Is Microsoft already losing interest in exclusives?
Over the course of the past few years, Microsoft has been working tirelessly to acquire large game publishers in order to expand its catalog of exclusive titles. On the other hand, a recent report says that the Xbox manufacturer might try to rethink its tactics. There is a possibility that Microsoft will transform many brands into multiplatform affairs rather than providing content that is exclusive to its system. It would be a significant turnaround for Microsoft, and it would be an indication that much more significant changes could be coming to Xbox.
Reports from the previous week suggested that Microsoft would release Starfield for PlayStation 5, despite the fact that the company had previously stated that the game will continue to be exclusive to Xbox. In spite of the fact that Starfield is not developing into the blockbuster franchise that Microsoft and Bethesda had thought it would be, it makes sense for them to give up exclusivity in order to broaden the player base. Nevertheless, the speculations are not going to end there.
Additional Xbox games, such as Hi-Fi Rush, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and others, are reportedly on their way to the PlayStation 5 (PS5), according to more recent sources. The amount and frequency of these leaks hint that something is happening within the Xbox division, despite the fact that Microsoft has not made any public announcements regarding the matter.
During the most recent regulatory battles that Microsoft competed in, the company conceded that the Xbox has constantly lagged behind the competitors. In an effort to remedy this issue, Microsoft attempted to replicate Sony’s success by acquiring well-known brands and ensuring that they were unique to its console. By acquiring Bethesda in 2021, along with its parent firm ZeniMax, Microsoft was able to gain ownership of a number of games, including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and now Starfield. A more recent development is that Microsoft has completed the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which would have provided it with control over Diablo, Starcraft, and most critically, Call of Duty.
Sony’s opposition to the transaction was so strong that it was actively challenged by the company, filing briefs with authorities all over the world and making several public remarks. The potential of Microsoft making Call of Duty an Xbox exclusive was so alarming. Ultimately, it was successful in obtaining a promise that Call of Duty would continue to be available on Sony platforms for at least ten more years. It is possible that Microsoft has made the decision to expand their audience and expand their reach, given the PlayStation 5 has sold a far greater number of copies than the Xbox. That would not be without precedent, as the firm currently makes it possible for gamers to access a significant number of its titles through cloud gaming. That is correct, even if you do not have an Xbox. It is possible that the availability of titles via Game Pass on the first day of release is having a negative impact on the sales of these exclusive games.
According to the information that we have, at least some Xbox exclusive games are going to migrate to several platforms. To determine whether or not this is a new trend for Microsoft, we will have to wait and see. If Microsoft decides to release The Elder Scrolls VI on PlayStation 6, we will know that the company is giving up on doing exclusives.