Xbox ‘reconsiders’ multiplatform approach, may pull future games from PS5

Asha Sharma has been in charge of Xbox for just a couple of months at this point but we are already starting to see some significant changes. For starters, last year's Game Pass price hikes have been reversed. Next on the agenda is a re-evaluation of how Xbox handles exclusives. 

For decades, Xbox copied the likes of Sony and Nintendo by offering first-party exclusive games only playable on its console. Over the past couple of years, as operating costs mounted following a string of high-profile studio and publisher acquisitions, Microsoft opted to start shipping its newer first-party games on competing consoles like the PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

At this point, the three biggest Xbox franchises, Halo, Forza and Gears of War, are all going to be playable on PlayStation starting this year. Other major games like Fable are already in the works for PS5 as well. This puts Xbox in an awkward position for the next console generation, as fewer people will be looking to buy an Xbox for exclusives and will instead opt for a PS5, or a gaming PC.

Sharma and the new Xbox leadership team may look to address. In a recent message to the team, the new Xbox head said that they will “reevaluate” the approach to exclusive games.

While this may result in fewer first-party Xbox titles coming to PlayStation or Nintendo platforms, it will not have an impact on PC. Microsoft still views PC gaming as a core part of its strategy and will continue to improve the Xbox PC app in an effort to compete with Steam.

KitGuru Says: Do you think Xbox should go back to shipping exclusive games? 

 

Become a Patron!