Gaming Exclusivity: A Bygone Concept as Platforms Converge
Gaming is going in a new, unusual direction. Exclusivity is quickly becoming a bygone concept, and each platform holder is releasing its games on at least more than one platform. Sony releases its games on PC, and even though they come a bit late, it’s still a good start. Microsoft already treats Windows as its primary platform.
Microsoft’s Influence: Expanding Games Beyond Xbox Consoles
They have also brought some of their exclusives to the Nintendo Switch, such as the two Ori titles. And now new rumors have started coming in, hinting that some more Microsoft exclusives might make their way to the Switch, as well as PlayStation 5. If this turns out to be true, they might change the course of gaming forever.
Changes are already coming courtesy of Microsoft
Microsoft is basically one of the biggest tech companies in the world. When it comes to money, they probably have no shortage of it. That’s why they confidently spend tens of billions of dollars buying big publishers and developers. Microsoft has spent the past few years doing just that. They bought up-and-coming indie studios; they bought mid-sized publishers that release big-budget games; and they bought a massive publisher that owns one of the biggest franchises gaming has ever seen.
This means that many games that were previously multiplatform are now exclusive to Xbox consoles. But after the Activision deal, Microsoft had to clear the air on the exclusivity of Call of Duty games. They suggested that these games would not be exclusive to their own consoles. They would remain multi-platform for at least the next 10 years.
Cross-Platform Play: New Possibilities for Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush
Recent rumors suggest that two new games will be released on the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. One of them is Sea of Thieves, Microsoft’s own live-service pirate simulator. Another is Hi-Fi Rush. Players can play Sea of Thieves either alone or with friends. They go around the world plundering, locating treasure, finding it, and sometimes even fighting each other.
Co-op play is the main attraction of this game. Hence, it only makes sense that if it were released for the PS5 and Nintendo Switch, this game would support cross-play. This means this game needs to allow players of all platforms to play with each other.
Addressing Concerns: Microsoft’s Game Pass and Multi-Platform Availability
Ever since Microsoft started purchasing all these big companies and then started this Xbox Game Pass service, fans have been quite surprised. Many of them are seeing this development from a negative point of view. They started thinking that Microsoft planned to have some kind of monopoly on all these games.
But they have been continuously denying these things. They suggest that their intention is to give gamers access to most of the games in one place. That place is the Xbox Game Pass library. This might even have some truth to it, but what organization does anything without thinking of earning a profit?
Maybe they would collect everything in this service and then make it available on other platforms? Charging a one-time price for games is old-school. Just go to Game Pass and start playing the game of your choice. It can also work through it, washing away people’s fear.
The Future of Gaming: Breaking Barriers and Changing the Industry
Let’s see to what extent Microsoft is actually going to do all this. They have already announced a Developer Direct on Jan 18th. They might have something to say about it at that showcase.
In conclusion, gaming is experiencing a shift away from exclusivity as platforms converge. Microsoft’s influence is expanding games beyond Xbox consoles, with rumors suggesting more exclusives may make their way to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Cross-platform play opens up new possibilities for popular titles like Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush. Microsoft’s Game Pass and multi-platform availability address concerns about monopolization, as the company aims to provide gamers access to a wide range of games. This shift in the industry has the potential to break barriers and change the future of gaming.
Analyst comment
Positive news: The gaming industry is experiencing a shift away from exclusivity as platforms converge, which could lead to increased accessibility and opportunities for cross-platform play. Microsoft’s influence is expanding games beyond Xbox consoles, with rumors suggesting more exclusives may make their way to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Microsoft’s Game Pass and multi-platform availability aim to address concerns about monopolization and provide gamers access to a wide range of games. This shift has the potential to break barriers and change the future of gaming.
