Microsoft’s announcement that it would be bringing major Xbox titles to rival platforms, most notably PlayStation is significant as it is sad. As it marks the potential end to the console wars, which the American company has been losing since the controversial release of the Xbox One in 2013.
The decision to allow its main competitor, Sony’s PlayStation to play major Xbox titles, comes on the back of its decision to allow Xbox console games to be playable on PCs. A decision that goes all the way back to 2016. These and other decisions that Microsoft is making for its game console could portend the potential end of Xbox as a standalone gaming system to compete with the likes of PlayStation.
Xbox’s Troubles Began with Play Anywhere
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Microsoft’s apparent shift away from platform exclusivity began with its Play Anywhere feature that was announced in E3 2016. The ability to play Xbox titles on a Windows 10 PC was a significant shift for its time. Not three years into the last generation of consoles, the decision to allow Xbox titles on PC meant that PC owners who also happen to be PlayStation fans can simply purchase an Xbox Blu-ray disc and pop it into their PCs and they are good to go.
This decision by Microsoft effectively set in motion the downfall of Xbox console exclusivity and set in motion the start of gaming as a service. One that Microsoft to its credit has mastered with its Xbox Game Pass. The trouble of course is what happens to the millions of fans who still hold on to the gaming legacy built on console rivalries and brand faithfulness? Well, given the direction that Microsoft has taken (and seems to be taking) that gaming heritage no longer matters as much.
Xbox, PlayStation, and the End of the Console Wars
Admittedly all blame cannot be placed on the doorstep of Microsoft. Sony’s decision to allow PlayStation titles, notably platform exclusives to come to the PC was a major decision that gutted the console faithful from behind.
If there was any illusion that the console wars were becoming a thing of the past the availability of top titles like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Uncharted 4 on PCs, albeit with a significant time lag (a few years) meant that the pride of owing a console with top games that your buddy with the ‘other’ console didn’t was over.
This is sad. But given the direction of the gaming landscape, the shift was coming. That is unless you are talking about Nintendo. A console maker and game developer that has adopted a different philosophy when it comes to game releases and fan satisfaction.
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The Future of Xbox?
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In a word: bleak. There is no other way to cut it. In addition to its shift to Play Anywhere and commitment to bring long-time Xbox exclusive to its rival PlayStation, Microsoft has also started shutting down gaming studios that could develop those AAA games that gamers are willing to wait years for. In the now heavily criticized interview with Bloomberg, Xbox president Sarah Bond defended the decision to close game studios by stating it was important for the health of business “for the long term”.
This sort of talk is not going to down well with gamers and is likely to alienate hardcore gamers even further. Whatever decision that Microsoft takes regarding the future of the platforms and of game development in general, it seems gamers could potentially stand to be the losers.
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