All articles tagged with #console exclusivity
Xbox president Matt Booty stated that the company's biggest competition is now everything from TikTok to movies, rather than other consoles, as they aim to meet players where they are by moving away from console exclusivity, exemplified by Halo's upcoming release on PS5 and other platforms.
GTA 6 is scheduled for release on May 26, 2026, but will not be available on PC at launch, causing frustration among PC gamers who may have to wait over a year or buy a console to play the game, leading to disappointment and potential piracy concerns.
A new rumor suggests GTA 6 will run at 60FPS exclusively on the PS5 Pro, with other consoles' performance unconfirmed, and the game is targeted for release around May 2026. However, this information is based on unverified sources and should be taken with caution until official confirmation from Rockstar.
The article discusses the recent release of Helldivers 2 on Xbox and explores seven PlayStation-exclusive or published titles—such as Marvel's Spider-Man, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Bloodborne, Demon’s Souls, Nioh, Silent Hill 2, and God of War—that fans hope will someday be ported to Xbox and PC, highlighting the potential for greater cross-platform availability of beloved games.
Helldivers 2, a popular PS5 game, is coming to Xbox Series X/S on August 26, breaking its previous PlayStation exclusivity, marking a significant shift in console game publishing and availability.
Microsoft's Xbox platform has effectively taken over Sony's PlayStation Store, with seven of the top 20 most-purchased games on PlayStation being Microsoft-owned franchises. This shift comes as a result of Microsoft's massive gaming investments, including the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard and Bethesda, making it one of the biggest players on PlayStation. The gaming landscape is evolving, with Valve's Steam Deck offering "console" hardware with exclusives from both Xbox and PlayStation, signaling a potential shift away from traditional console exclusivity.
Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth will remain exclusive to PlayStation, as confirmed by Sony's Christian Svensson. Xbox fans will miss out on the adventures of Cloud and the gang, as the trilogy is seen as a significant addition to the PlayStation experience. While the games can be played on PC, there's still hope for a timed exclusive or a potential trade with Microsoft, but nothing is certain at this point.
The success of "Final Fantasy VII Rebirth" is attributed to its console exclusivity on PlayStation 5, allowing for a seamless fantasy world and a focus on game design rather than porting. The game's development was expedited by retaining 80% of the team from the previous installment, and the third game in the trilogy is already in progress. The exclusive trilogy is a significant win for PlayStation, recognizing the franchise's importance and showcasing the capabilities of the console.
Xbox's Phil Spencer questioned the benefits of Helldivers 2's console exclusivity on PlayStation, expressing uncertainty about who it helps in the industry by not being on Xbox. While acknowledging Microsoft's own practice of exclusivity, Spencer emphasized the importance of shipping games onto new platforms to make them more accessible. This comment comes amidst Microsoft's recent shift in exclusive strategy and the launch of Helldivers 2 as the first Sony-published game to release simultaneously on PS5 and PC, leaving Xbox out of the picture.
Xbox has reportedly considered releasing Microsoft Flight Simulator and the next Doom game on rival consoles, following an Xbox business update confirming plans to release four unnamed Xbox exclusives on other platforms. While titles like Gears of War have been considered for non-Xbox release, Xbox boss Phil Spencer stated that Starfield and Indiana Jones would not be going multiplatform at this time, but did not rule out the possibility of games going to other platforms in the future. The move is seen as an effort to expand the reach and impact of these titles and invest in future versions or elsewhere in the first-party portfolio, without fundamentally changing the approach on exclusivity.
Xbox lead Phil Spencer discussed the issue of console exclusivity, expressing lament over games like Helldivers 2 being exclusive to PlayStation. Microsoft confirmed that some Xbox console games will launch on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, but titles like Starfield and Indiana Jones are currently not planned for broader release. The debate over platform exclusivity continues, with considerations of its impact on industry, sales, and user perception.
Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, expressed concern over the absence of Helldivers 2 on Xbox, questioning who benefits from the game's exclusivity to PlayStation and PC. While acknowledging the legacy of console gaming and the norm of exclusives, Spencer emphasized the importance of making games more accessible to a wider audience. He clarified that Xbox's decision to bring some exclusives to other platforms was not a bartering system, but rather a strategic move for the betterment of Xbox's business.
Microsoft believed that Xbox Game Pass and console sales could help offset the potential losses from making Starfield and Indiana Jones console exclusives, according to a court document in the ongoing battle with the FTC. The document cites Microsoft Gaming CFO Tim Stuart's testimony, revealing that the company had forecasted over 10 million sales on PlayStation for both games before deciding to make them exclusive to Xbox. While the FTC argues that this move is anti-competitive, PlayStation boss Jim Ryan admitted during the trial that it was not. Xbox has also pledged to keep Call of Duty on multiple platforms.
The sales of Final Fantasy 16 have sparked a debate about console exclusivity, with some arguing that it has negatively impacted sales while others highlight its success as the fastest-selling PlayStation 5 exclusive. Although the game's launch sales of 3 million copies worldwide are lower than its predecessor, the limited reach of being available only on PS5 and the upcoming PC version may have contributed to this. It remains unclear how profitable the game will be for Square Enix, as its exclusivity deal with Sony likely involved financial compensation and development assistance.
PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has admitted during the ongoing trial between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission that he does not view Starfield's Xbox console exclusivity as "anti-competitive". Ryan expressed concern about the fate of Call of Duty, should Microsoft obtain control over the franchise. The FTC has pointed to Bethesda's upcoming space role-playing game Starfield, which is not coming out on PlayStation, as an example of Microsoft’s behaviour after it bought parent company ZeniMax.