Rumors Of End to Xbox-Only Exclusives Swirl As More Game Studios Embrace Simultaneous Launch Strategy

[Cpt.Jank]

It looks like the end of the console-exclusive era is marching ever forward. On the one hand, more game studios are embracing simultaneous launch strategies, as was recently emphasized by both Square Enix and Ubisoft adopting multi-platform simultaneous launches for Fantasian Neo Dimension and Assassin's Creed Shadows, respectively. The latest game to join this trend is Outer Worlds 2, which will launch on all platforms—Xbox Series S|X, Windows, PlayStation 5, and even Game Pass—simultaneously in late 2025. The surprising bit about the multi-platform launch of The Outer Worlds 2 is that Microsoft purchased Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind The Outer Worlds, leading many to believe that future games in the franchise would be Xbox/Windows-first. While the original Outer Worlds was released after Microsoft bought Obsidian, the launch contract predates the acquisition, so it also had a simultaneous launch, regardless of Microsoft's ownership.

In addition to the swathe of new games embracing multiple simultaneous platform launches, Jez Cordon, executive editor at Windows Central and well-regarded source for gaming rumors, recently also sparked rumors with a post on X suggesting that no future games developed by Microsoft or its subsidiary studios will be permanent console exclusives. In a reply to a comment criticizing Microsoft for seemingly keeping some games on Xbox and others not, Cordon said "They don't. They're all coming to PlayStation over time."



Cordon also goes on later in the discussion to suggest that the only reason Microsoft hasn't forced its smaller subsidiary studios to pivot to the day-one cross-platform launch strategy is because of development load and those studios not being well-equipped to deal with a simultaneous launch. This is something that Square Enix veteran, Naoki Yoshida, also alluded to when he was talking about Square Enix's shift to the simultaneous launch strategy.

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[FreedomEclipse]

We're finally at a point where console exclusivity is finally hurting their bottom line. What a time to be alive.

Console manufacturers releasing on all platforms....games that were pulled off steam to be hosted on the publishers own launcher now back on steam where new titles from said publisher will also be released. What an insane time to be alive.

 

[kapone32]

For Xbox maybe. If you think that PS will ever release Gran Turismo on PC you forget that Sony are from the same Country as Nintendo.

 

[Nhonho]

If MS and Sony consoles had exactly the same hardware (SoC, RAM, firmware), they would speed up and make the development of the games cheaper. The hardware must be the same, with only the external plastic shell and the OS and APIs changing.

This way, there would be a scale of cost reduction for the hardware developer (AMD), for the manufacturers of the parts (TSMC/Hynix) and for the hardware assembler (Foxconn?).

And the game developers would need much less rework to adapt the games from one console to another.

 

[DBGT]

More studios.... except for Rockstar.

 

[Carlyle2020hs]

We're finally at a point where console exclusivity is finally hurting their bottom line. What a time to be alive.

Console manufacturers releasing on all platforms....games that were pulled off steam to be hosted on the publishers own launcher now back on steam where new titles from said publisher will also be released. What an insane time to be alive.

As long as it´s only a redirect to their respective launchers, it wil not generate what someone during some meeting did promise their execs.

 

[kapone32]

If MS and Sony consoles had exactly the same hardware (SoC, RAM, firmware), they would speed up and make the development of the games cheaper. The hardware must be the same, with only the external plastic shell and the OS and APIs changing.

This way, there would be a scale of cost reduction for the hardware developer (AMD), for the manufacturers of the parts (TSMC/Hynix) and for the hardware assembler (Foxconn?).

And the game developers would need much less rework to adapt the games from one console to another.

Yep and people with AMD based systems will benefit with faster AMD hardware than what is in current Consoles. As evidenced by almost no one complaining about Console port woes from Games like Hogwarts or the fiasco from the blowback for Starfield not supporting DLSS at launch.

 

[Daven]

All games should be compiled on Linux with form factors (console, PC, handhelds, etc) competing on hardware and price rather than exclusives based on the company you keep.

 

[AcE]

cool and not too early if true.

 

[JIWIL]

Call me a cynic, but seems like it's mostly the publishers with mediocre studios that have decided to shotgun the wall.

 

[Vayra86]

And poof there goes Xbox, the console. It is now just a glorified Windows PC, without Windows.

 

[bonehead123]

Good riddance....

I've always thought it should be illegal to make a game for only 1 platform/device, which essentially gives the developer a monopoly over that title, which is supposed to be a no-no in the business world..

I say make it MANDATORY for every game to be released on EVERY platform at the same exact minute, and let the gamrs decide what platform/device they wanna play it on...and whahlah, problem solved/monopoly erased

And FYI, for those who aren't familiar with me & my opinions, I don't do gamz, so I don't really give a crap either way, but I DO do business, and will always prefer an equal chance be given to every company to succeed, or fail, on their own merits...

 

[dyonoctis]

For Xbox maybe. If you think that PS will ever release Gran Turismo on PC you forget that Sony are from the same Country as Nintendo.

Sony interactive Entertainment HQ is in California and the CEO is from the West, and they also closed one of their most beloved Japanese studios. PlayStation is becoming a Western company. Most of its exclusive games are made by American or European studios.
Sony's closure of Japan Studio was like "pruning a bonsai", says former PlayStation boss | Eurogamer.net

 

[Garrus]

For Xbox maybe. If you think that PS will ever release Gran Turismo on PC you forget that Sony are from the same Country as Nintendo.

Sony is running out of money. Something about all their terrible games released in the last few years.

They'll do what they need to do to survive.

 

[sepheronx]

Some of the best games were initially on console, and exclusives too. It was what sold the console and what drove innovation due to competition.

What everyone here is parading around is gonna eventually cause harm to them. Stagnation of game development has somewhat already happened and with any lack of competition, it's gonna drive it further to the ground with nothing but Medicare titles.

Yes, unpopular take. But it is true. Sony, Sega, Nintendo and Microsoft had banger games that drove sale of their systems.

 

[Raiden85]

Good, it’s ridiculous that console exclusives were ever a thing to begin with. Never made business sense to me to cutoff potentially millions of customers.

I thought bribery in the business world was a big no-no, because that’s essentially what it is.

 

[kapone32]

Good, it’s ridiculous that console exclusives were ever a thing to begin with. Never made business sense to me to cutoff potentially millions of customers.

I thought bribery in the business world was a big no-no, because that’s essentially what it is.

You really do not understand the history of the Console industry. What sells a console? Specs? No software. How was the Playstation created? How did Sega become successful? Are exclusives the only thing that Consoles ever released? If GTA5 never came to PC would be getting Console ports? Would the Xbox be successful if Halo was released on PC. Did any PS users miss that? Were the most popular Games like Battlefield and Modern Warfare exclusives? Would we have ever gotten a Forza Motorsports if not for Gran Tursimo? The best though is how do you sell your console without having something to deferential it. That is what exclusives are. When I was younger no one cried about not being able to play Mario on Sega or PS and you still can't officially do that. Xbox would not be what it became without Halo and Games like Total War have been exclusive to PC for other reasons than bribery. There is no bribery in exclusives. They are the foundation of the Console industry. Just be glad that we are getting some now and at last the PC circle is complete with Access to High Quality Japanese content that was once reserved to the PS. That does not mean that Devil May Cry and Castllevania have not been available for years on PC.

 

[trsttte]

If MS and Sony consoles had exactly the same hardware (SoC, RAM, firmware), they would speed up and make the development of the games cheaper. The hardware must be the same, with only the external plastic shell and the OS and APIs changing.

This way, there would be a scale of cost reduction for the hardware developer (AMD), for the manufacturers of the parts (TSMC/Hynix) and for the hardware assembler (Foxconn?).

And the game developers would need much less rework to adapt the games from one console to another.

Hmm no, the hardware architecture doesn't need to be the same and is close enough with the current generation of consoles. The main problem is really the software api's, the sdk for each console is completely different, xbox uses DirectX, playstation uses GNM/AGC for example.

AMD is doing exactly that, reusing the desktop architecture for the both consoles chips. The rest of the supply chain varies as it should.