If there is one console that has been making headlines for a while now, it is the Xbox. Be it for making some big changes in terms of their brand messaging, taking steps in favour of Xbox fans, making changes internally and more, we’ve been hearing a lot of things ever since the new CEO Asha Sharma took charge. And now, the company has just said that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will not be the only games launching exclusively on Xbox and PC. More exclusives are on the way. This comes weeks after fans were left confused by Microsoft’s mixed messaging around first-party games, with some titles making their way to PlayStation while others remain locked to Xbox.
Now, the company says it is still committed to exclusives, although it has also made it clear that not every first-party game will follow the same release strategy.
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Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty, during a conversation with GamesRadar, said that more Xbox exclusives are on the way. Ball said that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are “not the only titles” Xbox plans to keep exclusive. According to him, exclusive games and services remain important if Microsoft wants to grow the Xbox platform.
The statement follows Microsoft’s announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase, where it confirmed that Gears of War: E-Day would not launch on PlayStation 5, despite earlier rumours suggesting otherwise. Clockwork Revolution was also announced as a permanent Xbox console exclusive instead of a timed exclusive.
However, Microsoft is not returning to a traditional exclusives-only strategy. Booty reiterated that Xbox will continue making decisions on a case-by-case basis. This means some first-party games could remain exclusive to Xbox and PC, while others may still launch on PlayStation depending on Microsoft’s plans. The company also confirmed that large live service titles will continue to be released across multiple platforms, as those games benefit from having a bigger player base. For now, Xbox has not revealed which upcoming games will receive the exclusive treatment next.
For the unversed, Xbox announced a large-scale restructuring earlier this month that included around 3,200 job cuts and changes across its game development business. As part of the shake-up, Xbox also confirmed it would part ways with four of its studios.
Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions are returning to independent ownership, allowing both studios to keep their intellectual property and continue working on future projects outside Xbox. Meanwhile, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are set to move under new owners, with Microsoft saying funding is already in place to ensure development of the Senua franchise and State of Decay 3 continues without disruption. The company also revealed that Arkane’s future is still under review.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the restructuring was necessary because the company’s current business model had become difficult to sustain. According to Sharma, rising operating costs, a smaller console install base and the challenge of managing a large portfolio of studios forced Microsoft to rethink its strategy. Despite these changes, Xbox had said that all previously announced first-party games are still in development and remain on track.
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