by The future of Xbox will be revealed tonight. After months of intense speculation about the fate of its exclusive games, iconic console maker Microsoft is ready to clear the air.
Fans and aficionados alike are on tenterhooks. If you spend too much time online, as many gamers do, you might be tempted to believe that Xbox is about to throw in the towel. A terrifying thought for anyone who grew up chasing alien armies on Halo or recklessly racing supercars on Forza.
Fortunately, the truth is probably not as dramatic as the overzealous crowds on Twitter made it out to be. Apparently, Xbox is about to release some of its prized exclusives on PS5. Does that mean Master Chief is heading to the Playstation? We wouldn’t bet on it.
How to watch the big Xbox event
However, with all the online chatter, you’d at least bet that Xbox is planning something big to take advantage of this moment. Well, not exactly.
Of all places, the future of Xbox will be revealed on a podcast, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer. Is this supposed to be a sideshow or the main event? No matter how Xbox spins it, podcasts from gaming companies are niche content for completionists, not the masses. Still, at least you’ll be able to watch it on YouTube, where it airs at 8pm tonight (Thursday, February 15).
Join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast.
Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business. pic.twitter.com/TxwWJVUbgx
— Xbox (@Xbox) February 12, 2024
What games is Xbox releasing on PS5?
As for what we can expect to hear, word of Xbox can export a handful of games to PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Featuring a mix of lesser-known and more popular fare from studios it owns, titles being tossed around include Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. On the other hand, sacred cows like Halo and the Gears of War series will likely remain.
What else will Xbox announce?
If Xbox wants to keep loyalists happy, it’s going to have to prove it’s still committed to hardware. So, it’s possible we’ll see that mythical Xbox handheld device we’ve been hearing about for years.
We are listening and we hear you. We’re planning a business update event next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) February 5, 2024
We also previously learned that Xbox is planning a refreshed version of both the Xbox Series X and S for this year, although the company has since distanced itself from those claims. Further out, the next generation of Xbox hardware was previously targeting a 2028 release date.
More broadly, the company has long talked about putting Xbox on every screen imaginable. To some extent, this is already possible: Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play a wide range of games on mobile phones, laptops, TVs, VR headsets and Xbox consoles. For its next action, Xbox could start publishing more games on PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
Why now?
To understand what Xbox is up to, you must first address the nature of game licensing, as defined by first-party and third-party games. Trust us, it’s more exciting than it sounds.
Strictly speaking, first-party games are made for and released exclusively on one platform. That’s why The Last of Us and God of War are synonymous with PlayStation; same as Halo and Forza on Xbox.
Meanwhile, third-party titles for multiple platforms are usually made by an external studio. Think blockbuster franchises like GTA, FIFA, and Call of Duty. They tend to outsell exclusives due to the large number of players within their range. In fact, eight of the top 10 sellers last year were third-party games.
Historically, gaming giants have leveraged first-party exclusives to drive console sales. But, as the industry has consolidated over the years, and the cost of making games and the systems they’re played on has increased, the line between first and third party games is blurring.
Just last week, Sony launched the multiplayer shooter Helldivers 2 on PS5 and PC at the same time. The gamble paid off, and the game took off in an instant. With PS5 sales expected to decline this year, Sony has just announced that it will bring more of its first-party games to PC.
Xbox is having an even tougher time. According to execs, the company is losing money on consoles, which we know the PS5 is more than a big sell-out. Meanwhile, Game Pass hasn’t turned out to be the Netflix of games as expected — at least not in terms of a large number.
As a result, Xbox is making bolder moves than its closest rival. Behind closed doors, Xbox leadership has claimed that they want to be the first cross-platform publisher.
Does that mean Xbox is no longer worth buying? Of course not. If Xbox gets this right, we could end up with a mix of exclusives and exports. Ultimately, that could be a boon to gamers, who will get to play even more games on the platform of their choice. For many, that will still be an Xbox console or Game Pass.
