Xbox Could Be Rethinking Its Approach to Exclusive Games, Insider Claims

Xbox is having “big discussions” about releasing first-party console exclusives again, according to a reputable insider. Microsoft’s gaming division has undergone some major changes over the past few years, and now that there is new leadership steering the brand, there’s talk that it could change back into what it once was. Part of that rumored shift could entail Xbox reversing its recent trend of multi-platform releases.

Console exclusivity has faced an uncertain future across the gaming sector lately. While Nintendo remains as exclusive-heavy as ever, PlayStation has released many of its games on PC, and even some on Xbox, although now there are reports it will dial that practice back. Former Xbox President Sarah Bond even claimed console exclusives were “antiquated” as part of the brand’s infamous “This is an Xbox” campaign that sought to bring the Microsoft gaming experience to a wider range of systems. While the company saw some success with this mindset, it’s run into its fair share of obstacles, too, and now there’s word it could be course-correcting.

“Return to Xbox” New Head of Xbox Commits to the Console Experience

New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma wants to bring Xbox hardware back to the forefront of the company’s core gaming strategy.

Xbox is Reportedly Debating a Return to Exclusives Amid Brand Refresh

In a recent episode of the Xbox Two Podcast, industry insider and leaker Jez Corden claimed Xbox is having “very, very big discussions about the exclusivity stuff” internally. While he did not offer any specifics on who was involved in these talks and where it seems the brand is leaning, he did mention they are coming as part of a larger conversation about what kind of company Xbox wants to be. In recent years, the gaming giant has positioned itself as both a publisher and a platform, but it sounds like it now faces a choice to focus on one side first to drive a stronger financial future. For what it’s worth, newly appointed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has acknowledged the demand for exclusives, which might signify a shift in that direction.

Even from an outside perspective, there appear to be benefits to both sides of the exclusivity coin. On one hand, Xbox has made a considerable amount of money from bringing first-party franchises like Forza to PlayStation systems. On the other, Xbox hardware revenue has been falling recently, and going back to exclusives could help drive higher console sales. While Microsoft’s games and services have made up for the dip in console revenue up until this point, there’s no guarantee that the same trend will continue into the future. Corden also points out that Xbox is Microsoft’s most valuable consumer-facing brand, so by not releasing exclusives, it may be “leaving money on the table” by not fully capitalizing on that segment.

The question of console exclusivity may not be the only thing Xbox is rethinking. A leaked internal memo recently revealed that Sharma claimed Xbox Game Pass has become too expensive and called for a reworked, more flexible business model to reach a larger consumer base. Sharma has also steered the brand away from the previous “This is an Xbox” philosophy, so the new CEO is clearly not afraid to reverse course if the current trajectory does not seem to be working out. That makes a return to exclusivity seem more likely, at least to the point where it could be on the table, even if Xbox doesn’t end up making any dramatic changes.

Find all 10 pairs

For now, none of this is confirmed, and even if these conversations are happening, it’s uncertain which way Xbox will go. Fans know that Halo: Campaign Evolved will get a PS5 launch later this year, and Microsoft has confirmed future Halo games will come to PlayStation consoles, too, although that part could change. Xbox may be facing a big moment in its evolution, and its next steps could be to turn back and do things the old way, at least to an extent.