, by July 2008. Moore claimed that Zune will offer a "better way" to play games, but apparently did not go into detail on the matter. "I love the interface, I love the screen," said Moore on Zune. It is unclear if Microsoft plans to enter the full-fledged gaming market currently dominated by Nintendo DS, PSP, and Game Boy Advance, but it seems unlikely at this stage. Last year, Moore commented that a portable device from Microsoft was likely to use the Xbox brand. Zune seems to be positioned squarely against Apple, suggesting that Microsoft may have less interest in moving full steam into high-end portable game development. The mainstream market crucial to the success of portable media devices may be better served by more casual and accessible game offerings, with which Microsoft has seen great success in both its Xbox Live Arcade and Games for Windows initiatives. Microsoft Game Studios has, however, supported both Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS with titles from first-party studio Rare as well as from third party developers. Microsoft executives have also expressed their desire to see features such as phone functionality, wireless video sharing, and large flash drives make their way to the Zune line over time.