In a move to broaden its gaming reach following the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s Xbox announced plans to release four video-game titles on external platforms, revealed gaming CEO Phil Spencer on a podcast Thursday.
While specifics about the titles were not disclosed by Spencer, he indicated that these games have been available to Xbox players for at least a year. Notably, Spencer clarified that this expansion does not encompass highly anticipated exclusives like “Starfield” or the upcoming “Indiana Jones” title.
Emphasizing a shift in industry dynamics, Spencer suggested that exclusive titles tied to specific hardware will diminish in significance over the next five to 10 years. The acquisition of Activision marked a strategic move by Microsoft to bolster its presence in the competitive videogame market, positioning itself to challenge industry leader Sony, which recently revised down its PlayStation 5 sales forecast for the fiscal year ending March.
Last month, Microsoft announced a reduction in workforce, with 1,900 employees at Activision Blizzard and Xbox facing layoffs, constituting approximately 8% of the overall Microsoft Gaming division.
Spencer’s remarks on game exclusivity coincide with recent statements from Sony’s chief financial officer, indicating the potential for first-party games to expand onto other platforms, a strategy aimed at improving operating profit margins.
In a related development, “Diablo IV”, the first Activision Blizzard game post-acquisition, is slated to join Xbox’s Game Pass lineup from March 28, according to an Xbox blog post.
Despite these industry moves, research firm NewZoo predicts a slowdown in growth for multi-game subscription services, such as Sony’s PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, in the current year.