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As rumour circulate regarding the end of exclusivity for severalXboxtitles , including even heavy hitter likeStarfieldand the upcomingIndiana Jones , the obvious , prompt conclusion is that the Xbox has finally " suffer " the console war — but the fresh approach to exclusivity could also be pointing towards a fault in strategy . Compared to its most direct contender in the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch , the Xbox has been on a down style for the preceding few years , partly owing to a lacking depository library of console table exclusives .
Though the Xbox has historically been home to a firm lineup of exclusive titles , likeHaloandGears of War , the past few years of Xbox releases have n’t quite lived up to the cabinet ’s history , with many of the console ’s more late exclusives , likeStarfield , garner mixed reaction — or , spoiled , set up as arrant disasters , as in the showcase ofRedfall . This is in double-dyed contrast to PlayStation ’s late exclusive releases , which have include critically acclaimed and high - sell game likeGod of War : Ragnarök , Horizon Forbidden West , andSpider - Man 2 , as well as extremely - anticipated approaching title likeFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth .
Xbox might be making a large change with its treatment of first - party games , and the work shift in approach goes beyond anything that ’s legally required .
The (Possible) End Of Xbox Exclusives Points To A Shift In Strategy
Xbox Might Be Ducking Out Of The Console War Entirely
Althoughrumors ostensibly direct towards the end of Xbox , with the potential spill of exclusives likeStarfieldandHi - Fi Rushon the PS5 seemingly marking Xbox ’s " resignation " in the cabinet warfare , the pivot to non - exclusivity may also point to a change in strategy . While the Xbox consoles have been on the decline , the Xbox Game Pass service of process has had the diametric trajectory , becoming massively successful off the back of its Brobdingnagian program library of games and multi - platform availableness . In spitefulness of upcoming Xbox game , like those exhibit in the recent Developer Direct , a strong library of exclusives may not be Xbox ’s gain scheme .
The Xbox Developer_Direct kicked off 2024 with some big updates , include a major gameplay reveal trailer and a sight of detail on upcoming games .
Xbox’s Studio Acquisitions Haven’t Been Enough
Although Xbox might be pivoting from scoop in the near future tense , the past few old age for the console have apparently been full of attempts to build a unassailable program library of Xbox - only game , with a major component of Microsoft ’s scheme being theacquisition of other game exploitation studio . Although the tendency of Microsoft to purchase other studios dates back as far as the former 2000s acquisition of Bungie and Rare , the fellowship ’s more recent streak of purchase start in 2018 , with the acquisition of several notable biz developer , including Ninja Theory and Obsidian Entertainment .
Since 2018 , Microsoft has acquire nine different gambling exploitation studios or company : Playground Games , Compulsion Games , Undead Labs , Ninja Theory , Obsidian Entertainment , and InXile Entertainment in 2018 , Double Fine Productions in 2019 , ZeniMax Media ( Bethesda , Arkane , i d Software , Machine Games , Tango Gameworks , Zenimax Online Studios ) in 2020 , and Activision Blizzard in 2022 .
In the next old age , these initial acquisitions were followed by the purchases of even larger studios , with Microsoft ’s 2020 purchase of Zenimax Media being especially far-famed forbringing Bethesda Game Studios under Xbox ’s wing- presumptively meaning that Bethesda ’s at - the - time upcoming titles likeStarfieldandThe Elder Scrolls VIwould be Xbox undivided , unlike the developer ’s previous multi - platform releases . The acquisition was , ostensibly , a huge victory for Xbox in the console war , vouch the exclusivity of massively popular and successful games .
By far the largest ( and most controversial ) acquisition , though , was Microsoft ’s purchase of Activision Blizzard , which , despite upraise concern from both the FTC in the U.S. and the CMA in the U.K. , was finalise in 2022 . The skill of immense Activision Blizzard franchise , chief among them the ubiquitousCall of Duty , and the potential for them to be made undivided to Microsoft services like Game Pass would lead the CMA to kibosh the deal until Microsoft agree to allot Ubisoft the rights to allow Activision Blizzard games on their own services in the U.K.
The decision in FTC v. Microsoft is historic for the video game industriousness , but for those who do n’t have a police force degree , it can be voiceless to understand .
The Xbox May Not Have A Future As A Physical Console
Despiteconcerns overCall of Duty ’s potential exclusivityaround the time of the buyout , however , Microsoft ’s strategy for Xbox exclusives would n’t have allowed for the game to be limited to certain platform anyway - CoDremains one of the highest - gross medium franchises in the earth , and the possible lucre from make believe it an Xbox exclusive would be far outweighed by the loss of multi - platform sales . As outlined in Microsoft ’s strategy regarding scoop , show on X ( formerly Twitter ) by@Ali_Aldahash , the mass appeal of game likeCall of DutyandMinecraftmakes it more valuable to keep them multi - platform , giving them as wide a range as possible .
As Microsoft ’s strategies seem to shift , however , even games that might previously have been regarded as high - value scoop , likeStarfieldand the upcomingIndiana Jones and the Great Circle , are rumored to be set for eventual multi - platform release , check a potential shift in focus — turning away from the flagging consoles andleaning more towards the ship’s company ’s ascendency of cloud gamingwith Game Pass . A shift in strategy along these lines would likely guide to Microsoft ’s involvement in the gaming manufacture becoming much more heavily focussed on software than computer hardware .
2023 has been a banner year for acclaimed TV biz departure , but 2024 has plenty in store for the Xbox Series X / S consoles , include scoop .
Only Time Will Tell Whether The New Strategy Works
However , while the rumored change in scheme might be the best wager for Microsoft ’s bottom line , it ’s also likely to stir up controversy , with more devoted participants on the Xbox side of the cabinet war decrying the loss of famous exclusive , some of which might be the only cause to actually purchase an Xbox over a PS5 for prospective customers . The cry so far has been enough to prompt a post fromPhil Spencer on X , which promises a " business update event " at a currently unspecified day of the month within the next week .
It ’s important to note , though , that in recent yr , Xbox exclusives have n’t been " sole " in the truest sentiency of the word — while they come along on Xbox consoles like the series X / S , games likeStarfield , Halo Infinite , and evenRedfallhave been playable at launch on personal computer as well , making them fundamentally multi - platform titles . Notably , these game are n’t even limited to Xbox overhaul on PC , being playable through major chopine like Steam . Moreover , even Sony has been seen direct a interchangeable approach to scoop , with major title likeHorizonandGod of Warreceiving delayed releases on PC .
Xbox Series X owners had a great year of picture game releases in 2023 with a plethora to choose from and enjoy , including many award winners .
While Microsoft ’s approach to console and exclusives left the Xbox in a sorry speckle , even after the acquisition of several major game development studios , it ’s arduous to predict how exactly the rumored new scheme will tear apart out . In the most drastic outcome , shifting focus forth from scoop could finally lead to the expiry of the Xbox as a physical console , leaving Sony and Nintendo as the two major cabinet developers result in the manufacture . While it ’s still too early to say if it ’s the goal for the cabinet , Microsoft ’s possible new strategy could lead to a very different future for theXboxbrand .
Sources:@Ali_Aldahash / X,@XboxP3 / ten
