December 17th 2024.
Throughout this year, Microsoft has been promoting the idea of playing Xbox games without actually owning an Xbox console. However, with many people still confused about Xbox's seemingly conflicting gaming plans, a new report has been released in an attempt to clarify everything.
Despite having highly anticipated exclusives like the upcoming Fable reboot and Gears of War: E-Day, fans have been facing the possibility of Microsoft becoming a third-party developer. This was sparked by the company's decision to release key exclusives on other platforms such as PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch in the past year.
Recently, there have been claims that Xbox exclusives will eventually cease to exist as Microsoft wants to get its various developers accustomed to this concept. The company's CEO, Satya Nadella, seems to support this idea, and there are even talks of a potential cross-platform interface.
During Microsoft's latest shareholders meeting, Nadella was asked about the progress of the company's gaming strategy. He expressed great optimism about how things are going, stating that they have chosen gaming as a category with significant growth potential. He also mentioned that Microsoft has always been passionate about gaming and wants to bring the joy of gaming to every platform and device.
However, there has been some confusion among audiences about what this means for the future of Xbox hardware. By making Xbox games available on other platforms, there is a concern that people will be less inclined to invest in an Xbox console. Despite this, Microsoft still plans to release new hardware, including a handheld device.
Moreover, a report by Windows Central's Jez Corden suggests that Microsoft is working on something called Project Rainway, described as a "cross-platform Xbox guide menu." While details are scarce, it is said to be inspired by the cross-platform social features seen in games on Activision Blizzard's Battle.net launcher. This could mean that Microsoft wants to make it easier for players to access their games on any platform and have features like cloud saves and cross-progression available for their titles.
Despite these developments, Corden's report states that this does not mark the end of Xbox hardware. The decision to bring games like Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush to other platforms was met with some backlash from dedicated Xbox users, but it did not have a significant impact on user figures. This is seen as proof that Xbox users are content with the platform and are unlikely to abandon it, even if some games are released on other platforms. In fact, this is why Microsoft announced The Outer Worlds 2 for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S at The Game Awards 2024.
Furthermore, Corden brings up Xbox boss Phil Spencer's claim that the number of Xbox "console users" is higher than ever before. The exact meaning of this statement is unclear, as the Xbox Series X/S has sold less than both the Xbox One and Xbox 360. It could be a combination of the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S user bases or counting everyone who plays a Microsoft-published game on any platform, including popular titles like Call of Duty and Diablo.
Corden argues that the recent Xbox ports of Genshin Impact and Death Stranding prove that there are still revenue streams worth pursuing on Xbox hardware. He also mentions rumors of more PlayStation exclusives being released on Xbox. However, these are most likely third-party games and not first-party titles from Sony.
Despite all of this, Corden reiterates that even major Xbox franchises like Halo and Gears of War may go multiplatform in the future, although there may be some exceptions. This seems to contradict Microsoft's current approach, as they are willing to release games like Halo on PlayStation. So why keep anything exclusive to the Xbox platform?
Overall, it seems that Microsoft realizes that it cannot rely solely on hardware exclusives to succeed in the gaming industry. However, the company's core user base on Xbox is still substantial, justifying their continued investment in developing dedicated Xbox hardware.
As for the highly anticipated Fable reboot, it is currently only slated for release on Xbox and PC next year. However, fans are wondering if a PlayStation 5 port will be coming soon after. To stay updated on all the latest gaming news, follow us on Twitter, sign up for our newsletter, and feel free to leave a comment below or email us. For those interested in submitting Inbox letters and Reader's Features, you can now do so easily through our Submit Stuff page.
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