Xbox’s current multiplatform strategy doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon. On the contrary, judging from what Xbox’s head Phil Spencer said in a recent interview, we will see even more Xbox games on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles in the future.
During an interview with Destin, Phil Spencer commented on the possibility of all Xbox Games getting released on PlayStation consoles in the future, saying that we are going to see more games shipping on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles in the future, and that there are no Xbox games that will not be released on other platforms, as they are finding that games releasing on multiple platforms is making Xbox stronger, allowing them to do shows like last week’s showcase, and to invest in hardware. This strategy, Spencer continued, enables Xbox to do more on platform and hardware, and it’s a system that works for them, as they are seeing quick growth in certain markets, such as in Asia, where there’s been an increase in players and playing hours on cloud. Ultimately, when asked about the possibility of Starfield launching on PlayStation 5, Phil Spencer said keeping games off other platforms is not Xbox’s strategy, so it seems like there are truly no red lines when it comes to porting former Xbox exclusives to other systems.
During the interview, where Phil Spencer briefly also touched upon the Xbox handheld, saying that they are focusing not only on the hardware side of things but also on the software side and the user experience, the Xbox head commented on the Xbox Series S and the parity clause that some developers have difficulty working around with, saying that, contrary to what most believe, the system has given Microsoft an advantage in the current market that is seeing the rise of handheld PCs and the future release of the Nintendo Switch 2. As developers are building their games on devices with different hardware capabilities, Microsoft’s teams have the advantage as they have been targeting the Xbox Series S for a while. Additionally, Spencer highlighted how current game engines have great scalability, so it definitely sounds like there’s no reason to do away with the Xbox Series S parity clause.
While some may not have been excited by Microsoft’s new strategy, some in the industry feel like it will also be the way to go for Sony, such as Moon Studios’ CEO Thomas Mahler, who recently said that he would be surprised if the Japanese company didn’t follow suit in the future for a few reasons, including a stagnating console market.
Spencer:
