Xbox Game Pass houses a variety of games that can be suitable for the preferences of everyone, may it be large multiplayer games like Call of Duty: Warzone or linear games that can be offline like Control and sports titles as well, and their library got bigger with the latest addition of MLB The Show 24. However, the Sony-published game is also making its way to another competitor platform the Nintendo Switch.
Game Pass was an interesting proof of concept that people are willing to pay for a subscription service to access a diverse selection of games that can be played through their Xbox consoles and PCs. Some games are locked to a specific platform which can be a hassle, fortunately, MLB themselves didn’t like the idea of exclusivity which prompted both San Diego Studios and Sony to share the game with their rival platforms to avoid losing the license.
Xbox Game Pass Has To Share MLB The Show 24 With Nintendo
It is still weird to see a Sony first-party studio developing a game that can run on the Xbox and the Nintendo Switch. The age of exclusivity is coming to an end, and Microsoft does have some credit for this initiative when they stated that Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, Sea of Thieves and Pentiment will be coming to PlayStation and the Nintendo Switch.
MLB The Show 24 is available now on #NintendoSwitch! Fan-favorite modes return with new Storylines content, new modular Franchise Mode, and more!
⚾: https://t.co/ekyb1612nF pic.twitter.com/imW96phyqV
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 19, 2024
Nintendo didn’t waste any time and rode on the Xbox Game Pass hype for the MLB The Show 24 port. Gaming is a cut-throat business and Nintendo did a power move that will ramify to their benefit while Game Pass will reel from the effects.
Despite being the weaker console, there is still a huge audience and market for Nintendo fans to play a sports title due to its convenience and form factor. While Game Pass can be booted with any Xbox console or PC, the Switch still has the advantage of portability and will be a much more compelling platform to play MLB The Show 24 while on the go.
Xbox Game Pass Needs More Games That People Want
It is not enough for Xbox Game Pass to house sports titles or multiplayer games, Microsoft should invest in smaller and niche type of games that indie developers have created. The Switch became a home for indie titles and both the genre and the platform has benefited greatly from this deal.
The Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered was meant to be pulled out from the service until a last minute change, perhaps it was an indication that players are interested in this genre. It is time to face the fact that no matter how large Microsoft’s budget can be and whatever studio they acquire, Sony has them beat with first-party exclusives and timed exclusives with third- party developers and publishers like Square Enix and the recent Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
MLB The Show 24 is a massive win for Game Pass, but it is also for Nintendo. Xbox needs to secure more deals with other publishers with major franchises and come up with a limited-time deal to get an advantage.
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