There have been rumours for years that Microsoft’s gaming strategy is going to shift significantly. While it has changed before — ranging from massive acquisitions of other developers, focusing more on their Game Pass subscription model, and even the company’s gaming CEO Phil Spencer hinting at the possibility of flagship titles making it to other platforms — the prospect of first party games like Halo(2001) becoming available on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles is a strong shift that could change the gaming landscape permanently.
Microsoft has been vocal about their multi-platform video game strategy; an example of this is their recent ad campaign called “This Is an Xbox,” which highlights their plan to bring Xbox to multiple different platforms. In the past, they have implied that certain first-party games will be exclusive to Xbox, be it on an Xbox console or through an Xbox service like Game Pass. This is particularly true for the Halo franchise, which has remained exclusive to Xbox for over 20 years, and arguably assisted in making Xbox what it is today. Microsoft Gaming has slowly expanded their game availability to other consoles as a way to bring in more revenue. For gamers who own different consoles, this is an enormous win!
I remember growing up when the “console war” between Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo were the equivalent of aligning with a favourite sports team. You would make friends with the other people on “your team” so that you could jump online, party up with them, and play some games together. Anyone who did not have the same console as you would have to stay as a school friend only, because the lack of cross-platform compatibility wouldn’t enable including them in your online play sessions.
With this exclusivity possibly changing, or maybe even ending, it means that more gamers than ever before may gain access to some great games. I grew up on Halo and the idea of seeing a massive resurgence in popularity due to PlayStation and Nintendo players joining the audience is exciting! Same thing goes for other big titles that are only on Xbox, like Gears of War (2006) and Forza (2005), as well as smaller titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (2024) and Senua’s Saga (2024). By having more players in the game, the fan base can grow alongside the franchise.
This could also mean huge benefits for the game developers behind each title. As with all businesses, the developers seek financial gain and want to see their games succeed. If they release a game to more consoles, they will have access to a larger target market, leveraging the incremental cost of making the game available to those consoles. With a larger audience, success may be easier to achieve through more game sales and possibly through merchandise as well.
Part of this massive change has to do with how games are consumed. As mentioned previously, the aforementioned ad campaign by Xbox made it clear that they want their online services to be available on all devices. We have yet to see an official announcement on behalf of Xbox, but for now, there’s reason enough to speculate and become excited. Being able to play Halo or Forza on my phone without even owning an Xbox console would be cool!
Despite my excitement and high hopes, we should wait for an official announcement from Microsoft.
