Gamescom 2024 gave fans a glimpse of several big titles to look forward to. However, one of the biggest highlights of the event was not exactly a game teaser but a key detail related to Microsoft gaming. Furthermore, Activision Blizzard might be the driving force behind Microsoft’s major changes to how Xbox gaming has been working so far.
In particular, Microsoft has been under scrutiny for quite some time due to the plummeting of Xbox sales and the closure of multiple studios. Furthermore, several games that were exclusive to the console are now being released on other platforms, and the trend is going to continue.
Activision Blizzard Might Be the Reason for Current Microsoft Gaming Woes
Back on October 13, 2023, Microsoft splashed a big amount of $69 billion to purchase Activision Blizzard. The video game company is responsible for many of the biggest name titles, and it made sense that Microsoft is taking a leap.
Although many were sceptical about the amount of money being spent, it is to be expected that if someone is going to buy Activision Blizzard, it’s going to cost a lot. However, the fruits of the purchase have not made any significant difference when it comes to how fans perceive Microsoft or Xbox gaming in general. Instead, we are seeing somewhat of a downfall in the Microsoft gaming division.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer:#WholeSlate pic.twitter.com/zLDLWAPjUv
— @Zuby_Tech (@Zuby_Tech) August 21, 2024
CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, had some interesting words to share regarding Xbox gaming during Gamescom 2024.
“It’s definitely true inside of Microsoft the bar is high for us in terms of the delivery we have to give back to the company. Because we get a level of support from the company that’s just amazing and what we’re able to go do.”
This came after the confirmation that the upcoming mega title Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be released on PC and PlayStation as well and won’t be exclusive to Xbox.
Obviously, there is no concrete reason why Xbox is not rolling with console exclusives anymore, but it’s not far-fetched to say that releasing games only for Xbox hasn’t been working as a viable commercial strategy for the company.
What Does the Launch of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PlayStation Mean in the Long Run?
For a long time, we saw both Xbox and PlayStation going head-to-head for the best console title. Each console consistently released games exclusive to themselves, which made them more special. However, Xbox has changed how it approaches exclusive titles, as every major game we see now under the wing of Microsoft is released on PlayStation and PC as well.
That’s not to say that PlayStation doesn’t do the same, but games for the console are generally exclusive on release and later become available for other platforms. Many believe this is Microsoft’s attempt to recoup the money they have lost over the past few years, and it definitely highlights the mistakes made by Microsoft’s gaming division.
Also when he says "Console" that means PlayStation & Nintendo now.
— @Zuby_Tech (@Zuby_Tech) August 22, 2024
PlayStation & Nintendo is their ecosystem now. https://t.co/SuYoY3OkB7
It’s pretty much confirmed that we won’t have exclusive titles for Xbox, at least for the foreseeable future, which makes buying the console even more redundant. Sales of Xbox Series X and S are going down, and maybe Microsoft is already looking at cloud gaming to become their staple.
What are your thoughts on Microsoft’s decision to steer away from Xbox-exclusive titles? Does the costly purchase of Activision Blizzard have something to do with it? Let us know in the comments below.
