The future of Xbox will be revealed tonight. After months of intense speculation over the fate of its exclusive games, Microsoft’s iconic console maker is ready to clear the air.
Fans and aficionados alike are on tenterhooks. If you spend too much time online, like many gamers do, you may be inclined to believe that Xbox is about to throw in the towel. A scary thought for anyone who grew up vanquishing alien armies on Halo or recklessly racing supercars on Forza.
Thankfully, the truth probably isn’t as dramatic as the overzealous hordes on Twitter have made out. Apparently, Xbox is poised to release a bunch of its prized exclusives on PS5. Does that mean Master Chief is swinging on to PlayStation? We wouldn’t bet on it.
How to watch Xbox’s big event
Even so, with all the chatter online, you’d at least wager that Xbox is planning something big to capitalise on this moment. Well, not exactly.
Of all places, the future of Xbox will be divulged on a podcast, per Xbox chief Phil Spencer. Is this supposed to be a sideshow or the main event? No matter how Xbox spins it, podcasts by gaming companies are niche content for completionists, not the masses. Still, at least you’ll be able to watch it on YouTube, where it will air at 8pm tonight (Thursday, February 15).
Please join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast.
— Xbox (@Xbox) February 12, 2024
Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business. pic.twitter.com/TxwWJVUbgx
What games is Xbox releasing on PS5?
As for what we can expect to hear, word is Xbox may export a handful of games to PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Comprising a mix of lesser known and more popular fare from studios it owns, the titles being thrown around include Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Sacred cows like Halo and the Gears of War series, on the other hand, are likely staying put.
What else will Xbox announce?
If Xbox wants to keep loyalists happy, it will need to prove it's still committed to hardware. So, we may see that mythical Xbox handheld device we’ve been hearing about for years.
We're listening and we hear you. We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) February 5, 2024
We also previously learned that Xbox is planning a refreshed version of both the Xbox Series X and S for this year, though the company has since distanced itself from those claims. Further out, the next-generation of Xbox hardware was previously targeting a 2028 release date.
More broadly, the company has long been talking about putting Xbox on every screen imaginable. To some extent, this is already possible: Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play an assortment of games on mobiles, laptops, TVs, VR headsets and Xbox consoles. For its next act, Xbox could start publishing more games on PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
Why now?
To understand what Xbox is plotting, you first have to get to grips with the nature of game licensing, as defined through first-party and third-party games. Trust us, it’s more exciting than it sounds.
Strictly speaking, first-party games are made for and released exclusively on a single platform. That’s why The Last of Us and God of War are synonymous with PlayStation; likewise Halo and Forza on Xbox.
Meanwhile, third-party titles are typically made by an external studio for multiple platforms. Think blockbuster franchises like GTA, FIFA, and Call of Duty. They tend to outsell exclusives due to the bigger pool of players within their reach. In fact, eight of the top 10 bestsellers of last year were third-party games.
Historically, gaming giants have leveraged first-party exclusives to drive console sales. But, as the industry has consolidated over the years, and the cost of making games and the systems they’re played on have spiralled, the line between first- and third-party games have started to blur.
Just last week, Sony launched the multiplayer shooter Helldivers 2 on PS5 and PC simultaneously. The gamble paid off, with the game becoming an instant hit. With PS5 sales expected to decline this year, Sony just announced that it will bring more of its first-party games to PC.
Xbox is having an even tougher time. According to execs, the company is losing money on consoles, which we know are being heavily outsold by the PS5. Meanwhile, Game Pass hasn’t turned out to be the Netflix of games as once hoped – at least not in terms of sheer numbers.
As a result, Xbox is making an even bolder move than its closest rival. Behind closed doors, Xbox’s leadership have claimed they want to become the number one cross-platform publisher.
Does that mean an Xbox is no longer worth buying? Of course not. If Xbox gets this right, we may wind up seeing a mix of exclusives and exports. Ultimately, that could be a boon for gamers, who will get to play even more games on the platform of their choice. For many, that will still be an Xbox console or Game Pass.
