Microsoft appears to be shifting its Xbox focus to software and services, much like the company’s overall efforts. In an interview with Bloomberg , Microsoft’s head of gaming Phil Spencer explains why the company is focusing more closely on game sales, subscriptions, and other gaming services over pure hardware sales. “Now, players are playing the games across every device and we’re connecting those players across all of those devices,” explains Spencer, who was recently promoted to report directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “Obviously for us, the console is an important part there... but connecting to gamers wherever they are is the vision of Microsoft around what we’re doing in gaming.” If that focus on the consumer rather than the hardware sounds familiar, it’s because it’s central to Satya Nadella’s vision for Microsoft. The software giant has been refocusing its efforts in mobile on the reality of how people are using Android and iOS phones instead of Wi...