75%
Probable
Xbox's multiplatform pivot led to the successful release of multiple former console exclusives such as Starfield on other consoles, but it seems like the new company leadership is considering returning to console exclusives (which is what Xbox fans want above all), so much so that “there are very, very big discussions internally” on the matter, according to what Windows Central's Jez Corden said during the latest episode of the Xbox Two podcast.
The debate stems from a growing perception that consumers are consistently steered away from Xbox hardware because “all the games are on PlayStation.” Corden noted that while releasing games on competing consoles works well, as some games have sold well on PlayStation 5 (Forza Horizon 5 sold even more than a few first-party titles on PS5), the brand and hardware prestige will have long-term consequences.
“It’s just about what kind of company you want to be at the end of the day. Do you want a company that's like… an ecosystem company first or do you want to be a publishing company first?” Corden said, adding that it is impossible to be both. “Either the hardware operation will shrink to basically what Surface is now, which is like a shadow of its fullness… and for better or worse, Surface is on its deathbed.”
In these internal discussions, the current Xbox leadership, including new head Asha Sharma, is looking back at the glory days of the Xbox 360, and at the reason why the system was so successful. Exclusive games played a big part in this success, as series like Gears of War and Halo brought players into the Xbox ecosystem, while Sony and Nintendo stumbled with the high price of the PlayStation 3 and the Wii's casual-oriented focus. To make a comeback now, Corden suggests it will take a similar “concerted effort over years and years” to change the mainstream view.
With Sony also reportedly returning to a sort of console-exclusive approach by no longer porting its games to PC, it definitely feels like the future of console gaming may be a return to the past, with manufacturers using exclusive games as leverage to get players to purchase next-generation systems. However, with the rising prices of all hardware, it remains to be seen whether these will be enough to get players to spend a lot of money to jump on the next generation of console gaming when it begins in a couple of years.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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