Report: Xbox Console Game Exclusives Will Be The Exception Moving Forward

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As a long-time gamer with memories of playing Super Mario on NES and Uncharted on PS3, I can’t help but feel a tinge of nostalgia as I watch the gaming landscape evolve. The days of console exclusives are gradually fading away, and while some might view this change with skepticism, I see it as a step towards inclusivity in the world of gaming.

In the past, unique games were what made a console stand out. For instance, Nintendo had Mario, Sony had Uncharted, while Microsoft had Halo. However, today, Xbox is breaking away from this pattern by releasing games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which are first-party titles also available on other platforms such as PlayStation 5.

As per a report by Windows Central’s Jez Corden, it seems that first-party Xbox games are likely to become less exclusive in the future, appearing on other platforms more frequently.

This year at The Game Awards, we’ve already witnessed a similar scenario: _The Outer Worlds 2_, initially a console exclusive from Obsidian Entertainment, was announced as coming to PlayStation. However, _Avowed_, another game being developed by Obsidian, remains an Xbox exclusive – for the time being.

Additionally, Corden expresses his belief that opting for console exclusivity with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was an error in judgment.

What the Future of Xbox Looks Like

The start is merely the first step. Notably, popular titles such as Halo and Gears of War are anticipated to make their way onto PlayStation systems. This aligns with the recent Xbox marketing slogan, “Anything that plays games is an Xbox.

For years, Spencer has dreamed about establishing a gaming space that allows players to enjoy Xbox games across various devices, such as Xbox consoles, PCs, clouds, or even rival platforms. Many found it hard to believe when Microsoft decided to spend approximately $70 billion on purchasing Activision and keeping “Call of Duty” on PlayStation hardware. However, this is exactly what they chose to do. It’s worth noting that “Call of Duty” was previously available on multiple platforms. To some gamers, the idea of the next “Halo” game appearing on PS5 feels like a violation of tradition.

Here’s the thing, though: We’ve seen plenty of cases of the console exclusive strategy backfiring across the industry, not just with Microsoft and Xbox. Square Enix was disappointed earlier this year in the sales of Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, two console-exclusive games for PlayStation 5. A PC version of Final Fantasy XVI was released in September of this year, after the May 2024 financial results mentioned in the previously linked story. A PC version of Rebirth is due out early next year. There are currently no plans for an Xbox version of either game.

Fans have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with the pace at which Sony releases console-exclusive games, but it’s great to finally see “The Last of Us Part II” come out for PC, a full four years after its initial release on PlayStation 4. And let’s not even begin discussing the delay of “Bloodborne.

Indeed, although it might seem unbelievable that we’ll be playing Gears of War and Forza on a PlayStation console, it simply makes good business sense. After all, why restrict your market when there’s no need to?

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2024-12-18 01:08