Last week, the video game community and more specifically, the Xbox community was in an uproar following the reports and rumors of Xbox-exclusive titles going to other platforms. Following the backlash, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced plans for business update where they would detail the plans and vision for the future of Xbox. Today, on the Special Edition of the Official Xbox Podcast, Xbox confirmed that they are bringing 4 Xbox titles to other platforms. They also talked about their vision on game exclusivity, the future of Xbox hardware, and the overall Xbox promise.
Regarding the 4 Xbox games going to other platforms, none of the games have been officially announced and confirmed but each have been available to Xbox players for at least a year. This includes hidden gems and live service games whose communities will benefit from welcoming more players. More details on what these titles are will be shared soon. Reports suggest that Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves will be the first to go multi-platform. Spencer did make it clear that Starfield and Indiana Jones & The Great Circle, two games that were reported to go multi-platform, will be staying with Xbox.
Talking about why they chose to go in this direction, They said that “by bringing these games to more players, we not only expand the reach and impact of those titles, but this will allow us to invest in either future versions of these games, or elsewhere in our first-party portfolio. There is no fundamental change to our approach on exclusivity.” Xbox will continue its commitment to game preservation. This means rewarding players with the most robust, player-friendly experiences, including backwards compatibility, cross-play, cross-save progression, convenient cloud gaming, and more.
Regarding hardware, the Xbox team belives that the console will continue to provide a flagship experience for players where they can get the best value and convenience. It will serve as a place where Game Pass can continue to provide unprecedented access to an ever-evolving library of games. The team made it clear that Game Pass will continue to be only available on Xbox platforms.
During the Podcast, Xbox also announced and revealed the first Activision Blizzard game coming to Xbox Game Pass: Diablo IV. It’ll be available beginning on March 28.