Xbox surprised the gaming community by announcing its intention to release the majority of its exclusive first-party titles on the rival console, PS5. This decision is part of Xbox’s new multiformat strategy, which aims to expand its reach beyond its own hardware. The move was foreshadowed earlier in the year when the Redmond firm revealed that four console exclusive titles, including Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves, would be launching on Sony’s platform.
Industry expert Christopher Dring from GamesIndustry.biz provided further insights, suggesting that Xbox’s commitment to releasing its first-party games on PS5 will likely continue. Dring highlighted declining Xbox hardware sales in Europe and the challenges faced by publishers in supporting multiple versions of Xbox games across different hardware profiles. With the market shifting towards PC and PS5, some publishers are reconsidering their support for Xbox, questioning the effort required to scale games across different platforms.
While the official word from Microsoft is still pending, the industry is abuzz with speculation about more Xbox titles potentially coming to PS5. Rumors suggest that popular titles like Starfield and Gears of War could also be in development for Sony’s platform. As Xbox navigates its future as a hardware manufacturer, the decision to expand its game reach to PS5 could mark a significant shift in the gaming landscape.