Stellar Blade is an upcoming exclusive for the PlayStation 5. The title has been talked about in the gaming fraternity because of its character design for its protagonist, Eve, and its graphical fidelity. Per the studio’s recruitment page, their next project is a cross-platform title.
Nothing else about the game is known at the time of writing. But, interestingly, the studio chose to follow up an exclusive for Sony with a cross-platform title. While seemingly ordinary, this announcement might open some exciting avenues for both Xbox and PlayStation in the future.
Stellar Blade developer’s next project might make the title a timed-exclusive
As stated, the announcement comes from the studio’s official website. Some studios make exclusives and cross-platform titles. Shift Up has developed plenty of cross-platform titles, too. But if the studio’s subsequent cross-platform project releases on Xbox, it will mean that the Stellar Blade could also have a release on Microsoft’s console in the future.
The reason is that the developer will have the goodwill of the two console companies, having worked with them. Additionally, if the studio’s upcoming title proves to be a success, its aspirational value might compel Microsoft to try and get it on their console lineup.
Xbox’s Phil Spencer has already been very vocal about not liking exclusives, resulting in the company porting four of its popular exclusives to the PS5 and Switch. So, since one party’s exclusives are going multiplatform, Sony might employ a similar approach and try to expand its consumer base by porting its exclusives to other platforms.
Xbox is diluting exclusives, but Sony might not play nice
Microsoft’s Gaming brand has been on the receiving end in its rivalry with Sony for quite some time now. Generations of consoles have passed, and Microsoft seems unable to find a chink in the armor that would allow it to reign as the market dominator.
This might make one think Spencer and company’s approach of gradually ridding gamers of exclusives is a Hail Mary pass to save the console brand. As an extension of this argument, Sony is enjoying a 3-to-1 lead in sales and has no incentive to do the same.
While this is partially true, Sony has admitted that its latest console is in the latter stage of its life cycle, so porting exclusives to other platforms might not be such a bad idea after all. Only time will tell if exclusives will remain or disappear from the industry.
What do you think? Would a cross-platform title coming to Xbox after an exclusive make Shift Up port their upcoming to Microsoft’s console? Or do you think that all this is a distant dream? We would love to know your thoughts in the comment section below!
