Amid a swirl of internet rumors and speculation, Microsoft just publicly laid out their business plans for a big push toward multi-platform software releases. Through recent announcements and social media posts, the company has continued to carve out a slot as a major third-party publisher on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. So, is this the end of Xbox exclusives? What Xbox games are coming to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch? We have all of that information, plus a bit of speculation on the future, so let’s unpack this recent industry shake-up!
Game-Changing Updates from the Xbox Podcast
In a recent episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, dubbed “Updates on the Xbox Business”, Microsoft laid out their initial plans to take Xbox games multi-platform. Joined by other company leaders, Phil Spencer (CEO of Xbox Gaming) detailed everything we should expect in the future. Most notably, they announced that several Xbox games would be making the jump to competing consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, with the possibility of more in the future.
Thanks to further clarification in a news post on Xbox Wire, we now know which titles will be the first to leave the nest of exclusivity. Firstly, Obsidian Entertainment’s critically acclaimed RPG, Pentiment, is now available on PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as Nintendo Switch. PlayStation 5 owners can look forward to the colorful hack ‘n slash, HiFi Rush, when it releases on March 19. The first-person cooperative survival game, Grounded, will also be popping up on PlayStation consoles and the Nintendo Switch on April 16 with full cross-play support. Finally, Rare’s vibrant multiplayer pirate sandbox, Sea of Thieves, will come to PlayStation 5 on April 30 (also with cross-play support between all platforms).
Despite all the talk of multi-platform business, Microsoft also revealed that big-name Activision/Blizzard games will be included with Xbox Game Pass very soon. After acquiring the publisher in a mammoth $75 billion deal last year, fans have been curious about which of the many established franchises would become available on Microsoft’s landmark subscription service. If all goes to plan, that honor will go to Diablo IV, which is slated to join Xbox Game Pass on March 28.
The Future of First-Party Xbox Games and Consoles
With all the discussion of Xbox games coming to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, some Xbox fans are starting to get anxious about the sanctity of their beloved consoles and first-party content. However, those worries can be laid to rest, as Microsoft has continuously reaffirmed its plans to keep major first-party titles like Halo, Gears of War, and Forza, exclusive to Xbox and PC. Even with those promises, there are still rumblings that Microsoft might go the way of Sega in the 2000s, abandoning their console market in favor of becoming a major publisher instead.
However, as Phil Spencer pointed out in the Xbox podcast, this relinquishment of exclusivity is not particularly new for Microsoft. In 2019, the company released an enhanced version of their first-party game, New Super Lucky’s Tale, on Nintendo Switch, and later on PlayStation consoles in 2020. With the acquisition of ZeniMax Media and various additional publishers as part of the formation of Xbox Games Studios, other first-party games are also widely available on competing consoles, including Doom Eternal, The Elder Scrolls Online, Psychonauts 2, and more.
Overall, Microsoft’s big announcement of multi-platform releases might seem like a crazy plan, but it’s been somewhat exaggerated by hype and internet buzz. In short, four exclusive games will be popping up on PlayStation and Switch, but beyond that, everything else is speculation and rumor. Aside from what has been confirmed and announced, the future of first-party Xbox should remain mostly unchanged. It appears that Microsoft’s core concept with this plan is to simply get their games into the hands of more players, hopefully reinforcing their brand and encouraging competitors to make the leap to Xbox. We’re happy to see some of these fantastic games become available on multiple systems, with hopes that Xbox Game Studios will continue to offer software that drives sales and excitement.
Author:
Matt Owen
As a lifelong gamer and overall media fiend, Matt gets his hands on every new game and watches an unhealthy amount of movies and TV: action, horror, mystery, and sci-fi in particular. When not bingeing on entertainment, he enjoys reading and writing short stories, cooking, and producing video and podcast content.