When Microsoft released the Xbox Sequence X and S in November 2020, they did so with several games exclusive to the platform. New Halo and Forza games tied to Microsoft systems are inevitable but won’t be available at release. Instead, Microsoft made headlines by saying that they would focus on multiplatform due to the benefits for the industry and its players.
Fast forward to January 2022, and Microsoft’s acquisitions netted ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard $8.1 billion and $75.4 billion, respectively. Microsoft then announced that platform exclusives were back on the menu and that their new series like The Elder Scrolls, Call of Duty, and Diablo would be treated as exclusives.
Fans of the series, unhappy with Microsoft’s bait-and-switch, objected to what they saw as Microsoft’s early statements as little more than dishonest marketing. Whether these players are right or wrong, Microsoft will change course again and announce four games appearing on rival consoles shortly.
While these thoughts are tedious, they paint a different picture of Microsoft’s performance and what they want from gaming in the future. The multiplatform route has great potential for developers and gamers alike, but how likely is Microsoft to follow suit?
Microsoft’s struggle
The difficulties and changes in Microsoft’s growth trajectory are likely a result of the economic performance of its console divisions. The Xbox Series has sold less than half of Sony’s PS5 systems, limiting potential profits from exclusive games. The multiplatform game, across all console systems, has access to an audience of over one hundred million users. Microsoft sold about 21 million Xbox Series systems by early 2024, so if the games didn’t perform well, they could lose developers’ and publishers’ money.
Much of this problem is due to the rising costs of developing modern AAA games. In pursuit of the enormous world and best graphics, today’s popular games can cost over one hundred million US dollars to produce. It takes a considerable number of sales to break even. Achieving these sales may not be possible for Microsoft on Xbox and PC alone. Since the difference in console sales in the middle of the console generation is still very large. Going multiplatform may be the best option for Microsoft to keep sales high.
There’s also a severe problem with fan acceptance if Microsoft makes its massive library of third-party games exclusive. Games enjoyed for decades on PlayStation and Nintendo and now tied to Windows and Xbox will result in significant negative attention. Microsoft would prefer to avoid public outrage in an era of perceived online popularity and negative press.
Benefits for players
Video game players are notorious for arguing which system is better, so the action has been shortened to “console/PC warrior.” Such conflicts are often played out in a good mood. With the understanding that the best strategy for the players is to have an open environment. Multiplatform is almost always suitable for gamers, so whether it’s force or not, Microsoft’s multiplatform move is very welcome.
The microcosm of the benefits of multi-platforming is best represent not only in video games but also in the related field of online casino gaming. Let’s look at casino guides’ availability and what they tell you about the online betting industry. In this example, the comparison site differentiates Swedish online casino features and bonuses, such as free spins and deposit matches. Most of the games on these websites are generic. so the competition is fueled by casinos offering the best user experience. And this is also true for many different countries and languages. Design, usability, and unique benefits are essential in this industry, and most gamers also welcome similar benefits in video games.
Fewer exclusives also mean that the social aspects of the game can be improve. Games always have an element of competition and cooperation, and platform exclusivity limits these concepts. Something will be missing if some of your friends like multiplayer games only available on a platform that half of your group owns. Cross-play has made great strides in solving this problem for multiplatform releases but does nothing for online games available on a single system.
Sony and Nintendo Guide
Whatever Microsoft chooses or is force to do, Sony or Nintendo will unlikely follow suit. Sony has made a name for itself with exclusive projects such as Spider-Man. The Last of Us, and God of War. Nintendo is better known in this regard for international hits such as Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon. Since these companies have sold enough platforms to recoup the development costs. They don’t want to give their players a reason to switch to another console.
On the other hand, there are questions about the long-term balancing of exclusives on Sony and Nintendo platforms. Most games will sell copies on launch systems in the first few months. A re-release on other platforms in a year or two may not harm the company’s bottom line. But it will still introduce players who may have missed the series.
This represents a delicate balance between Sony and Nintendo. Sony later tested the possibilities of multiplatform releases with mixed results. Although Nintendo tends to be more restrained after its initial experiments on computers. The move to multiplatform is challenging for Nintendo due to the Switch’s limited power. Later ports to other systems will inevitably result in much better performance and visuals than the original versions, and the company doesn’t want its system to look bad in comparison.
It’s too early to tell how much Microsoft will drink from multiplatform, but as gamers, let’s hope openness becomes the new normal. At a time when games are becoming more expensive, we all want to make it easier to share our positive experiences. The company’s next two years are worth watching as they could set the trajectory for the next generation of consoles over the next decade.
