Report: Xbox to Keep Multiplayer Games Multi-Platform, While More Single-Player Titles Become Exclusive
It looks like Xbox has realized that exclusive games are one of the main reasons people buy consoles. While Phil Spencer once imagined a future where players could enjoy every game on any platform, the gaming industry has moved in a different direction.
Because of this, Gears of War: E-Day, which launches on October 6, will be exclusive to Xbox consoles. The same will happen with Clockwork Revolution, InXile Entertainment’s RPG that is planned for 2027.
These will be Xbox’s first console exclusives since the previous leadership decided to release games on multiple platforms in 2024. That means Halo: Campaign Evolved, Forza Horizon 6, and Fable are expected to be Microsoft’s last major releases on PlayStation.
Xbox to Make More Single-Player Games Console Exclusives
According to a new Bloomberg report by Cecilia D’Anastasio, Xbox’s new exclusive strategy is being led by Asha Sharma. From now on, many of Microsoft’s upcoming single-player games will only be available on Xbox consoles as part of a plan to boost hardware sales over the coming months and years.
Only multiplayer games and live-service titles will continue to launch on other platforms, including PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
The report reads, “While big multiplayer games will still be available on all the major platforms, Microsoft will make more of its best titles exclusive to Xbox so gamers have a reason to buy its console.”
Windows Central editor Jez Corden also commented on the report. He believes Microsoft is reversing the strategy it introduced in 2024, when it said only four Xbox games would be released on other platforms. Instead of bringing more Xbox games to rival consoles, the company is now expected to keep more of its future single-player titles exclusive to Xbox.
It is still unclear whether this strategy will also include future single-player games from Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, or if it will only apply to Xbox Game Studios titles such as Halo Studios, The Coalition, Playground Games, Obsidian, and others.
Corden also said, “Microsoft is looking at making even tentpole single player games, historically multiplatform, exclusive to Xbox hardware.”
A steady release of exclusive games is expected to help increase sales of Xbox Series X|S, as well as the future Project Helix console. This is part of Sharma’s plan to return Xbox to growth. As more information becomes available, we’ll make sure to let you guys know here at MP1st.
Speaking of exclusives, Sony is following a very similar strategy. The company has made it clear that future first-party single-player games will remain exclusive to PlayStation consoles, while multiplayer and live-service games will still launch on PC to reach a larger audience
In other news, Xbox consoles represent 80% of Microsoft’s gaming business as CEO says the company spread itself too thin amid Xbox’s major reset.
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