Xbox First-Party Games Expanding to PlayStation and Nintendo, Hardware Here to Stay

Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, which significantly expanded its array of development studios, Microsoft, and consequently Xbox, has emerged as the largest third-party game publisher to date. Recent remarks from Xbox chief Phil Spencer have stirred up quite a discussion within the gaming community. In a conversation with Gamertag Radio, Spencer mentioned that upcoming Xbox titles may also be released on rival platforms like Nintendo and PlayStation, a move that surprises some but also holds a certain logic.

During a revealing chat on Danny Peña’s Podcast via YouTube, and joined by Parris from Gamertag Radio, Spencer expressed his vision: “I want people to be able to experience the games that we build, the services that we offer on as many devices as we can.” He also voiced a continued commitment to Xbox’s native platform: “We obviously love the native experience that we have on our own platform and our own hardware, and that’s something that will continue for us.” Their 26-minute dialogue is rich with industry insights and a nostalgic look back at significant moments in Xbox history, including highlights from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 eras.

For those not familiar with why Spencer’s comments are sparking debate, let’s zoom in on a bit of console history. Remember Sonic the Hedgehog? Yes, the one from the movies—he originated from a long-running series of video games that were initially exclusive to Sega consoles. These games eventually reached other systems like the GameCube through ports. Sega’s hardware heyday ended with the Dreamcast, which couldn’t withstand the force of the PlayStation 2’s success, leading Sega to transition into a third-party developer. Interestingly, Microsoft swooped in to fill the void left by Sega with the launch of its Xbox.

In the early days of what was known as the “DirectX Box,” which later debuted as the Xbox, the console was initially intended to support Sega Dreamcast titles, a concept aided by the Dreamcast’s compatibility with Windows CE. Eventually, while backward compatibility didn’t materialize, several Dreamcast-era sequels like Jet Set Radio Future found exclusive homes on Xbox.

Spencer’s latest remarks might initially seem like a plea from a struggling console creator, yet Microsoft’s stature far exceeds such assumptions. With Xbox now crowned as the enormous third-party game publisher ever, their strategy is leaning more toward reaching diverse gaming audiences rather than binding them to the Xbox ecosystem alone.

Spencer elaborates, “We want everybody to be able to play on Xbox, and it does mean more of our games shipping on more platforms, not just PlayStation. We love the work that we do with Nintendo, we love what we do with Valve on Steam, and that’s going to continue.”

So, is Xbox mirroring Sega’s fate? Not quite—Microsoft’s substantial financial resources ensure a different trajectory. However, the incoming wave of Xbox consoles will certainly need to showcase impressive offerings to remain competitive against potential market contenders like the possible “Switch 3” and the powerful PlayStation 6, both of which will likely rely heavily on exclusive game titles.

That said, if Microsoft doesn’t manage the narrative well around Xbox being a hub of games and services rather than just a hardware platform, it might miss the mark: when everyone’s on Xbox, it could feel like no one truly is.