Well-known journalist and insider Jez Cordon reports that Microsoft is seriously considering making games available as exclusives again in the future.
Many years ago, it was still unimaginable,that Microsoft games could ever run on a Sony console. That has since changed. Although with some delay, Microsoft has opened up to the PlayStation, andForza Horizon 6is even set to release on the PS5 this year. Games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Doom: The Dark Ages have also made it to the PlayStation.
But that might soon be over. Journalist Jez Corden, who is known to have very good connections within the Microsoft ecosystem, spoke on the Xbox Two Podcast about internal discussions at Microsoft regarding the value of exclusive game offerings on the Xbox. Here’s the quote:
“There are very, very, very big discussions going on about the whole exclusivity thing.”
If this is true and if Microsoft were to deviate from its current approach, it could have drastic consequences for many gamers. For example, it could mean that Skyrim fans would have to wait significantly longer for The Elder Scrolls 6 than they already do, if they want to play the RPG on a PlayStation.
More exclusivity at Microsoft again?
According to Corden, the debates at Microsoft are primarily about the question of what kind of company they actually want to be. Does Xbox see itself more as a platform, or more as an ecosystem for games? Has it perhaps become more of a traditional publisher in the meantime?
All these questions are currently being asked, likely because the Xbox leadership recently underwent a complete overhaul. As a reminder:Phil Spencer stepped down at the beginning of the year, and Asha Sharma has now taken his place. But even more has changed.
At Xbox, the so-called margin pressure has been lifted, or at least reduced. Under Spencer, there were reportedly still enormous expectations regarding Xbox’s profit margins, which were a reason for expanding games to the PlayStation, where more buyers could be reached. However, Microsoft has now realized that this approach harmed the company’s long-term health.
Without the margin pressure, it seems more realistic again to pull back from the PlayStation and leverage the appeal of major brands to keep the Xbox attractive. It’s already known that a new Xbox is in the works.It’s currently being called Project Helix.
Games with such appeal include Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls titles. According to Corden, single-player games in particular would be ideal as exclusive titles. He also counts the new Fable among them—there are currently rumors that Microsoft is delaying the role-playing game until 2027.
Whether such games will truly become completely exclusive or at least avoid the PlayStation for longer than before is, of course, completely unclear.Especially since there is still no official decision on which direction Xbox is actually heading in the future.
Another factor could be that Sony is also currently striving for more exclusivity again and appears to be giving up on its PC ports.
A lot of movement
Above all, however, all these discussions are yet another sign that a lot is happening behind the scenes at Xbox and Microsoft. The company is under scrutiny, and everything Xbox is currently doing is being closely examined.
This includes Game Pass. We already know that the new Xbox head finds the service too expensive. That’s why ideas are currently being tossed around on how to change that. For example, by further splitting up Game Pass and excluding a title like Call of Duty from the standard offering to lower the price again.
The future of Xbox remains exciting in any case.
