By Sagar V. Mankar 
As per rumors, Microsoft is reportedly considering making Xbox exclusives like Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush available on other platforms like Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.
Understandably, this has sparked outrage and confusion among loyal Xbox fans.
But should you really care if more Xbox games go multiplatform?
Let’s break it down.
Why Would Microsoft Do This?
On the surface, bringing games like Sea of Thieves to more platforms makes good business sense.
More platforms mean a larger potential audience and more game sales.
With Xbox console sales lagging behind PlayStation, expanding to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation allows Microsoft to tap into their huge installed bases.
It fits with Microsoft’s general strategy under CEO Satya Nadella of being platform agnostic – bringing services and software like Office 365 to as many devices as possible.
With gaming revenue increasingly coming from services like Xbox Game Pass rather than hardware sales, the thinking is that it doesn’t matter what device people play on as long as they’re subscribed.
How It Could Backfire for Xbox
However, while it makes sense in pure business terms, diluting Xbox’s exclusive lineup could backfire by reducing the appeal of Xbox consoles.
Exclusives drive hardware sales by giving gamers a reason to choose one platform over another.
Starfield has driven many purchases for Xbox as well.
But imagine if PlayStation lost God of War as an exclusive.
Even if only temporarily, it would dampen PS5 sales.
Strong exclusives drive console adoption and demonstrate why the platform matters.
Take away those exclusives, and Consoles starts to lose its competitive edge.
Fewer Xbox console sales means a smaller addressable audience for Xbox Game Pass.
It becomes a less compelling platform for third-party developers.
And down the line, it could lead to the death of Xbox as a gaming hardware platform altogether.
This seems very short-sighted when Xbox is just starting to acquire studios and build out its exclusive content.
Big investments like the Activision Blizzard acquisition haven’t even had a chance to bear fruit yet.
Why weaken your exclusives before you even see their potential impact on the console war?
Mixed Messaging from Xbox Leadership
There also appears to be disagreement within Xbox’s leadership about the wisdom of this strategy.
In interviews, the Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has emphasized the importance of exclusives in making Xbox platform investments worthwhile for gamers.
But CFO Tim Stuart talks openly about bringing games to rival platforms.
Also, a Recent Satya Nadella interview, highlighting the ActivisionBlizzard deal quoted that they are for all and not going exclusive.
Microsoft CEO statement about Activision Blizzard deal
He says he is now excited to close the deal and that they can now release their games on PC, Xbox, console, cloud services and all Platforms#Microsoft #activisionblizzard pic.twitter.com/QxWMrY0dS6— Gaming Amigos (@gamingamigos24) January 17, 2024
This mixed messaging sows confusion among fans about Xbox’s strategic vision.
And the lack of transparency does little to inspire confidence.
Fans Want Xbox to Succeed, Not Throw in the Towel
The apparent lack of commitment to the Xbox platform is what’s really driving fan outrage.
It’s not about tribalism or wanting others to miss out.
Most Xbox gamers recognize the benefits of healthy competition between platforms.
Monopolies are bad for gamers and game developers.
If Xbox goes away or becomes irrelevant, innovation stagnates industry-wide.
After years of falling behind rival platforms, Xbox finally seems to be gaining momentum thanks to big investments in game studios and services like Game Pass and the big acquisition of Activision.
Fans were excited about the future and the exclusive experiences coming down the pipeline.
To pull the rug out now right when things seem to be going Xbox’s way feels like a betrayal to those who have stuck by the platform through thick and thin.
It’s abandoning a loyal fanbase before giving your investments and their support a chance to really pay off.
Final Thoughts
Recently Microsoft overcame from a long legal battle with CMS for anti-competition for the Activision Deal.
This legal battle has brought to light the issues of exclusivity and monopoly of games.
After the acquisition of Bathesta and Activision, Xbox will have a large library of AAA games and many exclusives coming.
So by diluting its old exclusives to other platforms, Xbox looks like wants to satisfy the opposing governments for now.
Also, Microsoft wants to give more exposure to its exclusives by providing them to other platforms for a specific time (Just like GTA which come and go from Xbox all the time).
And with Xbox Game Pass extending to mobile and PC, Microsoft has more ways than ever to attract players into its gaming ecosystem.
- Attracting new Game Pass subscribers by showcasing must-play Microsoft titles
- Continuing to build goodwill and reputation after Activision Blizzard acquisition
- Maximize revenue by accessing PlayStation’s huge install base
- Promoting upcoming sequels or related titles in an IP by exposing new audiences
However, the loyal supporters think that this will hurt the brand’s long-term loyalty and engagement.
Therefore, it’s important to strike a balance.
Hopefully, Phil Spencer can clarify Xbox’s strategic vision and reinforce their commitment to bringing exclusive experiences to Xbox gamers.