Microsoft Bringing More Xbox Games to PlayStation and Nintendo

Microsoft Bringing More Xbox Games to PlayStation and Nintendo

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has confirmed that Xbox first-party games will “continue to extend” to PlayStation and Nintendo.
  • The CEO’s statement refutes a recent rumor alleging a slowdown in Xbox first-party ports for PS5.
  • Some Xbox franchises could still be off the table for PlayStation and Nintendo, depending on Microsoft’s belief in future consoles.

As a gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve witnessed the rise and fall of many gaming giants. The latest news about Xbox games making their way to rival platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo has me both intrigued and a tad skeptical.


It appears that Microsoft has indicated that exclusive games developed by Xbox will still be distributed to competitors such as PlayStation and Nintendo. A recent speculation hinted at a potential reduction in the frequency of Xbox’s multiplatform game ports, but comments from Microsoft’s CEO seem to contradict this assumption.

Since Xbox started its multiplatform strategy in early 2024, there’s been a constant stream of speculation about which exclusive games might also appear on PlayStation and Nintendo. The rumors stretch from smaller Xbox titles like Towerborne possibly going multiplatform, to even the highly-anticipated Gears of War: E-Day potentially launching on PS5. As of now, four Xbox first-party games have been released on PS5, with Doom: The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle set to join them in 2025 for PlayStation users.

Despite a claim by Xbox insider eXtas1s that the negative response to the PS5 version of Indiana Jones may have delayed future Sony portings of Xbox first-party games, this speculation was swiftly refuted – even by Microsoft itself. In fact, in his latest annual letter discussing Microsoft’s fiscal year 2024, CEO Satya Nadella emphasized the triumph of the initial four titles from Xbox’s multiplatform venture – including Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Pentiment, and Hi-Fi Rush – and hinted at continued expansion of their content across new platforms.

Microsoft is Very Pleased With Xbox Games on PlayStation and Nintendo

It appears that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has put Microsoft under pressure to generate returns on their investment, leading to an increased likelihood of continued publication of Xbox first-party games on rival platforms. The success of “Sea of Thieves” on PS5 suggests that Microsoft may continue to release multiplatform ports, a decision that is not unexpected given the circumstances. However, it remains unclear which specific Xbox franchises will remain exclusive to Xbox and be closed off to PlayStation and Nintendo.

In summary, we’ve introduced four top picks from our library onto the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation for the very first time. This is part of our ongoing strategy to broaden our offerings across various platforms.

One could argue that the potential boundaries for games available across multiple platforms might be clearly defined by the popular first-party franchises such as Halo, Gears, and Forza. These were key titles in making Xbox a household name during the 360 era. However, whether these divisions will actually occur depends on Microsoft’s confidence in future Xbox hardware. If they believe their rumored next-generation consoles could still capture a significant market share, they might restrict some first-party franchises from competing with PlayStation and Nintendo. In contrast, if Microsoft doubts the success of their next-gen console lineup, they may lean towards relying on third-party publishers instead.

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2024-10-26 18:54