Phil Spencer Says Xbox Is Done Trying To Convince PS5 & Switch Players To Move Over

In before the doom bringers and naysayers.

Spot on. Nothing wrong with that at all imo. Fact - no one loads up a game and gets more or less enjoyment out of it simply because a certain group of people can't. We load up games and get lost in them. Simple.

I'm all for this direction. It's healthy for the market and it's best all round, and like he said (despite what a few would have you believe) they're still very much invested in the platform, and next gen, being touted as feature competitive and the biggest technological leap of any generation, is going to be jaw dropping. Watch this space.

Instead his current strategy is to move all Xbox owners over to Sony and Nintendo. Haha

That's the problem when we cut pieces of the response, here is his full response and tell me if you understand the same thing:

"And obviously not every screen is equal. Yeah, like there’s certain things we can’t do on the other closed platforms that we can do on open platforms, cloud – it’s different. But games should be the thing that we’re focused on. And the strategy that we have allows us to do big games, while also supporting our native platform from hardware to the platform and services that we have and that’s going to be our approach."

"Phil: It’s maybe not what I was going to say on stand at the time. But yeah, I would love to make all of the money for all of the games that we ship right, like obviously we make more on our own platform. It’s one of the reasons that investing in our own platform is important. But there are people, whether it’s their libraries on a PlayStation or Nintendo, whether it’s they like the controller better, they just like the games that are there.

And I don’t want to then look at that and say, well, there’s no way that we should be able to build a business there, find fans of our franchises there. I’m not trying to move them all over to Xbox anymore. People were all so invested in where our games are. Let’s just allow more people to play and yes, the 70% that we make on games on other platforms is helpful to us being able to build great portfolios like we showed at the Dev Direct and I hope this will continue to show through the rest of the year."

What I understand is that they are aware they make more money on their ecosystem and therefore invest in their own ecosystem (hardware, service, platform).

But they are aware that this strategy has its limits; some players already have their game catalog installed on PlayStation and Nintendo, and they know they won't be able to bring everyone over to Xbox. "I'm not trying to move them all," meaning he is not trying to bring everyone (just some), especially the big fans who already have a large game base installed elsewhere, which is a very different proposition!

He is not at all saying that they want to send everything to other consoles, it is even the opposite, he repeatedly emphasizes that their priority is above all on the cloud and PC, and on their own ecosystem: "Not every screen is equal", because that's where it brings in the most. It's just good business sense. At no time does he mention other consoles as a priority. They see it as a bonus, they don't spit on the 70%, it's better than nothing, but they prefer to favor their own ecosystem. That's why, concerning competing platforms, they remain, de facto, on a case-by-case basis, and temporary exclusives like Forza Horizon 5 arriving 4 years later.

You can be sure that Forza Horizon 6 won't take long to be released and will follow the same pattern, 4 years later on PS5. But when you love a franchise, are you willing to wait 4 years? Of course not, and you can be sure that many PlayStation players will love FH5 and will rush to get Game Pass or an Xbox to play FH6.

"Let’s just allow more people to play"

That's a terrible idea, they should just pursue a strict exclusionary model because apparently that is what some people want/demand (sarcasm mode fully engaged) these days 😅. Huge props for the clarity from team Xbox 👏.

@fatpunkslim Do you really believe that FH6 will release 4 years later on PS? I hope that you are proved to be correct, it would be a very smart way to sell Xbox consoles, tease PS owners with the latest but now old game in a series, then make them jump for the new shiny. I just don't see it, I think it will be a same day release across all formats.

You could just stop at “Phil Spencer says Xbox is done”.

Love this site and no offence intended to the writer of this but sick of these same stories telling us the same thing 55 different ways!!
I know Elden Ring stories don't get much traffic here but there was a beta over the weekend would be good to see if anyone played that what there thoughts are??
News about games would be better than just Xbox being a 3rd party publisher constantly being told in different ways this will probably get deleted but have to say it!!

@Sol4ris Of course, that's what they're going to do, you can be sure of it. I'll bet you a bitcoin if you want. FH6 will not be day on others consoles, the priority is toi favor their own ecosysteme and when a franchiose reach its limits, it's ported on competing consoles, but multiplatform strategy mainly councerne cloud and pc, he repeatd it many times, and de facto, that's what we see currently

@fatpunkslim I would be mind blown if it takes them 4 years to put FH6 on PS5. We are real close to them just launching all games on as many platforms as possible day one IMO.

@FraserG I know I get that it is what it is you're getting the views and what not with these stories it probably just me grumpy Mondays ha!
I still love this site though you guys and gals do a great job💪👍

@fatpunkslim Lol that’s coping hard. Don’t be shocked whenever Halo, Gears or Forza ends up releasing on competing consoles day one sooner rather that later.

@Ricky-Spanish count yourself lucky it’s only here on Monday and the staff have a day off! It’s been everywhere else all weekend!

@FatalBubbles However, apart from false media speculations, nothing proves the contrary. Apart from historically multiplatform games, no game has been released day one on PlayStation, none. Indy is released a few months later, but that's special as it’s a Disney license negotiated before the acquisition. Doom, Outer Worlds, Call of Duty, even Hellblade 2 are historically multiplatform games. The rest have release windows of 4, 5, or 8 years, like Sea of Thieves, Age of Empires, FH5. Absolutely no example confirms that they are very close to releasing day one on other platforms. The priority is PC and the cloud and their own ecosystem "not every screen is equal."

@FraserG I take it that's why their hasn't been an article on Level 5 bringing Fantasy Life i : the Girl Who Steals Time. Their first published game to Xbox in 20 years.

@IOI How long have you been repeating the same thing? I bet with you that in 2 years, you'll still be repeating the same thing and it will still not be the case.

@Kaloudz

Fact - no one loads up a game and gets more or less enjoyment out of it simply because a certain group of people can't. We load up games and get lost in them. Simple

You are absolutely right, but one can never tell from reading the comments.
And that is because some folks act like they find some sort of perverted pleasure in knowing that x, y or z is an exclusive to their plastic worship box😅😅.

@fatpunkslim it’s most likely because this strategy has only just been decided upon (most likely after seeing how well the original 4 games sold).

MS can’t just magically make the games appear day 1, that were already announced/working on. it will probably start to change going forward with future releases, when the showcases start announcing next years games etc.

They’ve already also decided that going forward MS games will show their branding.

@PsBoxSwitchOwner It seems like it's everywhere all the time mate and anytime it's worded slightly differently from the previous time it's shocking new news!!
Like I said it's the same story told 55 different way and each way needs it's time to shine 🤷

@PsBoxSwitchOwner For 2 years now, we've been hearing "probably," and apparently you're not tired of repeating the same thing, even though it still isn't the case! Do you really think companies like Xbox make these kinds of decisions on a whim? They've been doing multiplatform for years; there is no fundamental difference. At no time did they say they were stopping exclusive games, at least temporarily. Be careful, I'm 100% for this multiplatform strategy, I'm just saying it's not all or nothing, and their strategy is much more nuanced and balanced than some want to make us believe.

This is why I actually prefer Xbox over PlayStation at the moment, as they let me choose how and where to play my games and even my save files can follow, whilst on the other side, I have to rebuy my games on PC and no saves transfer either.

All I care about, whether it be Xbox, PS or Nintendo is playing the games and if a future Xbox console offers great features and performance then I would absolutely consider it, even if their games are elsewhere

@fatpunkslim Only for a couple of months actually, since the ‘no red lines’ comment, the Halo MCC leak and the official announcement of FH5 for PS5.

Happy to take on that bet but get it together, you’re already having a breakdown by saying you’re “100% for this multiplatform strategy” while at the same time refusing to accept it, things have changed, it’s not the same porting Ori to Switch than Forza to PlayStation.

I'm ok with Microsoft releasing games on other platforms as long as they keep producing their own hardware or give us a way to fully access our library externally.

That’s fine and all, but Phil needs to remember to put in effort to prevent too many Xbox gamers from switching over to either PlayStation or Steam. At the moment they’re not doing very well at retaining the Xbox console user base.

Smart move to turn around a failing business and potentially grow it bigger then ever.
I'm sure people managing their shelf in mother's fridge will criticize and provide wise leadership advices, but I'm with Phil on this one (would be cool if he was transparent about it earlier though).

@IOI That's not since the "no red lines," but let's move on! As for "no red lines," we know very well that it doesn't mean anything, except that they allow themselves to port OR NOT a game to a particular platform, that's all!

And yes, of course this strategy is good, we can already see that it's working with a profit margin of 14% compared to PlayStation's 4%, a great lineup of first-party games, exclusive games like Avowed, South of Midnight, Stalker 2, Mechbreak, etc., a Game Pass that's always well-stocked, supported development studios, a console that I love, and ever-increasing features with Play Anywhere expanding, "play your own games on cloud," cross-save, etc. All of this is thanks, among other things, to this multiplatform strategy. All I'm saying is that their strategy is balanced and clever, with exclusive games AND multiplatform games. The few multiplatform games are both to support their studios and their own ecosystem. It's also a way to introduce Xbox franchises to other players and sell them Game Pass among other things.

The Xbox console base remains stable considering there is no mid-gen. According to VGChartz, the PS4 has sold 2 million more consoles than the PS5 (data from January 2025). It's the console market that is in decline, not just Xbox.

@IOI to be fair, what's to cope hard about?. So Xbox games are going to Playstation for full price. Why would I ditch my already owned console with Games Pass specifically for a Playstation. I own a PS5 for Sony 1st party titles & other exclusives. But It gathers dust due to their recent screw ups. As I have no interest in playing the remastered games I had on my PS4. The live service push means most studios will be lucky to have a game ready until the PS6 has released. Super hero games are boring & 3rd party exclusivity is becoming less of a problem. Even with Asian publishers like Square Enix, Level 5 & MiHoYo.

I have an xbox with 100 digital games in my library. But picked up a PS5 recently as there are so many exclusive games there that I want to play, and I need a PS5 to play them. I don't think I'm alone in doing this, seeing countless reddit threads of xbox owners doing the same.

I just don't buy the argument that people wouldn't buy an xbox if it had a load of great games only playable there, because they already have lots of games on their switch or PS5. I just don't think that's true.

They threw in the towel without really trying at all.

Waving the white flag high on the console business.

Less trouble, less investment and easy cash to end up third party.

It's amazing how much console owners are against changes to the status quo. It's not 1995 anymore; a platform holder's success doesn't have to hinge on what games are exclusive to its plastic box.

I personally believe that there will come a time when Microsoft is releasing all of its games multiplatform, day one. It might be later this year, it might be next year, it might be five years from now, but I firmly believe that it'll happen.

Whether I'm right or wrong, time will tell. But Microsoft's multiplatform strategy, whatever form it takes in the future, will bring in more money than simply relying on hardware sales and Game Pass subscriptions ever could at the stage in the game and will benefit everyone. Players will have more choice regarding where to play Xbox games. And if releasing games on Sony and Nintendo platforms means more money for Microsoft, surely that means more money available to be invested in future Xbox games and third-party Game Pass additions and - most importantly of all - more money available to keep developers employed?

@themightyant See, that concern I can get behind. Despite not agreeing that the end is anywhere near nigh, far from it imo. It's the group that careen around like pond pike, suggesting it's the end of the brand because MS are ballsy enough to tear down barriers and try new things in a market that's heavily contested, massively oversaturated, and suffering shut downs (despite developers and publishers best attempts to draw in more money to recoup overwhelming costs) left right and center.

@Sol4ris IKR 😅 It's the entitlement that gets me. The whole "Oh well hell, if they get to play it then I'm not going to enjoy it as much" attitude. That, and the "MS, one of the world's leading companies, don't know how to run a business but I, I do". Cracks me up every time. That's the group that makes me scratch my head.

What you are not factoring into your thought process, @fatpunkslim, is that ports take time to be made. So, there is a vast difference in having to make ports of old games, and making the game multiplatform from the outset.

This time last year, we were told that Microsoft would assess how well the first 4 games did before making a decision regarding subsequent games. So, if it takes 6 months to develop a port, utilising a small team, and the majority of the recent Xbox back-catalogue was greenlit for porting, then it will still take a fair amount of time for that back-catalogue to be ported as the teams can only work on so many games at a time. However, if games are developed for the Xbox and the PlayStation from the moment the games are green-lit, then it totally follows that the PlayStation version can be released the same day as the Xbox, or anything from weeks to months later (as was the case with Indiana Jones).

Believing that Forza Horizon 5 being released 4 years after it was on the Xbox is a template for future releasing is a recipe for disappointment. Indiana Jones is more likely the template that Microsoft will utilise.

What say you, @IOI?

I still don’t think they will show what consoles some of the new games are going to be on, when first revealed, because it’s not all day one, like Indy isn’t day one PS5 but Doom is.

I think they will still hold either intentionally or they may not be sure.
So take another game Fable they may well just show Xbox etc on the next trailer, but a few months after release say it’s going to PS5 and at the time of the new trailer did not know that.

Maybe it’s true or maybe a marketing strategy to keep Xbox consoles and GPU ticking over at some sort of profit.

A lot of people misunderstand the point of saying "exclusives sell consoles." It isn't that people derive less enjoyment out of a video game because it's not exclusive to the console they bought that's the central point. It's that now ppl have a choice between one console that has a set of games they can't buy elsewhere while also having what used to be the other console's exclusive set of games.

Put another way, someone can buy God of War, Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank, Sea of Thieves AND Forza on PS5. I can't buy most of those games on Xbox Series X. And, oh by the way, both consoles have virtually the same level of third-party support so their libraries are already very similar to begin with. Which do you think a new buyer would choose if presented with those options for a console library?

I think either this, or the next console will be the last one that Microsoft make, @Kaloudz & @themightyant. I'm only 90% certain that we will see the Prime, which does mean that I am 10% certain we won't!

I think what a lot of people overlook when they look at how many Series consoles have been sold is that a good percentage of those are bought by people who also own a PlayStation. In other words, they felt that in order to play both libraries, they were obliged to buy both consoles.

No one, myself included, foresaw Microsoft undertaking this path. We thought we were buying into an enclosed system. Thus, I bought a Series X day one, and PS5 day one too. And I am far from alone in that. Far, far from it!

However, what about next generation? Is there really a need to buy both consoles then? If all you have to wait is 6 months to a year (if that) in order to play Microsoft games on the PlayStation, do you really need to also buy an Xbox console?

Lastly, Game Pass is often cited as a reason to own an Xbox, and also the fact that the majority of Game Pass subscribers own an Xbox. However, if Xbox ownership falls off a cliff next generation (which is what I think will happen) then undoubtedly the money from subscribers will significantly dip also. It is at that point that I foresee GP ceasing, or becoming a first-party only (although it is also at that point that I can foresee a first-party GP going on to the PlayStation)....

@IronMan30 Put another way, someone can buy God of War, Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank, Sea of Thieves AND Forza on PS5. I can't buy most of those games on Xbox Series X

Whereas a lot of people play where they play because they like the ecosystem and functionality of a console. Your quote here is just one way of thinking. It'd be like saying "Why pay for CoD, Forza, Indiana, and DOOM, when I can get it all as part of my sub fee on Xbox for much less the overall price of each". There's more than one type of demographic and countless selling points for each.

The thing is, if Microsoft release a game on the PlayStation then they also lose all monies from MTX. Money that Sony can use to gatekeep third-party games from the Xbox, which further erodes the experience on Xbox...

@Kaloudz the majority of average consumers hear the prevailing narrative that gamers repeat if they only somewhat follow gaming. Right now, that narrative is "Xbox has no games!" And I promise you, that matters. Sure, Game Pass is really good and I'm sure MS makes money from it. That matters, but not as much as many people here would have you believe.

But to try and say that console sales aren't affected by not having exclusives is, with current market conditions, not accurate. That's all I'm saying. Not that conditions can't change (that would be a stupid thing to say). To say that the strategy MS currently employs doesn't sell consoles isn't wild or untrue. I have no problem with it, but anyone saying they're moving consoles with this strategy (again with the current market conditions) is kidding themselves.

Phil must be the ultimate interview. He can repeat the same message but it still gets clicks everytime.

I'm still all for the multiplat strategy though. Exclusive games don't benefit anyone.

@Fiendish-Beaver I think either this, or the next console will be the last one that Microsoft make

I doubt it very much. It's been said countless times that they're not shifting focus from their own hardware / platform. I don't think we're anywhere near the end of the brand, in fact I don't think they've been in this strong a position for a long long time.

The thing is, if Microsoft release a game on the PlayStation then they also lose all monies from MTX. Money that Sony can use to gatekeep third-party games from the Xbox, which further erodes the experience on Xbox...

Highly doubt this will happen either. Sony will be making plenty of money from MS (CoD, for one - which Sony practically said themselves during FTC they'd sink without) to be as aggressive as they were a few years back. Sony went in aggressive, so MS pulled out the cheque book and purchased Zenimax and ABK. Sure, they'll still get some exclusives, but I think the most aggressive phase is long behind us. Even Square, a long time PS third party leaf wafter, has gone full on multiplat.

@IronMan30 Right now, that narrative is "Xbox has no games!"

Eh? No it isn't lol. Xbox has more studios and games then ever before. Hell, their developer direct was packed, and they only went to Q1 and Q2 of the year. They have that many games that they're having to delay their own games to make space.

I assume you mean they have no exclusives? But they do. And even if a time comes where they don't (which is where I'm assuming they are going) the selling points are still limitless. Like I said above - using just this year as an example why buy CoD, Indiana, DOOM, Forza, and many, many others, when you can get them on Xbox for a fraction of the overall cost, and still on top of that, get heaps of day one third party games and more?

There's more than one way to compete.

@fatpunkslim Times are changing for Xbox. I think Phil has made that very clear.

@Fiendish-Beaver This is correct. Those games that have come to PS so far were not developed for it initially and the strategy for Xbox was not what it is now back then.

@themightyant I'm that demographic too. I've never had a subscription anywhere near as valuable as this, and can't commend MS enough. I've never played so many games in my life, let alone day one third and first party, for a fraction of the cost.

Also, FWIW? 😅

@IronMan30 I don't think playstation are releasing any first party games this year so shouldnt they be labelled the one without any games??
Everything they are getting is third party no big first party games from them and they are still selling more than Xbox with no new exclusives coming?

@themightyant Haha you're not the only one that hates it. I can't stand it when I don't know the current lingo.

As for Game Pass losing games. I'm not so sure the difference is that great. (11 in January 2023, 12 in January 2024, and 12 in January 2025 - several of which are day one third party). Sure it had its ups and downs, but I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as half. I'd be interested in seeing a complete list for comparison (game count and overall cost of each count too). This year is absolutely stacked for day one first party and third party, and the rest.

That's not even counting the 21 bi-weekly reveals we have left - as well as games yet to be revealed at upcoming events. I personally don't think there's been that big a drop.

Xbox just needs to get as many games as they can. People have as much loyalty as their choices. For instance I hate the Sony layout but bought more PS4 games than xbone because my favorite genre (fighting games and at the time the Yakuza/LAD series) got more games than Xbone. Now this gen i am migrating back to xbox as my main secondary (Nintendo is always first) because I can play my favorite games on series x and if I have a choice I pick sony last. Game systems are there to play games. No games, no customers. Also why I am going back to PC next gen. I can get all my games on PC (minus Nintendo) so why keep buying 3 boxes?

@fatpunkslim he repeatedly emphasizes that their priority is above all on the cloud and PC, and on their own ecosystem: "Not every screen is equal", because that's where it brings in the most.

As usual I feel you are reaching hard to simply have the statement mean only what you want it to mean, and not read it in the more realistic light. He mentions cloud once in that full statement and immediately follows up with "But games should be the thing that we’re focused on." They will always support their own platform and you may get some additional benefits on that platform, but in Phil's own words the focus is on the games.

People picked up on the transition to Publisher first, Hardware second a long time ago and everything continues to point in this direction. Its the tactic that has gotten MS where they are today, and the bean counters will not treat their gaming division any differently.

You keep mentioning this 4 year rule because it fits the narrative you are telling yourself, but its only applicable to one game that was most likely held on to longer because is was a tentpole IP. Hifi-Rush was 14m, Pentiment was 15m, Indy will be around 6m, plenty of future games are Day 1.. there are no red lines. Add in that they are now going to include all logos for transparency. Do you honestly believe that when they stick a PS logo on FH6 they are doing it to say this will arrive 4 years in the future.

I am in this position. I own both a Series X, and a PS5.

I own both consoles, because there are great games that are exclusive to both of these consoles. But those games may no longer be exclusive.

If customers can now play Xbox games on their home consoles without having to buy an actual xbox, then it will get more people playing a wider variety of games.

Several years ago I bought an Xbox one so that I could play Halo and Gears of War.

Developers will always sell far more software than they will sell hardware.

If PlayStation owners can now play Xbox games without having to spend £500 on an Xbox, then surely everybody wins?

Are Sony going to follow suit? And release their best titles on the Xbox?

@Ilyn Maybe you should read the whole interview, right? He mentions the cloud 6 times in the entire interview, not just once. In comparison, he mentions PlayStation 2 times, and when talking about Xbox consoles, he mentions them 11 times (4 console + 2 hardware + 5 own platform). So, if we base our understanding on the frequency of words to give them more or less weight, we can say that concerning platforms, the Xbox ecosystem comes first, then the cloud, and lastly the competing consoles.

Regarding the rest of your speech, I'm not basing it on a single game but on all the games. They are either historically multiplatform games or temporarily exclusive games. For Indy, I explained, it’s a Disney license, for Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment, seriously? They are niche games arriving a year and a half later, they're not big games.

Then you go into speculations again: "plenty of future games are Day 1," really? Which ones? avowed, south of midnight ? I d'ont' think so !

It's more like you're sticking to a narrative that has nothing tangible or concrete and relies only on speculation. That's the problem with people like you, always talking about "probably," "future," "they will," meanwhile, I believe what I see, and I also simply believe what Phil Spencer says, which is quite the opposite of what you're saying!

@themightyant Great job ! We should also consider the quality of the games, their value, and the type of games (AAA or AA). On this point, I don't have the impression that Game Pass has decreased in quality; on the contrary, we have more AAA titles than before. It's worth noting that many 2024 games were delayed and that the 2025 lineup will certainly improve these stats further.

You know what this multiplat push has done for me? Made me play more 3rd party titles than I used to on PS4. On a much better controller. Gone are the days I felt I had to play exclusives just because they were heavily marketed by Sony and praised by critics (despite being overly serious and not that fun most of the time.)

I'm with the majority here, don't give a hoot about Xbox games going to PS5 or switch 2. Just want to play awesome games on my silent console.

@IronMan30 exclusives don't sell consoles though. It's a myth sold by fanboys. As look at the most played games across the board & their all 3rd party service titles in. Nintendo has the best exclusives & it couldn't save Nintendo during the GameCube, WiiU. They were successful due to unique hardware.

@themightyant See, I massively appreciate the list, but it's hard to argue with the stats when some of them are median. It'd be easier to compare monthly by monthly, and even then, the average cost of them all together to see exactly what value we're getting monetarily.

But even with that stripped down, I hazard a guess that some months are better than previous years in terms of count and quality. I would house concern if we drop to say, 5 new games a month, max. But as it stands, with even just day one first party and day one third party, the cost is more than worth it in spades. I'll certainly keep an eye on that as the year passes though, it's neat to keep on track of stats etc... so thank you for that.

As for Meta, that's median too isn't it? I don't think it's a fair stat when some games will be high 9/8 and some low 5/6 with the weighted average encapsulating all in one. Or have I misunderstood the scoring stats?

@cragis0001 Wait really??? Fantasy Life on Xbox??

@Fiendish-Beaver Absolutely right, we can’t say all games will take 4 years to be ported because back when FH5 there wasn’t even a concept of plan to bring those games to competing consoles and in fact back then I remember they stated multiple times that all Bethesda games would be exclusive moving forward (just exemplifying further how plans did change).

Indy is good example of how it could work but we’ve seen them change strategy yet again for Doom The Dark Ages which is launching day one everywhere, and I do feel they’re moving eventually to a day one everywhere approach as games do benefit from being as big as they can on launch, but it’s gonna be hard to tell during this transition period, ports are already stacking up for Spring so if they wanted to port something like Avowed it’ll most likely wait a few months or a year.

@Kaloudz How's it a healthy market that Xbox exclusives are on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms while those games aren't on Xbox platforms? It's a one way street that makes Xbox hardware less desirable and therefore less competition.
Sony can literally do whatever they want because it sounds like Phil Spencer has given up completely on believing in his own console.
You should ALWAYS try to sell your product to as many people as possible, yet this guy has given up repeatedly. What kind of message is that to Xbox employees and fans?

@themightyant thanks for that data breakdown. Honestly makes me feel like I'm not going crazy when I feel like GP is slowing down a bit the last few months yet people swear it's better than ever haha. Either way, still a good value. I think (as someone else said in another thread) they feel like they can put out a first party game every 2 or 3 months now so they don't want to invest too much in 3rd party. But who knows.

@Kaloudz comes out in May. PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S & PC were announced on Friday last week

"XbOx is FiNishEd, I WoRk in FiNANce and I kNOw ThiNGZ!"

More consoles will come, more games will be shared, and by this time next year Xbox will be generating more revenue than anyone in gaming, if not sooner. People need to friggin' relax and play their games instead of trying to spread the doom boom.

@cragis0001 Thanks man!! Just saw it posted on here. What a shout out! Cant wait to get hands on with that!

@JetmanUK only those who initially dont like xbox and only bought it for exclusives

@TheGameThrifter How isn't it? Is the question you should be asking yourself.

Look at this:

https://www.purexbox.com/guides/xbox-game-pass-in-2025-the-full-list-of-everything-announced-so-far

Look at this:

https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/02/heres-a-look-at-the-updated-xbox-studios-roadmap-for-2025-and-beyond

...and then tell me Xbox is flopping. Xbox has never been stronger imo. The fact that they have to delay their own games to make space for others is unreal. They own more studios now and run more games than ever before, and somehow they're faltering? No, I don't buy it. Exclusives are not the be all and end all. Being able to play a game that others cant on another platform, makes no difference to how you play it or how you enjoy it, and the same can be said when you tear that barrier down.

Xbox are redefining their stance in the market, and when you look at how many closures there have been - in a time where one flop can break a 20 year studio - simply due to the rising costs of development, and it makes total sense. Xbox are the first to do it - they wont be the last in the years to come.

Developers and publishers have been trying to claw additional money for years and we gamers have pushed back. We pushed back against optional loot boxes and MXT. We boycotted day one DLCs. We raged over price hikes. Facts are, game dev is more expensive now than ever before, and money needs to flow. Xbox is not going anywhere. They're not dying. They're just adapting to the market and they've been clear about that for a long time now.

@themightyant Sorry mate lmao! I mean the mean value. It's been a long, longgggg time since I sat in a maths classroom haha!

Yeah I get what you're saying and on that last part, I am right there with you and that's exactly how I find value too. Generally speaking though, less games doesn't mean (to me at least) less quality. There could have been 7 turds one month that got outshined by one hell of a good third party day one game the same month the following year.

It's as you say, value in the eye of the beholder. For me, I cant say its ever been stronger based on what I'm getting out of it. It has its quiet spots, sure, but it has never failed to deliver month after month. That said, I do think, as I said to F-Beaver, that counting games is a bit like bemoaning you get less presents than last year at Xmas.

It's all about the quality, and based on what we know is coming this year, third and first party day one, and based on knowing we have another 21 bi-weekly reveals yet to come and heaps of events where games get announced for the service, it's shaping up to be the strongest year yet for the service. It's absolutely stacked.

@Kaloudz well I had to mention it. As if the writers are getting fed up with all the negative attention Xbox is getting for it's lack of attention to it's hardware & 1st party going multiplatform. Then publish the good news that Xbox's hard work has gained more Japanese support with Level 5 now supporting the platform.

As someone who initially thought this was a rubbish move and expressed my intent to move over to playstation, I've come around and actually don't mind the multi plat release plans. It's the most pro consumer move a major player in gaming has made in a long time and hopefully others follow suit. If playstation was smart and liked money, they'd do the same. There are a handful of Ps titles I'll never own or play, because I'll never buy a playstation, so locking their games in just loses out on free money. In any case, as long as these games they're releasing for $80 on Sony, are included with my game pass sub, I'm still winning, and I just hope Xbox keeps releasing hardware because between my Xbox and my switch, I have more games than I can ever play.

"XboX iS deAd, gUYS! No MORe ConSOLeS!!! It's TRue beCAUSe a guy oN TwiTatER saID sO!"

~User23874688 w/anime avatar

Thank you so much for your spreadsheet information, @themightyant. I think I might actually love you! 🤣

I've said time and time and time again that each year there have been fewer and fewer games, and because I could not evidence this I was told I was wrong. Even just yesterday by @Kaloudz...! 😉 (Love you too, matey!)... 😂

The stats are both interesting and very telling, because part of my argument regarding Game Pass is that we are now paying more for the Service, and getting less choice for it. I've been saying this repeatedly, and now feel vindicated.

I only want the best for Xbox. I truly do. However, I do feel that there are many people that are either in denial, or just so enamoured with Xbox that they cannot see the wood for the trees.

All along I have been saying the Service is suffering, and to my mind, along with the money the Service made (which I think you pointed out in another post a week or so ago, @themightyant) this spreadsheet is evidence that it is. And this is precisely why I have been saying I believe the days are numbered for the Service. Within 5 years it will either cease or transform into a first-party only service.

Again, thank you, @themightyant. I love the way you are always on top of the facts...

I don't think Microsoft has tried to make interesting games in the last decade or so, with several iconic franchises like Gears of War 4, Gears 5, Halo 5, and Halo Infinite being released with obviously low-quality scripts and unattractive characters.

If Xbox was as serious about their games as they were during the Xbox 360 era, I'd choose Xbox games no matter what platform I was on. But now Xbox Game Studios seems to be prioritizing other things rather than making interesting games.

@cragis0001 yes, but what about the handhelds during those generations? Nintendo consoles and handhelds typically sold in the 100M unit range when combined.

@Ricky-Spanish you'll really get a kick out of this then 👀

Xbox is my fill-in-the-blank console. Functional versions of F.E.A.R. 1, The Orange Box, Fallout 3, New Vegas, and Oblivion... boosted versions of Dishonored, Death of the Outsider, Dishonored 2, and Prey. Far Cry games that performed poorly on PS3 or don't quite play nice with PS5. Dead Island Definitive and Riptide where 60FPS is a godsend and quick-time events actually work. The console definitely has a use case for me, but it will always be a sidekick.

@TheEstablishment they will relax and play their games, just not on an xbox. It's a masterplan I tells ya

@Kaloudz They should have admitted it sooner and saved a lot of people time and money. This is trust being broken. Not doomsayer mentality. Please respect other people's opinions.

@Fiendish-Beaver (I love you too, assuming that was for me lol). as for @themightyant info, to be fair, the info I grabbed yesterday with you was just Jan 23, 24, and 25. Sure, there's less games, but there are so many ways that list can be broken down that goes with and against the tug-of-war argument the three of us are waltzing to.

Though perhaps @themightyant hit the nail on the head with value being the subject of the user. I personally don't think it's ever been better, and looking to the year ahead (Avowed, DOOM, SoM, CoD, Fable, and whatever else is coming first party - not to mention all that third party support - day one and otherwise - as well as indies, and other games yet to be revealed) it's too hard to argue with for me. It's just incredible and I don't think it's going anywhere, any time soon. It's the whole premise of "This is an Xbox".

@cragis0001 Xbox's hard work has gained more Japanese support with Level 5 now supporting the platform

Sadly this is often overlooked absolutely everywhere, which is tragic because the moment they shuttered a Japanese studio, it was highlighted across the web for months.

@iplaygamesnstuff Eh? I frequent here plenty, and there are absolutely "Xbox is dead" "Xbox is having its swan song" "This is the end" in pretty much every thread that pertains to exclusivity, and multi-plat support. It's got nothing to do with disrespect. It's fact. People can follow their opinions to whichever hill they like, but the same can indeed be said about those on opposite sides of the spectrum.

@Markatron84 You know it Phil talking sense!
And remember I love you 💪

@FraserG
So, what you are saying is that all PXB cares about clicks rather than gaming journalism. OK. Duly noted.

@Kaloudz it's a fact Xbox fans were led to believe one thing. Then did something completely different than they were saying. I find your opinion inflammatory. Jumping from the gate first comment baiting people with your different opinion. "In before the doom bringers and naysayers." You really aren't contributing by attacking.

I now remember why I took a break from Pure Xbox. This content platform isn't open to different opinions. Just attacking those that speak the truth that is hard to hear sometimes. Enjoy your vacuum.

@Ricky-Spanish word

@FraserG I know the data you have in front of you is what you have to act on but, speaking personally, I'd like to see more news articles about, y'know, games.

I understand the need to "cater to the audience", get the maximum amount of clicks/engagement, etc, and that Pure Xbox has a small staff, but I seem to get more information about games that are coming to Xbox by reading Push Square and Nintendo Life.

This isn't meant to sound snarky, mean spirited or anything like that, but - and I've brought this up before, as a reader on the outside looking in - but it's kind of irritating and off-putting to see the same sorts of articles over and over about every little thing Phil Spencer says/does/plays/wears or the latest bit of nonsense some rumour mongering "insider" is spouting this week.

Again, I don't mean the above to sound mean in any way; just a bit of (hopefully) constructive feedback.

@themightyant @Kaloudz I appreciate you both bringing some positivity and the hard facts as always. I can’t say I’m not worried about the future of the hardware side and I’m not sure I fully trust Phil for whatever reason but my gut tells me to stay the course despite feeling quite reactionary yesterday and thinking about only sticking to PlayStation.

For clarity I feel I’ve been heading towards the exit of gaming regardless of platform for a while now, I’m finding the modern landscape has lost its lustre for me in a lot of ways. So yes, definitely a me problem. Happy gaming friends 👍

Even just yesterday by @Kaloudz...! 😉 (Love you too, matey!)... 😂

I mean, I did say love you too, matey. I'll send roses next time so it's even more obvious... 🌹 🤣

The Doomster Beaver... 😂

@iplaygamesnstuff Well I can assure you that that wasn't my intention. If I've offended you in any way, I apologize. Though, in regards to the comment about not being open to different opinions, I've had countless respectful conversations with people of varying opinions.

@PeaceSalad Follow your gut buddy. MS / Xbox isn't going anywhere. They're just adapting to the times in a market that's been viciously changing for years now. They've not dropped eighty billion on acquisitions to bow out any time soon and based on the bits we've heard about their next console (being the biggest leap ever and being feature competitive) it's only going to get even better, yet.

As for your interest in the hobby, can I suggest switching genres? I did that once when I felt the same and it really does open your eyes to new worlds. Life-sim games (Stardew Valley or Coral Island) or something more action based (AC Shadows) if you've never tried one of them sorts before

@Fiendish-Beaver And I will in-turn send you a carrot for your Beaver avatar to munch on <3 (To be clear, the doom comment was not aimed at you).

@IronMan30 to be fair Nintendo hasn't had many descent competitor's in the handheld market. Sega with the Game Gear & Playstation with the PSP were the exception.

@Kaloudz very true 😔.

@Kaloudz Appreciate the advice friend, I’m actually pretty diverse as it goes when it comes to what I play. It just isn’t hitting the same at moment and has ebbed and flowed for a couple of years now. My other life commitments are full on currently so maybe one day things will ease off and I’ll find more joy in my hobby. Take care 👍

@PeaceSalad You too chief. I appreciate all the kindness. You're a good dude

@Kaloudz You’re too kind. We have to spread a little light in our wee corner of the internet 👍

@Kaloudz I would be more akin to agree with your thoughts if Playstation and Nintendo put heck lot more games on Xbox. I'd love to play spider-man, horizon Dawn, god of war, etc.

But I'm never gong to buy a Playstation due to how much I detest the PS controller. If a company would finally make a reasonably priced, wireless, Xbox style controller, I'd buy it and Playstation in a heartbeat.

@FraserG Thank you very much for sharing that comment on Elden Ring. I truly believe it supports my feeling about that game.

All the souls-like games need to have a story (easy) mode. No questions asked. Full stop. It would absolutely, increase sales of those type games significantly as well. I stand by that belief.

I've said numerous times on this site, there is no joy for me, to try and die for 6 hours straight, only to advance 5 mins in the story. If I want to deal with something that frustrating and that annoying - I'd just go to work.

Fact you're sharing no one engaged with Elden Ring stories on the site really enforces my thoughts above. I play video games to escape life. Not basically put on black, leather mask, with zipper for mouth, and take it, every moment play a game.

Obviously. Never was gonna convince them without exclusives that are good.

What Xbox is doing now is called boarding. Like pirate boarding like Max Payne boarding. You think that’s one of your ships but it’s not it’s been boarded. Same thing you get someone to buy more games on PlayStation that are published by Xbox owned publishing labels you effectively make it an Xbox even though they bought a PlayStation.

@themightyant quality over quantity

@Kaloudz I'm actually in agreement with you 💯 percent. We know AAA games can't sustain on exclusive console sales alone. We saw this with Spiderman 2 on PS5 barely breaking even, which is why we're seeing most PlayStation "exclusives" releasing on PC as well. Xbox is doing the same thing, expanding their horizons to increase software sales which in turn helps support the Xbox ecosystem grow stronger. In order for the console market to grow changes have to be made.

I do believe Xbox is in the best position it's been in the past decade as far as making a compelling argument to switch as they have a solid lineup of incredible games, Xbox Series hardware is truly amazing with features like quick resume and backwards compatibility that is unmatched by any other console manufacturers, and it's ecosystem is brilliant because it allows you to access games across 4 Xbox generations, you can stream hundreds of games via Xbox cloud gaming & now we're getting the ability to stream games we own via Xbox cloud gaming, this allows us to continue playing games even when we're away from our consoles at home and it's allowed for growth by bringing gamers into the Xbox ecosystem via Xbox cloud gaming making the barrier for playing great games extremely low.

As far as the doom and gloom click bait nonsense, it's getting so ridiculous. Xbox isn't going anywhere. Xbox hardware isn't going anywhere, it's really frustrating especially when there's people out there rooting for the death of Xbox, that would leave PlayStation as the sole high end console makes essentially allowing them to corner the market which would be BAD for gamers.

When I see comments about the doom and gloom, I don't argue anymore, I just simply state the FACTS that counter misinformation;

1. Revenue Growth – The Xbox Series X|S generation has made over $80.8 billion for Microsoft, proving the brand is financially successful. Around $14 billion has come from console sales the rest from software and services proving the Xbox ecosystem is stronger now than ever.

2. Hardware Commitment – Microsoft has confirmed a next-gen Xbox, it's said to be the biggest technological leap ever witnessed in a console generation. They've also created a team dedicated to backwards & forward compatibility ensuring our libraries are playable on the new console. Microsoft is also developing an Xbox handheld! Needless to say they’re not leaving the hardware business.

3. Game Pass & Ecosystem – Game Pass is a massive success, driving engagement and console sales. Xbox cloud gaming has brought gamers into the ecosystem allowing them to experience the Xbox ecosystem themselves which turns into gamepass ultimate subs or even console sales.

4. 35M+ Consoles Sold – While behind PlayStation, Xbox Series consoles are still selling well, outpacing the Xbox One in the same time frame which shows growth in Xbox's hardware market. Even with fewer console sales than PS5, Xbox's revenue is at an all time high ($80 billion). Microsoft has greenlit their next Xbox console.

The negativity is irritating and largely driven by clickbait headlines, but the numbers tell a different story, Xbox is growing stronger. Happy gaming ✌️

@GuyinPA75 I might be wrong, but I'm sure I read somewhere that you can connect an Xbox controller to PS? Per-maybe-haps when Xbox update their controller to include (is it?) haptics, you'll be able to then?

@Master_Cthulhu70 Exactly right. I mean look at the news today. Marvel Rivals (a hugely successful f2p) has had to layoff an entire studio, and days before, Crytek have put Crisis 4 on hold and laid off 15% of the company. The market is absolutely stacked and the costs just rise, and rise, and rise. One flop, or one game that doesn't do too well, can and will close an entire studio.

We pushed back against price hikes, DLC, loot boxes, MXTs, and more. They need to make money to survive, and if they don't, it's a shuttered studio. MS is a business, not a charity, and the whole "well they can afford to do this" argument that a lot of people spout is nonsense. They still need to make money in the gaming sector. I personally think they're doing the right thing and it doesn't at all spell the end of Xbox.

They're not stupid enough to crap away 30+ million purses from a store they get more from than third party stores - knowing full well they would be at the mercy of other companies if they walked away from Xbox altogether. It's just not going to happen. This is the strongest they've ever been imo (to the point they're delaying their own games to make space for others).

Next gen will be outstanding. I can just feel it based on the massively exciting things we've heard so far on the next Xbox console. I absolutely, 100% agree with everything that you've put. As always, you've hit the nail on the head!

@PeaceSalad That we do, in a digital world full of chaos lol.

We all knew at some point or another Xbox was going to throw the white flag and become SEGA. They have to go to where the money is and multi platform sales can really make a difference.

@bert0503 Xbox is doing better now than every before. Here's a comprehensive list of the FACTS that prove Xbox isn't going anywhere. Your comment is based on no factual information.

1. Revenue Growth – The Xbox Series X|S generation has made over $80.8 billion for Microsoft, proving the brand is financially successful. Around $14 billion has come from console sales the rest from software and services proving the Xbox ecosystem is stronger now than ever.

2. Hardware Commitment – Microsoft has confirmed a next-gen Xbox, it's said to be the biggest technological leap ever witnessed in a console generation. They've also created a team dedicated to backwards & forward compatibility ensuring our libraries are playable on the new console. Microsoft is also developing an Xbox handheld! Needless to say they’re not leaving the hardware business.

3. Game Pass & Ecosystem – Game Pass is a massive success, driving engagement and console sales. Xbox cloud gaming has brought gamers into the ecosystem allowing them to experience the Xbox ecosystem themselves which turns into gamepass ultimate subs or even console sales.

4. 35M+ Consoles Sold – While behind PlayStation, Xbox Series consoles are still selling well, outpacing the Xbox One in the same time frame which shows growth in Xbox's hardware market. Even with fewer console sales than PS5, Xbox's revenue is at an all time high ($80 billion). Microsoft has greenlit their next Xbox console, ensuring Xbox continues into the next hardware generation.

@Kaloudz thanks my friend! I try to execute due diligence before commenting because I can't stand when people spout nonsense and when asked about their opinions they have no facts to stand on. Probably why I hit the head on the bail multiple times lol anyways I'm glad you agree, and I share the same excitement for the next Xbox as you do.

IDK if you saw but the upcoming Xbox Sebile controller popped it's head up again. It was supposed to launch in early 2024 but we know plans change all the time.

The controller itself is expected to have advanced haptics as well as VCA tactile motors enable full haptics similar to the Dual Sense controller. It will also offer a lift to wake feature possibly enabling better battery life as the controller will sleep when not in use. It's also said to be the first Xbox controller to feature built-in gyroscopes (possibly for lift to wake and maybe even gameplay features). One of the most exciting features for me is the ability for the controller to connect directly to the Xbox cloud gaming servers which would make cloud gaming latency even lower as well as making inputs sync better. I'm not sure how I feel about a built-in battery, my rechargeable AA batteries offer superior battery life compared to my dual sense controller that lasts only 5 hours (I even have my haptics on low and my trigger effects turned off!). Last but definitely not least is the modular design. It's said to support customizable back buttons as well as the ability to swap out thumb sticks enabling better longevity.

I just SINCERELY HOPE the Xbox Sebile controller comes with Hall Effect analog sticks and triggers. My right recently got my the new Gamesir G7 HE controller for my birthday, it's the best controller I've ever experienced. The analog sticks have zero Dead zones which is jarring at first (I even set my deadzones to 5 via the Xbox app just because it's that sensitive). The Hall Effect triggers are also incredibly accurate and beyond what I was expecting for a $50 wired controller. It's latency is superior to that of a wireless controller. It also features tactile face buttons that are click and even that has been such a positive experience. Even the face buttons are rater higher as they don't use the typical mesh system. I'm hoping Microsoft looks at controllers like this and realizes they need features like Hall Effect analog sticks and triggers to remain competitive with their competitors. Once again happy gaming ✌️

@themightyant they have seven big publishing brands for Game Pass that they did not have before in 2019. They have Xbox Bethesda Activision and blizzard that they bought. And they’re renting out EA, riot and Ubisoft. That’s all very expensive. There was a lot of garbage games on it before they made these large acquisitions and deals.