Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves Reportedly Slated for Release Beyond Xbox
Following recent speculation regarding Microsoft’s potential move to release its exclusive first-party games on rival consoles, new reports shed light on the first titles earmarked for such a transition. According to sources familiar with Microsoft’s strategy, as reported by The Verge, Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment are slated to be the inaugural Xbox games to venture beyond the confines of Xbox consoles. Additionally, there are indications that Sea of Thieves, Xbox’s popular multiplayer pirate adventure, could also expand its reach with a broader release on other platforms in the near future.
While Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment have emerged with more concrete timelines for their cross-platform debuts, other notable titles reportedly in contention for a non-Xbox release include Bethesda’s highly anticipated Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. However, it’s worth noting that the latter may initially enjoy a period of exclusivity on Xbox consoles. Furthermore, rumors suggest that iconic Xbox franchise Gears of War could follow suit and make its way to alternative gaming platforms.
This strategic pivot represents a significant departure from Microsoft’s traditional approach to console exclusivity and marks a potentially transformative shift in the gaming landscape. The decision is speculated to stem from various factors, including a perceived slowdown in Game Pass subscriber growth and Microsoft’s recent acquisitions of major game developers such as Activision Blizzard and Bethesda.
In a bid to secure regulatory approval for its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has reportedly struck deals with Nintendo and Sony to ensure continued availability of Call of Duty on their respective platforms. These moves underscore Microsoft’s evolving stance towards platform exclusivity and signal a broader reconfiguration of its gaming ecosystem in the competitive console market. This will lead to an interesting shift in console exclusivity in the upcoming years.