Gamescom is underway, showcasing some incredible games, and many of Xbox’s games, over the next few days! However, comments from the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, has the Xbox community in a tizzy as the future of exclusive games becomes a little more dim.
The Background Story
During an interview with Xbox President Sarah Bond, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer and Charleyy from Xbox On, a segment of the interview focused on a particular question:
How [does] this (Xbox exclusives on PlayStation platform) connect back to Xbox’s perspective on how and when this approach happens to other titles?
-Charleyy, Xbox On
The answer given by Xbox’s Phil Spencer boiled down to the Xbox strategy. While discussing the Xbox console player count is as high as ever, he also mentioned there’s immense pressure on the gaming industry. Because of this, there will be change on how games are delivered and which platforms they get delivered to.
Well.
The Xbox community didn’t like this answer.
But why, when this has really been the strategy for quite some time? This harkens back to the initial outcry from Xbox fans. Back in 2019, Sea of Thieves went from Xbox exclusive to PlayStation not long after release.
So what’s been spurring this controversy recently? At Gamescom 2024, it was announced that Machine Games’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will NOT be a full Xbox exclusive. Instead, Indiana Jones will be a timed exclusive. This means it’ll be releasing on Xbox and PC on December 9, 2024 and then PlayStation stores in Spring 2025. It was previously stated by the head of Xbox that the game would be only on Xbox along with Starfield; both of which are now becoming multi-platform games.
Xbox’s Strategy?
Ever since the blunders of revealing the Xbox One, it’s no secret that Xbox has been playing second fiddle to PlayStation for the better part of a decade. Timing of announcements, failed expectations from releases such as Halo Infinite and a move away from exclusivity has lengthened the lead PlayStation has.
But why? It’s simple; whether we as Xbox fans and gamers don’t want it, the company strategy is changing. The last part of Xbox CEO Phil Spencer’s comments in their interview really gave insight on what exactly Xbox is planning to do. Which is to bring some exclusives to other platforms; essentially to make Xbox a common brand for any hardware to run.
Their want to expand their ecosystem seems derived from a variety of data telling them to do so. Business-wise, It sounds like a no brainer. Increasing pressure to balance overhead and developments costs AND make a profit for your parent company? Gotta expand outside your zone. Pair this with an upcoming mobile store to compete with Apple, you can see their focus is stretched EVERYWHERE.
However.
What may be overlooked is how long-time Xbox fans and the community feels cast aside from this shift. By shifting focus and strategy on building the ecosystem, less attention is given to hardware. For a publisher who had previous issues with getting Baldur’s Gate 3 and more recently Black Myth: Wukong up and running on their platform compared to competitors, it’s seen as a lack of care and importance to the console. Does that convince me to purchase a $300-$500 console? Absolutely not. That’s an investment I’d rather put in a console or towards games in other environments at that point.
Another issue grating against the Xbox community is a general lack of clarity on the future of Xbox gaming. It seems like one day, it’s hardware centric; the next, it’s eschewing exclusivity for the sake of expanding the player base to other consoles. Windows Central’s Jez Corden gives a thorough breakdown of why exactly trust in Xbox has been diminished over time. It boils down this lack of clarity and the long-term strategy going against the wishes of Xbox gamers.
The Future Outlook
The solution: there’s isn’t a clearly defined one to go with. On one hand, Xbox is doing what it thinks is best for the business – to continue to provide products and services to its user base. On the other, by doing so in their way, the user base feels left out and unattended to. Maybe Xbox needs to layout a five-year roadmap to alleviate fears and concerns? Maybe they need to regroup and rethink about communication strategies? Or, maybe they could take a look at PlayStation and Nintendo’s success in pushing out their hardware.
The monthly sales for Xbox for the first four years of hardware life paled in comparison to that of the PlayStation 5 and Switch. Part of which could’ve been the split between the Series S and X. Many people were frustrated that multiple games this generation would be held back because of the lesser powered Series S. The lack of power led to the Xbox version of Baldur’s Gate 3 unable to launch in time with the other platforms. All this to say, the lack of clearly communicated vision for hardware is frustrating to say the least.
Personally, I feel that Xbox may have good, business reasons for their direction. I understand that, really. But when it nearly alienates the consumers they claim to care for passionately, it rings up as hollow and vapid. As a long-time Xbox fan (since the OG console), I’ve appreciated the memories they’ve helped me make and the iconic games they’ve published. But I can’t say that I’ve not been somewhat concerned about their strategy and message over the last few years.
Growing pressure in the gaming industry is probably a large factor, with Xbox trying to get ahead of the curve in their own way. Times are changing, and maybe it’s in fact the gamers ourselves who need to adapt to these changes. Maybe it’s time we take off the blinders and shift mindsets of having to need a console.
While GamePass is a great offering, I find myself being more selective with my time, as many games now have become time sinks with passes and seasons (oh my god I feel so old saying these things). I’d rather have the focus back to making great, memorable gaming experiences over convenience to play Halo Infinite on my Chromebook (although that’s been pretty sweet too).
All in all, we’ll see how each companies’ strategies play out between Xbox and PlayStation. I hope Xbox can course correct to earn back some consumer sentiment, but it’s still the same decade-old hill they need to keep climbing.
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