Xbox Game Exclusivity Will Be Decided on a 'Case-by-Case' Basis, Microsoft Says (ign.com) 18
Microsoft executive Matt Booty says future Xbox exclusivity will be decided "case-by-case," with Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution remaining Xbox console exclusives while major multiplayer, live-service, and previously promised PlayStation releases stay multiplatform. But IGN's Tom Phillips says Microsoft's announcement still leaves numerous questions unanswered, like "why just Gears and Clockwork Revolution?" and "how will this policy be enforced in future?" From the report: Last night's Xbox Showcase featured the return of games specifically earmarked as exclusives for Xbox consoles (though, of course, they'll still also be coming to PC). But why just Gears and Clockwork Revolution? And how will this policy be enforced in future? Microsoft's announcement left numerous questions unanswered. "We want a reason for people to get on board with Xbox, we want them to have a reason to buy an Xbox, we want them to have a reason to be an Xbox fan," Booty said. "At the same time, we want to reward all our players that have been with us for a long time -- we know that exclusives are important, and that's why we've got Gears coming in 2026 and Clockwork [Revolution] coming in 2027."
"We also want to be clear that our big multiplayer games and live-service games are going to continue to be multiplatform," he continued. "If we've promised something to players already, we're going to honor that promise. And then -- I think Asha said it -- we're going to make the right decision and not the fast decision. "We're going to keep thinking about this going forward," Booty continued, "and, I think you guys know already, our principle is when we announce the date, we announce the platforms. So, it's going to be case-by-case, but we're going to be clear, that when it's got a date, it's got a platform and you'll know what the choice is going to be."
Beyond those games already confirmed for PlayStation (such as the upcoming Halo: Campaign Evolved, and the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 6 due later this year), last night saw Microsoft make the call that other upcoming titles would still be coming to PS5 as well. While it had been assumed that State of Decay 3 would get a PS5 version, yesterday saw it made official. Hellblade threequel Senua was unveiled, and is getting a PS5 version. And, unsurprisingly, Spyro: A Realm Beyond is coming to Xbox, PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
"We also want to be clear that our big multiplayer games and live-service games are going to continue to be multiplatform," he continued. "If we've promised something to players already, we're going to honor that promise. And then -- I think Asha said it -- we're going to make the right decision and not the fast decision. "We're going to keep thinking about this going forward," Booty continued, "and, I think you guys know already, our principle is when we announce the date, we announce the platforms. So, it's going to be case-by-case, but we're going to be clear, that when it's got a date, it's got a platform and you'll know what the choice is going to be."
Beyond those games already confirmed for PlayStation (such as the upcoming Halo: Campaign Evolved, and the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 6 due later this year), last night saw Microsoft make the call that other upcoming titles would still be coming to PS5 as well. While it had been assumed that State of Decay 3 would get a PS5 version, yesterday saw it made official. Hellblade threequel Senua was unveiled, and is getting a PS5 version. And, unsurprisingly, Spyro: A Realm Beyond is coming to Xbox, PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
A slow death? Xbox soon to joining the Zune? (Score:3)
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Thanks to a complete lack of antitrust law enforcement Microsoft was allowed to buy about a dozen pretty major studios. They have basically done fuck all with the studios and it is now painfully clear that the only reason they bought them was to stop Sony from getting games made by those studios for the PlayStation platform.
In other words exactly the kind of anti-competitive behavior that is ridiculously illegal for extreme
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As for the rest of your usual comment, the future a hellscape, yea maybe!
Anarchist, Communist, Islamist, Marxist, Progressives, Socialist are not Liberals or Democrats
If history is any guide, the winning group will eat the rest. Wonder if they will change the name of the party?
Activision buyout (Score:3)
How many other titles besides CoD were supposed to be cross-platform due to the Activision buyout?
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Could have something to do with MS waiting for Switch 2 hardware.
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Streaming CoD would be awful though, yech.
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You never saw those Stadia tests did you?
Sorry, I can't resist... (Score:2)
Microsoft executive Matt Booty...
So initiating a telephone communication to the executive in question is making a Booty call?
... and the case-by-case decision will be "no". (Score:3)
Therefore, it is easy to predict that to any meaningful extent, their "case-by-case decision" regarding exclusivity will be "no exclusivity, let's sell the game for whatever platform is out there". Which per se is not bad for those interested in playing those games, should they surprisingly be any good. But it is clear that the "best platform" to play video games from Microslop-owned studios on will certainly not be a piece of Console hardware manufactured and sold by Microslop.
What they're not saying (Score:3)