At a recent Spring Showcase held by Microsoft, Phil Spencer, the head of the company's Xbox division, announced that Microsoft is planning to unify both platforms into one ecosystem running Universal Windows Applications (UWAs). What does this almost fake sounding acronym mean for console and PC users? Well, a potential situation where a purchased game could either be played on a Windows 10 capable PC, an Xbox One, or even a supped up version of the Xbox One aimed at hardcore gamers.

With the Xbox One becoming a Windows 10 powered device late last year, and the recent announcement of Forza Motorsport 6: Apex for Windows 10, and buyer of the upcoming Quantum Breaks getting access to both Xbox One and Windows 10 versions, it looks like Microsoft is taking some serious steps to unify these two seemingly distinct platforms. In the case of Forza 6: Apex, the entire Forza engine was recently ported over to become a UWA, meaning that any future title in the series could conceivably run on both Windows 10 and Xbox One platforms. This news of UWAs and UWPs is also something that could lead to some very simple backwards capability for the Xbox platform. Which would be a key component of any hardware upgrade for the Xbox One, which Spencer also hinted at.

We believe we will see more hardware innovation in the console space than we’ve ever seen, with new hardware capability during a generation that allows the same games to run backwards and forward compatible because we have UWAs running on top of UWP. It allows us to focus on hardware innovation without invalidating the games that run on that platform.

We can effectively feel a little bit more like what we see on PC where I can still go back and run my old Quake and Doom games, but then I can also see the best 4K games coming out. Hardware innovation continues and software takes advantage. I don’t have to jump generation and lose everything I played before.

In the presentation Spencer went on discuss the importance of Windows 10 and the PC platform to Microsoft's future, and the Xbox brand.

PC gaming is as important as its ever been in the company. Windows is a critical franchise. Over 40% of the people running Windows 10 are playing games. We want to work hand in hand with our partners to make sure we have the best platform we can have. Everything we do on any device is being driven by the Xbox team, and that team is 100% committed to success on every platform gamers want to play on. The gamer is at the center of every decision we make.

But as they say the proof will be in or around the pudding. And being Microsoft, a lot of people are justifiably skeptical. After all, how can we forget that thing called Games for Windows. But with UWA tools readily available and publishing on the Windows Store not all that difficult, and with Microsoft leading the way with titles like Forza, Quantum Break, and Gears of War, we could be looking at the beginning of a large shift for Microsoft and Xbox.