Xbox First-Party Games Expanding to PlayStation and Nintendo, But Xbox Hardware Here to Stay

With Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, the tech giant has secured its spot as the largest third-party game publisher globally. So, it’s no surprise that Xbox leader Phil Spencer’s recent comments about releasing future Xbox games on platforms like Nintendo and PlayStation have stirred up quite a bit of discussion. At face value, his statements make a lot of sense.

In a captivating chat on Gamertag Radio, Spencer expressed his intent to broaden the reach of Xbox games and services. He stated, “I want people to be able to experience the games that we build, the services that we offer on as many devices as we can.” Even though Xbox takes pride in its native experience, Spencer emphasized that diversifying platforms is also on the agenda. The conversation, shared on Danny Peña’s YouTube channel, was brimming with insights and reflections on the history of Xbox, from the original console to the Xbox 360.

For those unfamiliar with the console wars, a brief history lesson might be helpful to highlight why Spencer’s remarks are stirring the pot. Remember Sonic the Hedgehog? Before his big screen debut, he was the face of Sega gaming exclusivity. In fact, until Sonic Adventure 2 made its way to the GameCube, Sega games were mostly confined to their own platforms. Unfortunately for Sega, their Dreamcast console couldn’t compete with the powerful PlayStation 2, leading Sega to become a third-party developer—ironically, a void soon filled by Microsoft’s Xbox.

During the inception of the “DirectX Box” (which would later evolve into the Xbox), it had compatibility with Sega Dreamcast titles due to its connection to Windows CE. Although this feature didn’t make it to the final product, the Xbox still clinched exclusive rights to several Dreamcast-era sequels, including Jet Set Radio Future.

At first glance, Spencer’s comments might sound like the desperate admissions of a struggling console brand, but in reality, Microsoft is anything but floundering. By becoming the largest third-party game publisher, Xbox is shifting its strategy to prioritize game sales over platform exclusivity.

Phil Spencer reinforced this vision by saying, “We want everybody to be able to play on Xbox, and it does mean more of our games shipping on more platforms, not just PlayStation. We love the work that we do with Nintendo, we love what we do with Valve on Steam, and that’s going to continue.”

Some might wonder if Xbox is following Sega’s path, but that’s far from the truth—Microsoft’s financial muscle ensures that’s not the case. However, the upcoming generation of Xbox consoles will need to deliver exceptional offerings to stand out against competitors like the possibly hybrid “Switch 3” and whatever powerhouse PlayStation concocts next, both of which are bound to promote their exclusive games as key selling points.

Still, Microsoft must tread carefully. If Xbox becomes perceived merely as a suite of games and services rather than a distinguished hardware platform, they might face the harsh reality: “When everybody’s on Xbox, no one will be.”