Multiple Xbox Exclusive Games Are Allegedly Headed To Other Platforms

Microsoft and Sony have dominated the gaming landscape limited to their respective ecosystems. But a huge shift is allegedly about to happen. Recent rumors suggest that Xbox is planning to pivot its whole strategy when it comes to first-party games. It seemingly wants to release some—if not all—first-party titles on other platforms. This multi-platform approach is coming sooner than anybody expected and on a much larger scale.

Who knows. Heard both "some games" and "all games" from different sources.

— Jez (@JezCorden) February 4, 2024

All The Rumored Xbox Exclusives So Far

Starfield is among the major mentions that have appeared as a part of these rumors. The recently released Bethesda entry was exclusive to the Xbox ecosystem, including PC. However, the new multi-platform approach could cause it to come out on Sony PlayStation 5 “eventually” in the future. XboxEra and Jez Corden, an accredited insider, said the following tidbit. Jez claims that Halo Infinite is also a possibility.

Indeed, Starfield isn't new anymore though. I expect it to be on PlayStation eventually too.

— Jez (@JezCorden) February 4, 2024

Previously, Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves ports have also been rumored to land on other platforms like Sony. Hi-Fi Rush has been verified to be arriving on the Nintendo Switch and the PS5 by Tom Warren, the senior editor at The Verge. An official announcement for the Hi-Fi Rush port is expected in a few weeks. But, even the unreleased Xbox first-party titles will not escape the grasp of the new multi-platform strategy.

Apparently, even Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is rumored to be arriving on other platforms. That was stated by Shepshal Nick, another credible insider with a good track record. Tom Warren also added Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to the mix. An exclusive report claims it will arrive on the PS5 months after launching for Xbox.

Sadly, Starfield isn't where the plans end. Reckon you'll probably see Hellblade II as well https://t.co/3voBNLc27V

— King Gronk Nick  (@Shpeshal_Nick) February 4, 2024

Andy Robinson, a prominent editor at VGC, has also claimed that even more Xbox entries are coming to other platforms than currently reported. 

Why Is Xbox Going Third-Party?

The rumor spread rapidly in the industry when a ZeniMax employee came forward and claimed that Sarah Bond would speak in Spring to explain why Xbox is adopting the multi-platform approach. As initially spotted by Idle Sloth on Twitter, the Xbox community veteran Timdog has shared a plethora of reasons that led Microsoft to make such a drastic decision while discussing the fiasco in a YouTube video.

The primary reason is the hardware sales, which allegedly did not meet forecasts, causing the CFO to get “spooked.” Xbox One was also “more wanted” than Series consoles. The decline in hardware year-over-year sales has been a major culprit in causing the massive shift. Additionally, Tim mentions the consoles did not sell well despite being priced at $350 in the last three months. 

Microsoft will also supposedly face no resistance to buying more companies in the future if it publishes on other platforms. All in all, we suggest taking the rumors with a huge grain of salt. These rumors have been propagated by a slew of credible insiders in the industry despite no official announcements so far.

However, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has recently claimed that Xbox can be “a good publisher“ on all platforms following the Activision Blizzard deal. The conglomerate may shift its stance or adjust it after seeing backlash from players.