Microsoft has ‘no plans’ to bring more Xbox exclusives to Switch or PS4
Platform holder says first-party studios will focus on Xbox games
Microsoft isn’t planning to release more first-party games on rival console platforms.
It was announced on Monday that Microsoft will publish Ori and the Blind Forest for Nintendo Switch, while it already supports Minecraft on PlayStation and Nintendo systems.
Additionally, several of its recently acquired first-party studios will honour prior commitments to bring in-development titles to non-Xbox platforms, including Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds and Double Fine’s Psychonauts 2.
However, in a statement sent to GamesIndustry.biz, Microsoft said: “As these new studios transitioned in, we were aware of some existing commitments to other platforms and will honor them. However, going forward these new studios will focus on making games for our platforms.
“We have no plans to further expand our exclusive first-party games to other consoles. We continue to believe deeply in cross-play and progression of games with the right flexibility for developers to ensure a fair and fun experience.”
Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty recently said the platform holder would determine if it makes sense to put its games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch on a case-by-case basis.
Shawn Layden, the chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, said this week the company may consider releasing first-party games on non-PlayStation platforms in a bid to reach a bigger audience. He’s reported to have said prime candidates for such a strategy would be multiplayer PC titles.
