Xbox Isn't The Only One Rethinking Console Exclusives

With the turmoil in the games industry Xbox, but also PlayStation and Nintendo, are looking beyond the bastion of hardware exclusives to grow their brand.

[Christopher]

***...and it’s becoming clear that there’s seemingly a consensus between both Playstation and Xbox that the entire industry is going through a recalibration. Starting with console “exclusives.”***

What is the consensus? One does day and date release on console and PC and is porting their games to competing platforms. The other does 2-year later PC ports of games to just Steam and has one past-exclusive on Xbox because of licensing demands.

I ask again, what is the consensus?

***The recalibration has been accelerated thanks to a massive wave of layoffs that has roiled the video game industry.***

What nonsense is this? The "recalibration" has been happening since the start of this generation, but now it's because of last year's layoffs?

***PlayStation, Xbox, and EA have drastically reduced their staff making headlines at every major gaming publication.***

Why is PlayStation always first in this statement of layoffs even though it has laid off fewer than the other two? And, again, how has something that has existed since the beginning of this generation being based on layoffs over the last year?

***PlayStation seems to agree as they’ve slashed console sales predictions for 2024, from 25 million to 21 million, and highlighted plans to be more aggressive with PlayStation game releases on PC.***

Which they've already been doing. This isn't new. He's just repeating what Jim Ryan said before him. And he didn't say be more aggressive, he said they would be proactive. That doesn't mean more aggressive.

***Gamers want more access in more places, and both Xbox and Playstation are ready to appease that request to meet their ballooning budgets, albeit in different ways. For Xbox, it’s releasing former console exclusives on rival hardware, while PlayStation is ramping up its PC porting business. That could mean fewer console exclusives as hardware sales forecasts are reduced, but more ways to play the games we love.***

Oh, so it's not a consensus. Thanks IGN.

___

What a poorly written article. It interjects comments on being risk-adverse with investments because of inflation, budgets, covid, etc. to talking about improving market reach potentials due to hardware not selling as much (but, still obviously selling enough for 2 out of 3 of them). It muddies the whole argument by throwing things together in a disorganized manner just to get kitchen sink quotes from people we've never heard of. Then it tries to sell this as a 'consensus' as if the goals of Xbox and PlayStation are the same. They're not. PlayStation still wants to focus on their hardware and reach further after 2 years on PC. Xbox wants everyone to stop having exclusives and put games everywhere because hardware is their weakest area of the business and they want to get in and stay on top of subscription model gaming.

This is not a consensus.

[darthv72]

...that neither are remaining constrained to the confines of their respective consoles. Sony was a real surprise because they were always about their own closed ecosystem. Nobody ever thought the day would come for Sony to have their console games be available on a PC. With MS, it was always a matter of when, not if.

[Christopher]

***...that neither are remaining constrained to the confines of their respective consoles.***

Did you know you can stream PS games to your PC? Did you know Helldivers (the first one) was on PC? Everybody's Gone to the Rapture since 2016? Horizon Zero Dawn since 2020?

Hi, four years ago called, it wants its news back. Sony has been doing this already at this level and hasn't 'increased' it more than they said they would. Why are we reading this article in 2024 if this is the argument?

This article proposes a consensus due to recent factors. Do you have anything to add to that element? None of these arguments are a consensus based on recent layoffs, industry elements or the like. Let alone it's not a consensus since one is same date and release and putting games on competing platforms while the other is not that.

Per the title, what is Sony rethinking here? Seems like they are just doing what they started at the beginning of this generation.

I'm going to be honest, this seems like a poorly written advertorial to put Microsoft and Sony on the same 'level' because that's what Microsoft wants. Microsoft wants people to think Sony isn't concerned with considering their hardware a primary part of their business. Microsoft wants people to move to PC. They can't beat Sony in the market reach on hardware, so they'll try and use the media to get people to think how they want them to think. I don't believe Destin is actively being paid by Microsoft, but I do believe those above him are encouraging him to write about this stuff rather than other things. Because this article is a jumble of nonsense predicated on a title that makes no sense based on the evidence they provide.

[VenomUK]

"IGN cope written by Xbox cheerleader Destin Legarie."

This muppet has Microsoft's hand so far up his backside he even makes shills embarrassed of him. I saw his coverage of the MS finalisation of the ABK deal and his reaction was smug delight as he felt it meant that the Xbox console platform would quickly become market leader. Following the initial leaks this year about (some) Xbox games going third-party he seemed genuinely shook up.

This piece is his way to follow Phil Spencer's lead and now rewrite the narrative that exclusives are bad (because his favourite console will no longer have them) and that multiplatform is the best strategy and that Xbox is not failing if every other console maker does it. But I don't see Nintendo releasing its Zelda and Mario games on Xbox during the Switch 2 cycle.

It's not to say there isn't value in Sony's multiplayer games being multiplatform to give them legs. Helldivers 2 being released on other consoles gives it a chance to establish itself in a way that Halo Infinite has struggled.

But Sony and Nintendo would be wise to keep their single player games exclusive because Microsoft releasing all its games on other platforms sadly means, genuinely sadly, the slow death of the Xbox console platform.

[fr0sty]

PlayStation games appearing on PC something that has happened since the first PlayStation decades ago... with games like Wipeout, for instance. The only real change is they are ported more often now, but still not day and date.

[piroh]

The difference:

Xbox putting games on pc day and date - no real reason to buy Xb if you have decent PC so MS rethinking their strategy of bringing first party games to PS, Ninty

PS releasing their games on PC when they stop selling, no real exclusive on XB, Ninty except MLB due to license

[darthv72]

@frosty... dont forget Saturn for that one, as well as destruction derby. Sony was more open to cross platform support in the early years of the PS1. by the times of the PS2, things changed, and they walled off everything going forward. Their decision to be more supportive of the PC in recent times shows they have matured to changing market conditions.

[Cacabunga]

Makes no sense .. where would Sony and Nintendo release their games if Xbox has no hardware? If they will keep making hw then they are even more dumb than I thought..

[Hofstaderman]

IGN... the paid mouthpiece of XBOX.

[S2Killinit]

^this

[Christopher]

I think it's more the people above them trying to control topics outside of 'news'.

Read this article -- https://www.ign.com/article... -- and compare it to how they phrase things here, let alone forget to mention that PS5 is still performing ahead of PS4. But, when reporting news, they'll report it, and it makes these opinion pieces seem dumb.

Am I supposed to believe that with them still selling more than the PS4 that they are suddenly rethinking console exclusives? Am I supposed to believe that? How? And if you read this article, nothing in it supports it. Nothing. Everything they mention as evidence were decisions made over 4 years ago. Not within the last year.

[CrashMania]

I don't get this nonsense of trying to lump in Sony and Nintendo with what MS are doing. The whole article is trying to paint MS as some genius because their console business is failing from the biased Destin, and people cling on to the spiderman budget to push their recent agendas for dear life, it's laughable.

Playstation is selling like hotcakes, the 7 year old Switch is outselling the newest MS console. MS completely gutted and neutered their console hardware and software sales by putting everyting on PC and gamepass day 1. Sony and Nintendo have no such issue.

[Hofstaderman]

It's an attempt of "if you tell a lie enough it will eventually become the truth". Sales and all other evidence, however, points to the contrary. The good thing that comes out if this is we can finally see which media outlets has their lips glued to MS ballsack.

[fr0sty]

The headline is demonstrably false... clickbait from a fanboy amateur "journalist".

[Obscure_Observer]

"What is the consensus? One does day and date release on console and PC and is porting their games to competing platforms. The other does 2-year later PC ports of games to just Steam and has one past-exclusive on Xbox because of licensing demands."

Semantics.

I remember when people used to swear to god that Playstation exclusive games would never come to PC. That they would leave Playstation in case Sony ever port a Playstation exclusive game to PC and here we are.

2 years old games ported to PC will become a thing of the past rather sooner than later. Sony saw how much money they made out Helldivers 2 released day and date on PC in comparison with Horizon Forbiden West for example which is a much more expansive and technically complex to make.

We went too fast from Playstation would never allow any exclusive game on PC (which used to be their main competitor, according to Andrew House) to 2 years old ports and now day and date with Helldivers 2 and more to come.

The notion that Playstation isn´t going multi platform is getting blurrier by the day.

And make no mistake, the moment that Microsoft start to present positive numbers for Xbox on future financial results partially due some succesful first party games released on Playstation, make no mistake, Sony will follow just like they´re doing now with PC.

[Christopher]

*** The notion that Playstation isn´t going multi platform is getting blurrier by the day. ***

This has been said over the last 5 years by people who want Sony to be like Microsoft. So blurry. So fast.

And yet, in that same period of time, Microsoft went same day and date on Steam even though they have their own PC storefront, admitted in court to losing to Sony on hardware and software, spent the most money just to continue competing against Sony (they said it, not me), are moving towards releasing their exclusives on PlayStation and Switch without being forced by license-holders, and are saying that the future is in cloud-based subscription gaming (not the same as their past cloud-based talk). Sony hasn't budged, though. Not a bit.

Who is moving faster and making changes that get blurrier and blurrier every day here? And why are they doing that? Why isn't Sony budging from the 2 year post console release for their first-party games? And, before you bring up Helldivers again, please remember it's developed by an independent studios and is a 2nd-party title that started on PC and PS4. So, let's not try and make that your whole argument, it's a weak one.

[CrashMania]

And make no mistake, the moment that 'Microsoft start to present positive numbers for Xbox on future financial results partially due some succesful first party games released on Playstation, make no mistake, Sony will follow just like they´re doing now with PC.'

What's the incentive of Sony or Nintendo releasing games on Xbox consoles where most won't buy them and the majority just wait for gamepass? I could maybe imagine day and date with PC at some point in the future, expecting Sony to release games on a failing console is hopium at best.

[notachance]

oh hey the copemaster came out of his cave

[shinoff2183]

Not very observant imo

[Obscure_Observer]

"This has been said over the last 5 years by people who want Sony to be like Microsoft. So blurry. So fast"

Well, Sony has been following MS for quite some time now. We have the new PS Plus and PC ports from Playstation´s former exclusive games. And now, we have day one Playstation exclusives on PC, which used to be a competitor, mind you.

So yeah, blurrier by the day.

Also, keep in mind that the new Playstation Boss is the same man who said that his priority were to find a replacement for Ryan and, guess what? He´d decided that *he* is the best man to take over Ryan´s place, and his vision has more of Playstation as a multi platform brand than any of his predecessors.

"Who is moving faster and making changes that get blurrier and blurrier every day here?"

Doesn´t matter which company is doing changes faster if in the end both will up doing the same thing. That´s pretty simple logic.

"And yet, in that same period of time, Microsoft went same day and date on Steam even though they have their own PC storefront"

Unlike Sony, Microsoft has an *exclusive* contract with STEAM, so you can´t play Xbox games on Epic Store like you can with Playstation games. Plus, I´ve been hearing that Sony is planning to release its own *official* PlayStation PC launcher/storefront, so, if true, you have Sony following Microsoft´s steps yet again.

"are moving towards releasing their exclusives on PlayStation and Switch without being forced by license-holders"

"Forced"? Please. MLB is one of most played games on Xbox since its first release. I´m 100% sure that "forced" is the feeling surrounding Sony right now. Especially at San Diego Studio which *all* of its developers, managed to keep their jobs!

Had Insomniac Games been "forced" into making a licensed game like Spíder-Man 2 multi platform, they probably wouldn´t had to face layoffs at their studio at the top of major budget cuts for their future games after literally carrying the PS5 on their backs for this entire generation so far. That´s the truth.

"And, before you bring up Helldivers again, please remember it's developed by an independent studios and is a 2nd-party title that started on PC and PS4. So, let's not try and make that your whole argument, it's a weak one."

There´s not "weak" argument when comes to money regarding first party development. Especially nowadays!

The undeniable fact is that Helldivers II day and date on PS5 and PC made (and its still making) Sony tons of money on STEAM while their flagship and most expensive games did not!

Forbidden West had an abysmal 40,462 concurrent players peak after Nixxes had spent 2 years of hard work into making an excellent PC port out of that game. Does it sound fair to you? Does it sound fair to the developers? Does it seems financially viable to Sony? Wake up!

The time to please the fanatics and diehard is over! AAA games development costs have grown far beyond any reasonable expectations, console sales will not grow any faster according to Sony´s own latest financial forecast. They´re losing *money*!

PS Plus is now responsible for 50% of Playstation´s entire division revenue, and how do you expect Sony to react? By giving fanboys bragging rights to call games "exclusive", when the majority of PS5 owners won´t give a sh!t about it?

You can live in denial if you want, but like I said and brought you facts to back up my opinion, Playstation is becoming more like Xbox by each passing day.

[CrashMania]

'"Forced"? Please. MLB is one of most played games on Xbox since its first release. I´m 100% sure that "forced" is the feeling surrounding Sony right now. Especially at San Diego Studio which *all* of its developers, managed to keep their jobs!'

Conveniently ignoring it launched on gamepass.

"Had Insomniac Games been "forced" into making a licensed game like Spíder-Man 2 multi platform, they probably wouldn´t had to face layoffs at their studio at the top of major budget cuts for their future games after literally carrying the PS5 on their backs for this entire generation so far. That´s the truth."

And your evidence for this is? Guess if MS didn't cancel in development for PS5 games Bethesda wouldn't have had layoffs either then? Also SM2 last I heard was at like what, 8 million and counting? Interested to hear how you think Insomniac releasing this on Xbox where barely anyone buys games would have somehow prevented the layoffs. Again you give no context or thought and just spew out baseless crap.

"There´s not "weak" argument when comes to money regarding first party development. Especially nowadays!"

It is a weak arguement, Helldivers 2, context. It's a live service game. It's been wildly successful launching on PS5 and PC, how does that translate to future games launching on Xbox consoles? Where games barely sell anymore? PC day and date for everything in future? That's a viable possibility. Sony and Nintendo releasing games on Xbox consoles with no incentive? Keep dreaming lol.

"The time to please the fanatics and diehard is over! "

The irony, coming from probably the biggest fanatic on this site. This whole potential MS going fully multiplatform in future is having a meltdown impact on you and other Xbox fanatics.

[Christopher]

Wow. That's a lot of words to say absolutely nothing relevant to the conversation.

***PS Plus is now responsible for 50% of Playstation´s entire division revenue, ***

Why do you make up things?

[Ironmike]

Who cares its just a console

[Profchaos]

Gamers want more access in more places

That's the line that gets me like no don't tell me what I want I never sat around thinking you know what would be great on switch ratchet and clank.

Just another nonsense article from the internet garbage network telling us how we are meant to feel instead of acknowledging the general consensus of how we actually feel.

They pull this all the time with classic articles talking about gamers don't want single player anymore or gamers want to see more insert social justice topic of the month.

It's always worth remembering that the reviewers are barely gamers the reviewer put on the Spyro reignited trilogy called the first boss of Spyro 2 one of the hardest gaming experiences ever when the reality is I've seen 5 year Olds beat it without taking a hit.

F***K IGN

[ThlnkTwlce]

... So ... Why are you and others so emotionnaly engaged on either consoles... Just buy whatever you need and stop pretending these companies are your friends or enemies. This is childish as fuck. I own all of them... who cares about these corps anyway. They don't care about you... you should do the same.

[Christopher]

This is about the industry and bad journalism. I don't see where I praised one console over another, just specified how an attempt to make them all appear to have the same goals is wrong and this type of journalism only helps to confuse consumers and goals within the industry.

[GhostMirror]

“What is the consensus? One does day and date release on console and PC and is porting their games to competing platforms. The other does 2-year later PC ports of games to just Steam and has one past-exclusive on Xbox because of licensing demands.”

True, except for the part about PlayStation PC ports only being on Steam. They’re also on Epic Games Store, and some of them are even on GOG.

[Petebloodyonion]

Let me play devil's advocate here even if I can acknowledge Destin Legarie's bias toward Xbox due to him also having an influential Xbox channel.

Didn't Jim Ryan mention that Destiny 2 and FUTURE Bungie games will continue to be published on other platforms, "including rival consoles"?
https://www.gamesindustry.b...
Last I checked Marathon is an upcoming Sony-made game that will also be released on Xbox
https://www.windowscentral....

Didn't Jim Ryan explain that releasing games on other platforms eases the cost of production?
https://www.gq-magazine.co....

Jim Ryan's view on porting games to other platforms (PC) mirrors what Phil Spencer's been saying about bringing some games on PS5 after a while
https://www.playstationlife...

Sony's 180 regarding "t we believe in generations" and making most of the PS5 games also Playable on PS4.
https://www.gamesindustry.b...
in 2024 Sony's studio released 1 game on PS5 and it's also playable on PS4 (MLB the Show).

I can't find the article but like Jim Ryan (or one of the PS guys) "Hey if you told me a couple of years ago we would be making our game available to PC I would have never believed it " so what's to say the same can't happen between console?

[CrashMania]

One of the conditions for the bungie acquisition was they remain acting independent and are allowed to continue to release games on any platforms of their choosing, they aren't technically a part of the playstation studios umbrella. These are also live service games, on the other hand you don't see Helldivers 2 on Xbox.

We'll have to see if that changes with all of their recent blunders.

[Christopher]

I believe what you're missing here is that the article is saying that PlayStation and Xbox have the same goals in mind. But it's just not true.

Microsoft has said they want to get rid of exclusives. Sony has said the exact opposite but leverage PC where it benefits them.

Furthermore, the article says that these decisions are based on recent layoffs. PlayStation hasn't changed directions at all other than to likely work even less on GaaS. Nothing about their plans to be more like MS. Everything Sony is doing began at the start of this generation.

Have both companies changed on various things in the past? Sure. But those aren't what this article is about. It's about where they are putting their games and why. And it's a very poorly argued article.

[rippermcrip]

Plus the article title literally says "console exclusives". There is absolutely no reason to believe Song is bring anything to Xbox or Nintendo.

[Abnor_Mal]

I thought the new consensus was it did not matter that PlayStation is not bringing their games to Xbox because if the Steam storefront ends up on Xbox they will get to play all PlayStation games anyway. Especially with MS going PC handheld, they will be able to play every game under the sun directly or through emulation when it comes to Nintendo. That’s the mindset I see everyone been saying for the past few weeks

[VersusDMC]

How is the steam storefront going to end up on xbox? Is valve taking the 30% cut of purchases or Xbox? Both are? Seems like a waste of time and money for Valve.

[Abnor_Mal]

I couldn’t tell you how it would work out, but from what I’ve been seeing there’s quite a few people trying to claim as much.

[Hofstaderman]

Gabe must be laughing his ass off.

[fr0sty]

Phil commented that he'd be open to Steam and Epic being on Xbox... because he's desperate and at this point would be open to anything at all to get people to actually buy an Xbox. They're even starting to do fire-sale tactics like bundling other subscription services in with GamePass subs. Complete desperation.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

The Xbox is a PC. You answered your own question.

[S2Killinit]

@Abnormal
And assuming that this highlt unlikely scenario happens, why do you think that Sony will have no say in where Steam is allowed to sell PlayStation games?

Do you honestly think that Sony will be without a say in all that. Like its out of their control where their games are sold?

[Abnor_Mal]

Where did I say Sony will have no say in where Steam is allowed to sell PlayStation games? I also never said I believed this drivel, but only wanted to share what I heard in hopes others might have also heard similar comments.

I’ve just been seeing some people on YouTube and in various comment sections saying this, I’m just repeating what they said asking isn’t that the new consensus since I’ve seen it being said a few times.

I’m not anywhere in the Xbox camp and find it funny that that is now the new thing people are saying. Others have asked the same questions you and others that responded asked.

I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say that they believe that if they already have a steam account and MS makes a PC handheld and they get Steam they would be able to incorporate their PlayStation games on Steam to be playable on the device basically sidestepping Sony.

I’ve seen it discussed on YouTube by PuertoRock77 and someone called XVault, I think that’s the name.

[S2Killinit]

Well all Im saying is, its not like steam will get to sell its games elsewhere if that place is not in the original contract. Even assuming they had no limitations set, Sony (or anyone) can easily adjust future deals with steam to specify where a said game could be sold.

I just dont see that MS would be able to get Sony’s library of games because they make a deal with Steam.

[Christopher]

***Xbox they will get to play all PlayStation games anyway.***

I mean, first, after 2 years, they'd get most of them, not all. And, second, Valve would take 30% off the top, then Microsoft could take their 30% from below that, and Publishers/Developers would then get shafted with less than they'd make just selling it on PS/Xbox/PC as it is now?

Nonsensical. This would only happen if Xbox stops being called the Xbox, stops being controlled by Microsoft as far as storefronts goes, and allows Valve to put a Steam store on there that Microsoft gets nothing out of. That's a win for Valve, not Microsoft. And that's a massive win for Sony, because now their exclusives matter even more. Steam on whatever new name Xbox will be won't change because publishers will still treat it like an Xbox and not a PC. Microsoft would just lose money.

[Petebloodyonion]

I disagree simply because the model exists and is already in application.
How do you think the Physical market works?
How PC digital storefront works when releasing games on other platforms (for example PC games needing UPLAY, B. Net, Rockstar, etc.

It's simple and it's just like any business that has 2 partners in a deal and it's called a split of the profit and negotiation.
Remember Apple and Android are still in business, they still have their app stores despite having their own application on the competing stores, and last I checked there are still 2 competing giants in the smartphone business

[Christopher]

Sorry @pete but you're comparing publisher things and Steam is its own storefront. The whole point of Steam is to provide a store for publishers and not for other storefronts. Same thing with Xbox. This isn't Valve games going to Xbox, that already happens, this is about Steam, the store, becoming available on Xbox. Only way that happens is if Microsoft forgoes their cut so that Steam can get it instead.

[Abnor_Mal]

https://www.youtube.com/liv...

https://youtu.be/i4PvX6-NSG...

Those are two different YouTubers speaking about them seeing the same comments.
Unfortunately I can’t locate more as I don’t archive articles to use in discussions as bait or ammo.

[Christopher]

I mean, it's YouTube. People say anything for content there. Let's not try and make them more than just random ramblings for hits.

[Petebloodyonion]

@Tenasor
Is he making opinion pieces as news pieces?
Last I checked Christopher has been active in the forum commenting on articles like the rest of us.
Can't say I always agree with him but he usually brings arguments and points to his argumentation
Regarding his Admin status well like all referees he can't do 100% rights but seeing that he often explains his decisions and something cancels stories that he's been quite active in I do believe that he tries his best.

As far as PlayStation fans go well the majority of the game market belongs to ppl owning a PlayStation console so, logically, it will have a higher fan base, and the why there's never a Meta Quest game article on any gaming website (it's call catering to your audience)

And last but not least no one is forcing anybody to post or visit N4G

[Markusb33]

Just because Xbox has failed they always have to say oh the others are also doing it, no they are not. Great games sell and that hasnt changed, if GP was a huge success XB would not need PS or Nintendo gamers to increase sales.
Subs do not work and when your backed with billions like xb and still cant make good games something is very wrong.
After the gaslighting and lies from IGN over stella blade i would like to see them and kotaku fade away

[S2Killinit]

And then they pretend like everything is evens stevens as soon as there is something to even slightly suggest their wishful thinking is correct.

[PRIMORDUS]

I highly doubt Nintendo will ever even consider bringing over Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc. to PC. Maybe if they stopped focusing on piracy this or that we would have had some of their games on PC at this point. I have a OLED Switch but Nintendo really should consider the PC to. Sony and MS are doing their part and not worrying about that piracy bullshit. I believe this is what caused Nintendo to loose badly against Sony back in the N64/GC days. While you could have copied PS1 games later on with your PC Sony did not really care. If the N64 was CD based and the GC used real DVDs and played movies, things would have been a lot different. Nintendo could have been much closer to PlayStation or even tie it during those days. But Nintendo again lost that opportunity.

[darthv72]

...they did dip their toes into the mobile space with the mario kart tour and run games. so it may not be as far off as you think. Nintendo could be the last holdout but they will make the transition sooner rather than later. And switch 2 could be their gateway to doing so.

[jznrpg]

Can’t say ever. I don’t see it happening anytime soon but you can’t say ever. Eventually everything will be a PC. Your watch phone etc. We aren’t there yet but eventually. Even when everything is a PC I would buy a dedicated console that offers physical media.

[tehpees3]

The day Nintendo put anything on PC themselves is the day you know dedicated hardware is not sustainable anymore. Nintendo sell their systems to make profits so if they do it, it’s a PC future.

[QuantumMechanic]

There are two ways to "win" in this world: by outperforming or by undermining. One is respectable; the other is pathetic.

[Reaper22_]

Not surprised by this. You're gonna see more and more games go multiplat. It's not just the ones on xbox.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

IGN is a joke…. This reads like a school paper that lacks a work cited page because nothing is citable.

[Einhander1972]

Another day another article trying to place xbox's problems on PlayStation.

The typical Microsoft strategy, use media shills to pressure PlayStation into doing what Microsoft wants.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Xbox would need enviable exclusives first before they can “rethink” their approach to how they choose to release them.

The issue with exclusives is that their budgets are starting to exceed their market size; the risk is either too high, or simply insurmountable.

Xbox has the most money, but ZERO enviable exclusives… why?

[Destiny1080]

developers are struggling to find a reason, to even put games on xbox

microsofts own studios have abandoned ship and are know putting all xbox exclusive games on playstation

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

^^This is the true situation at hand that this article feels paid for by M$ to obscure and twist to their liking.

My Xbox friends tell me all the time how there are no games to play, and I remind them that I’m playing Helldivers 2 on ps5 while sitting in a party chat on Xbox; and I wish they’d all trade in their XsX’s to play with me.

There are always games, just not always new ones worth playing on Game Pass :/

[DivineHand125]

Make Windows or SteamOS bootable from the Xbox and it will give Microsoft the boost in the market share they are looking for.

[Skuletor]

They don't want that, when they say they want Epic Game Store and Steam on Xbox, they mean a custom version made just for Xbox where Microsoft gets a slice of the profits.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

When Phil started promising over a decade ago that “the games ARE coming”, nobody thought he meant that Xbox would become a $300-500 Steam machine.

It would be neat if I could become a PC gamer too for $300, without the worries of driver updates and cooling systems, but that doesn’t seem feasible.

I highly doubt a $300 box could run every major Steam game at 30 fps.

Please prove me wrong :/

[SCW1982]

Pretty sure there was not reaching out to either Nintendo or Sony when writing this joke piece. This reads like "because my favorite console is in trouble, everybody is in trouble."

[isarai]

Yeah not really tho, the copium is strong up in here, someone open a window 😅

[Profchaos]

IGN don't report the gaming news anymore they report their agenda.

[Asterphoenix]

This sounds like it's another paid article. But the PS stuff is already known and clear that it work on putting games on PC and mobile. Nintendo in other ways with theme park and movies.

Sony and Nintendo will still be keeping most of their games console exclusive to keep the value on their consoles. Xbox failed at this with putting it on PC day one as well as the effects of Gamepass and has needed to port to other platforms recently.

[Skuletor]

IGNorant

[Psychonaut85]

I think only real shift we’ll see on the Sony front, especially after the smash success of Helldivers 2, is that they may not wait nearly as long to port 1st party things to PC, and may make it standard practice to release multiplayer games simultaneously on both.

[SubtilizZer]

Exclusives are stupid like 9/10 times. That’s all… continue arguing.

[Skuletor]

Business wise it's not stupid, as it entices customers to their products/services over a competitors.

[SubtilizZer]

This is 2024

Cod marketing rights sells hardware.

Marketing rights sells hardware.

Exclusive don’t sell hardware with one exception to the rule…..

See Nintendo.

[Skuletor]

Whatever you say, Nintendrone

[SubtilizZer]

I’m a PC guy but yea… say what you will.

That’s the problem with you guys y’all are purely subjective. No one can speak positively about anything without being labeled as some kinda fanboy.

Don’t say something negative about PlayStation. Oh the horror! Instantly blasphemy.

I can’t insult you like you did me, my comment will get flagged….

Instead I’ll say hey man you’re really cool!

[Skuletor]

You're entitled to your opinion, as stupid as it may be.

[SubtilizZer]

Calls my opinion stupid nothing lmao but I get flagged if I do it.

It’s not stupid it’s literally fact you may argue it if you like. Simple research will prove my argument however. I refuse to do it for you.

[derek]

These phony topics are a product of the massive echo chamber that has been built up on the xbox side to present an alternative reality for fans to the one where the xbox brand continues to fail. Destin and McCaffery use their ign platform to support the continued propaganda because, what else is there for them to do. These guys like several xbox centric YouTube channels have made money on this stuff and with Microsoft essentially admitting defeat and moving their games to rival platforms the Destin of the world have lost what drives traffic to their channels. So instead of changing in response to new developments they double down a reach for bigger delusions. It's effective as you can see xbox fanatics in this comment section garunteeing that playstation will do the same destructive things xboxs is doing to their own brand because reasons. Lol

[Jingsing]

Not quite sure what the end game is here? Sony and Microsoft essentially end up paying the piper to Valve? I know Microsoft won't accept that, but it seems like Sony is? I can't remember who said it but it goes something like this "Platform holder is king" Sony while selling many PS5's right now will feel a slump in sales when the PS6 comes along because of their push into PC and not being a platform holder there. Sony needs to remember it is people paying $70 for their games on PS5 and PS+ that is funding their AAA games. People will eventually stop paying for both if their games come to PC on a regular basis. No one on PC pays that and piracy is still huge there. Especially for single player games.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

Not a great article, but anyway, I'm not happy with the exclusives' situation on PS as it is, in the case of Xbox, they had to port the games to stay relevant. Nintendo won't port their games, as that'll reduce the need to purchase their hardware, and Nintendo still makes bank off their hardware and games.

[anast]

Xbox needs too put the games on Sony platforms. Sony can choose to release old games on PC.

[ravens52]

Destin does this on his channel. He likes to lump them all together when talking about them so MS doesn't look so bad. Constantly talking about they're all cutting back on physical media, but at the same time Sony just opened a factory in Brazil to create physical media and Nintendo constantly has physical copies of their games.

[neomahi]

Yup.

[z2g]

lol I said this years ago, naturally to tons of disagrees cuz somehow ppl think Sony is magical and can bypass basic laws of economics. Xbox saw the writing on the wall before Sony and started adapting… much to the harassment of fanboys. Maybe they saw it first bc Xbox doesn’t sell like Sony does, but I also think Sony was blinded by confidence and assumptions. Sony tried to make the ps5 successful the same way they did with ps4, the problem is markets have changed in those 7 years. So that strategy isn’t working.

The ps5 is positioned to be the most successful Sony console ever, but revenue is still a problem. Exclusive games are usually very expensive bc they have to be amazing, but almost contradictory, they intentionally restrict their sales to one specific group of people - which 99% of the time reduces the total sales the game could achieve with a a wider release? Why? To sell consoles… but… the consoles are pretty much sold at a loss, so nobody is making money there either. Why do it then? Money comes from software and services later. The console is the access point, and the exclusive is the draw.

Nowadays tho that model isn’t working. That’s why studios are pushing subscription services and micro transactions. It’s why Sony purchased bluepoint and nyxxes (nyxxes specifically specializes in pc/dx based game porting). You have to now expand your revenue reach beyond your walled garden, because your walled garden doesn’t earn you enough money to justify the cost of AAA exclusive game developement.

Ironically, Sony gamers seem to be the most resistant to these changes. Maybe it’s bc MS already started this stuff years ago so those players are used to it. MS turned it into a feature - play your games anywhere. Sony still remains stubborn in this regard, but with more and more pc releases, final fantasy games showing up on Xbox and a Sony first party game now officially on gamepass for the 2nd release in a row, and its own GaaS and multiplatform releases, maybe Sony too has accepted exclusivity isn’t profitable anymore. I think square-enix is learning the same lessons.

Disagree all you want but I am 100% right on this. I read the game news as a gamer, but as an investor, I also read the business end of things too.

[neomahi]

If it's so bad then why isn't there this sudden urgency to phase out hardware? Like ripping off a band-aid, no? It's the Xbox diehard that are pulling every possible move they can to keep Xbox alive, but that's a really small percentage. Your average consumer knows better, and I don't even have to argue it. Your average consumer knows better that Microsoft's software is unstable and crashes, constantly, which is why you see so many with Apple computers.... All those iPhones out there alone sustain my point. Microsoft hardware? Why did the Xbox 360 see so much success? Because the Red Ring of Death pushed consumers to have to buy new hardware to replace Xbox's crap hardware.

Look, this is Nintendos bread and butter. If gaming crashes, they don't have anything else. They're entirely dependent on gaming, they can't afford to be so casual about what sustains them. They have to know the market. If Xbox crashes, they just go back to making office software for schools and businesses, unless Google shakes that tree with their OS topping Windows. If PlayStation tanks, Sony goes back to their usual video and audio entertainment and hardware, film industry and music publication. Nintendo has nothing. The fact that Nintendo hasn't released anything on a platform other than there's, is telling. Nintendo isn't worried. I don't know why Sony is. Porting the PC isn't even necessary. Xbox? We know what happened there, and it wasn't just Don Mattrick. Do your research and you'll find, without question, Phil Spencer was part of that team. He gave his input to Don Mattrick and how the Xbox One should be based on what he knew with Xbox Studios. And who was it that announced the launch date and price of Xbox One? Phil Spencer. He's just as guilty and just as ignorant, difference being? He was the only one stupid enough to stick around to think he could clean up the mess, and he hasn't been able to save it either, one PR disaster after the next, why? Because Xbox sees consumers as numbers, not customers. They want to see what they can get away with to pick pockets and try to put on the Im your friend mask, but your average consumer, that isn't like Destin or other Xbox fanboys, they know better and see right through the scam.

I don't know why PlayStation is going through route they are but, if Nintendo isn't worried, I don't know why anyone else should. EXCLUSIVES MOVE HARDWARE! The only reason Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy XIII changed that, was because Sony messed up the marketing of the PS3 they've since rectified, Xbox hasn't been able to because PlayStation, NINTENDO AAAANNNNNDDDDDD VAAALLLLLVVVVEEEEEE have been on their A-Game. You think PlayStation is Xbox's only competitor? Heck no! Everyone's let Nintendo huddle up quietly in the corner and run their business, and Valve is running the PC business, they ALLLLLLLLLLL dip in to Xbox's kool-aid, everyone's just fixated on the one. When Xbox goes, PlayStation still has to compete with Nintendo and Valve. Valve is just as much an enemy to Xbox as anyone else's but nobodies considered what Valve takes away from Xbox's market, and the fact people don't see or know that, makes Valve and Nintendo smile, until they're discovered. Your views are so limited...... It's a bigger world out there

[Cockney]

This left me feeling embarrassed for darth, he's better than this

[IRetrouk]

Yes they are.