The console world is facing a big change. Numerous Xbox games could lose their exclusivity. Xbox boss Phil Spencer has now addressed his employees behind the scenes.
Update from February 12, 2024: Fans currently have to wait for the promised business update in which Phil Spencer wants to reveal the future of the Xbox. According to journalist Shannon Lio, the Xbox boss has already given his employees some clarity. There had already been an internal meeting in which it was assured that Microsoft would continue to produce consoles. The Xbox is therefore part of the strategy, which also includes some other devices (source: Shannon Lios Newsletter).
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Phil Spencer may have put fans' worst fears to rest. However, it remains unclear whether and how many exclusive Xbox games will also appear on the PlayStation. This would undoubtedly impact Xbox Series X|S sales.
Update from February 7, 2024:
The Xbox community is in chaos after the latest leaks and reports. Now the editor-in-chief of the US magazine The Verge has spoken out on the topic and explained on Resetera, that most people at Xbox probably don't know what Microsoft means with its business update:
I just want to make it clear that most people at Xbox don't know all the details of what Microsoft plans to discuss next week. So those who are now taking back their words didn't really know anything to begin with. (Source: Tom Warren / Resetera)
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In the middle of the Unrest over the future of Xbox Some insiders like Nate The Hate have started backtracking on their shared leaks. Nate The Hate, for example, writes on Twitter that he is sure that some Xbox-exclusive games are planned to be released on other platforms. However, he didn't want to say that he knew that Xbox would completely forego exclusive games in the future (via Reddit).
Meanwhile, the Reddit community assumes that Warren is right: Very few people probably know more about Microsoft's plans for the future of Xbox. But the fact is, that there was probably talk about bringing Xbox-exclusive games like Starfield to other platforms. After the sales figures for the Xbox Series Microsoft is now taking the helm. The question remains where the journey will go.
Original article from February 6, 2024:
The end of the Xbox: miscommunication or is there something behind it?
Major insiders like Jeff Grubb have had one in recent days possible PS5 release of Xbox-exclusive games like Gears of War, Starfield, Halo, Indiana Jones: The Great Circle and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 leaked. Now Xbox boss Phil Spencer has spoken out on the topic, but clearly refrains from putting the rumors to rest. Instead he announces a business update that will take place next week:
What exactly is happening here? While the delayed release of some console-exclusive games on other platforms is normal, this is a bigger deal. If the reports are correct, Xbox would not only leave Game Pass blockbusters like Starfield to the competition, but also flagship games like the Halo series and the upcoming release, which were initially only announced as exclusive games. In short: Xbox would more or less completely forego exclusive games.
Phil Spencer's announcement of a business update means two things: firstly, there seems to be some truth to the rumors, as he doesn't deny them at all – and secondly, a change to the Xbox business plan is imminent. Something big is brewing and the fans don't like it one bit.
In short: If all of this is true, why do you need an Xbox?
Without exclusive games, there's no reason to buy an Xbox Series. Without exclusive games, there is simply no Xbox Series. Unless the console wants to sell through Game Pass alone. So all hell is breaking loose on social media, at least among Xbox fans:
Making Xbox multi-platform will devalue it. Please don't. – Synth Potato on X
But seeing these rumors about games like Gears of War or Halo going multi-platform is absolutely wild to me. It feels like Microsoft is capitulating and abandoning the Xbox console completely. – AdamantiumLive on Reddit
Yep, this won't be a small update. This is a big change of direction. – HonkyDongCountry on Reddit.
The question remains whether Phil Spencer simply communicated poorly with his announcement (which would not be an isolated case) or whether the rumors are true after all. As several Xbox fans on Reddit point out, the matter could also be overblown: Only individual games may be released on other platforms and Xbox keeps other exclusive games. But what exactly does the “business update” mean?
Assuming that Xbox actually foregoes exclusive games – So would this be good news for PS5 players? At first, of course, yes, after all all the Xbox exclusives would now appear everywhere else. In the long term, PlayStation would have lost its biggest competitor. And it's never a good thing when a company no longer has any competition on the market.
We'll have to wait and see what exactly is brewing at Microsoft. At first glance, however, the upcoming update doesn't seem to mean anything good for either Xbox or PlayStation players.