February 16th 2025.
Is Xbox's multi-format strategy a winning one? As a reader, I have some thoughts on Microsoft's approach to multi-format publishing with Xbox and how it may impact their competition with PlayStation.
The past year hasn't been easy for Xbox. Despite the success of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Xbox is facing challenges. From layoffs and studio closures to a lack of trust in their approach to multi-platform releases.
The concept of console exclusivity has been around for decades, with games like Gran Turismo and Fable remaining exclusive to Sony and Microsoft consoles respectively since their first release. However, in recent years, this approach has evolved. PlayStation has started releasing their first-party games on PS4 and PS5 first before porting them to PC after a year or two.
On the other hand, Xbox has typically released their first-party games on both Xbox One/Xbox Series X/S and PC at launch, with a few exceptions. But now, things are changing. In February of last year, Microsoft Gaming announced their multi-platform plans. The first four titles were previously Xbox exclusives. The news was met with mostly positive responses, especially for those on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. However, as the year went on, we learned the full extent of Xbox's multi-platform plans.
Titles like Indiana Jones, which had a previous deal to remain an Xbox exclusive, will now be available on PlayStation 5 a few months after release. The same goes for Forza Horizon 5, a first for Microsoft's flagship racing series. And let's not forget games like Doom: The Dark Ages and The Outer Worlds 2, which were originally multi-platform releases but may now be exclusive to Xbox.
This strategy, while potentially profitable in the short term, may not guarantee long-term success for Xbox. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, won't these multi-platform releases discourage customers from buying an Xbox in the future? As someone considering upgrading to an Xbox Series X, I now have doubts about my purchase. Xbox's decision to release first-party titles on rival platforms, even if it's a few years later, diminishes the value of their brand.
In contrast, PlayStation has only allowed one first-party series to come to rival platforms: MLB: The Show. And even then, they didn't directly publish it. It seems that exclusivity isn't a priority for Xbox, but rather a potential hindrance to profits.
The second issue is a direct consequence of Microsoft's recent acquisitions of ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard. While they may have doubled the number of studios under their belt compared to PlayStation Studios, how many of them are working on exclusive Xbox games? The answer is not many.
Out of the 20 game studios owned by PlayStation, only three are developing games for non-PlayStation platforms. In comparison, around half of the studios owned by Microsoft Gaming are working on multi-platform releases. And the few games that have remained exclusive to Xbox haven't been very successful. This raises questions about the long-term success of Xbox's strategy.
Even Phil Spencer's recent comments about not ruling out a PlayStation 5 port for Starfield go against their initial plans to keep some Bethesda games exclusive to Xbox. It seems that Microsoft's approach to buying up IPs like Call of Duty, Warcraft, Doom, and Fallout has not strengthened their position in the gaming world. In fact, restricting those franchises to Xbox-only would likely result in negative feedback.
In contrast, Sony has collaborated with developers like Sucker Punch and Insomniac Games to release exclusive PlayStation games long before acquiring them. This gradual approach to acquiring studios and building relationships has proven to be more successful than Microsoft's method.
In the end, only time will tell if Microsoft's multi-platform strategy will pay off. On the one hand, offering more choices to players on their preferred platforms can only be a good thing. On the other hand, if it doesn't work out, Xbox may continue to lag behind Sony and Nintendo. Exclusivity was once thought to be Xbox's savior, but now it may be their curse.
As a reader, I understand that my views may not reflect those of GameCentral or Metro. But I hope my thoughts bring some insight into the current state of the gaming industry. And who knows, maybe Xbox will prove me wrong and come out on top.
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