Xbox fans may have to get used to a future without exclusive games, according to Windows Central's Jez Corden. Corden confidently stated on X that Microsoft's plans point to a future where console exclusives are essentially a thing of the past.
The Game Awards 2024 trailer revealed that Obsidian's The Outer Worlds 2 will launch immediately on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X, sparking debate about Microsoft's multiplatform strategy. This move contradicts previous statements from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer who said there were "no red lines" when it comes to ports. However, President of Content and Studios Matt Booty stated a case-by-case approach would be taken. Even Obsidian's own 2025 lineup, with Avowed currently only announced for PC and Xbox, shows the internal conflict.
Exclusivity Is Dead, Says Corden
According to Corden, any future Xbox "exclusives" will be at most timed exclusives. He added that the "case by case" argument will likely lead to most titles being multiplatform or timed exclusives, with very few exceptions.
"Xbox won't have exclusives going forward. Everything is timed exclusive at most. If some games are exclusive it's gonna be incidental at best, the 'case by case' argument is by and large going to be multiplatform, timed, and with maybe a few (very few) outliers."
When questioned about the exclusivity of Playground's Fable, Corden suggested that despite its high production costs, it would eventually be released on other platforms.
"That game was monstrously expensive. It might not be day one, but it'll come with the current plan in place, in my opinion."
The Future of Xbox Hardware
Corden believes Xbox hardware won't be discontinued unless the user base and revenue continue to shrink. He added that without finding growth outside of the console space, investors may question the company's strategy.
"I don't think they'll stop providing hardware as long as the users and revenue are there. But growth is the issue. Without finding growth elsewhere, the shareholders won't accept it...Don't think they'll shut it down. It'll just be flat."
So far, only The Outer Worlds 2 and DOOM: The Dark Ages have been confirmed for PlayStation 5 in the announced lineup of Xbox games for next year. However, Corden's analysis suggests Fable, South of Midnight, and Avowed are likely to follow suit.
