Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade has long been a bastion for independent developers and young startups to push their games to the masses. Dozens of enormously popular independent games may have never existed if not for the Arcade platform. However, XBLA simply doesn’t represent the future of gaming, and Microsoft seems to know it.

Microsoft’s Michael Wolf recently went on the record regarding the future of XBLA. His take is simple: there isn’t a future of XBLA. This isn’t to say that Microsoft will stop hosting indie games, just that the increasing prominence of digital distribution, especially on AAA titles, indicates that the “Arcade” distinction will soon be unfitting for service’s titles.

Here’s Wolf’s full quote on whether XBLA will be phased out, for the sake of clarity:

“Personally, I'd say absolutely, yes. I think digital distribution has to be like that. I don't think XBLA will be leaving soon. It is an incredible platform. We have XBLA fans, I don't think it's going to be announced anytime soon. One thing Microsoft has proven is that we continue to try and adapt and innovate in experiences.”

Essentially, Wolf is saying that as the market shifts to digital distribution, Live Arcade will just be one more facet of game delivery instead of a separate, targeted service.

What do you think? Is the Live Arcade distinction destined to expire?

[Game Informer]

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