On the heels of speculation regarding the potential move of several Microsoft first-party games to competing platforms, the company announced early Tuesday that it would host a business update event next week to discuss the “future of Xbox.” Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, shared the news via X (formerly Twitter), indicating that additional information would be provided for the Xbox community. While specific details about the event’s agenda were not disclosed, sources suggest that Microsoft will outline its strategy for releasing exclusive titles—including Hi-Fi Rush—on platforms owned by Sony and Nintendo.
The announcement left Xbox players confused following reports the previous day, which claimed that a number of first-party games, traditionally exclusive to Xbox and PC, might be set to launch on the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Among the games highlighted were major titles from Microsoft-owned Bethesda, such as Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones game. Additionally, speculation persisted regarding other first-party titles, like Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi Rush and Rare’s Sea of Thieves, transitioning to multi-platform availability.
“We’re listening and we hear you,” Spencer stated in his post on X. “We’ve been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.” Although he withheld further details about the event, a report from Technology News indicated that Microsoft plans to discuss its strategy for making Xbox exclusives available on rival consoles.
We’re listening and we hear you. We’ve been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) February 5, 2024
The report from Technology News suggested that Microsoft had initially scheduled the business update event for later in February and intended to reveal Hi-Fi Rush’s launch on the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Recent datamined assets from the game hinted at a possible multi-platform release, with XboxEra reporting that it could make its debut on these consoles in the first quarter of 2024.
In another report on Monday, Technology News mentioned that Microsoft was exploring the idea of bringing the newly announced Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to the PS5, claiming numerous first-party games were likely to transition to Nintendo Switch as well. Despite the swirling rumors and apprehensions within the Xbox community, Microsoft has yet to confirm this significant shift in its strategy. Anticipation builds as the parent company prepares to clarify its stance on which titles will go multi-platform, and which will maintain exclusivity during next week’s event. While speculation around Starfield transitioning to the PS5 circulates, it is generally expected that flagship franchises like Halo and Gears of War will remain exclusive to the Xbox platform.
It is also essential to remember that Microsoft has previously made first-party titles available on rival consoles. For instance, Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps—published by Xbox Game Studios—were released as timed exclusives on Windows PC and Xbox before eventually making their way to the Nintendo Switch.
