On Thursday, February 16th, Xbox’s head Phil Spencer will finally address the swirling rumors regarding major shifts in Microsoft’s gaming strategy on a special edition podcast entitled “The Future of Xbox.” Specifically, Spencer is expected to announce whether several of Xbox’s biggest exclusive game franchises, such as Gears of War, Starfield, and Hi-Fi Rush, will expand to PlayStation and Nintendo platforms.
These rumors ignited a firestorm of controversy among loyal Xbox fans last week, with some feeling betrayed after years of supporting Microsoft’s console ecosystem. However, bringing popular games to wider audiences does align with Microsoft’s recent focus on buying high-profile studios like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard while aggressively growing its subscription service, Game Pass.
In fact, Microsoft already pledged to keep Call of Duty multiplatform for several more years to ease antitrust concerns over its pending $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. And although games like Starfield are currently Xbox/PC exclusives after Microsoft purchased Bethesda, exclusivity deals often have expiration dates, especially as new Game Pass signups from those games decline over time.
Please 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
Sony has also begun releasing former PlayStation exclusives on PC, including the popular zombie franchise Days Gone in 2021 and helldivers 2 more recently. Of the major players, only Nintendo has refused to embrace multiplatform game distribution.
Yet regardless of the specifics revealed on Thursday, Microsoft wields tremendous influence over the gaming landscape given its recent shopping spree of developers and publishers. Unfortunately, consolidating so much talent under one roof has already led to painful shakeups like last week’s news that Microsoft laid off 1,900 workers, with deep cuts hitting Activision Blizzard studios working on games like the survival title Overwatch 2.
It remains to be seen whether opening Xbox’s walled garden to rival PlayStation owners will spur growth that counteracts job losses stemming from Microsoft’s anti-competitive practices. But like it or not, Xbox strategy directly impacts all gamers now, not just Microsoft console owners. Hopefully Thursday brings much-needed clarity around Xbox’s future direction.
