In a special episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, revealed that several exclusive Xbox games will soon become available on rival consoles.
This means that players will be able to play these games on platforms from other companies.
Four Xbox Video Games is Now Releasing
Spencer didn't give a definite timeline or specify the four games, but he mentioned that two will be community-driven and two will be smaller titles.
He stated, "The teams working on these games have revealed plans that aren't too far off. I won't dive into the specifics of the titles, but once they're out, it'll all make sense."
However, he clarified that games like Starfield and Indiana Jones from Microsoft-owned Bethesda are not included.
Companies that make gaming hardware often secure popular video games in hopes of attracting consumers to their exclusive platforms.
Shift in Exclusivity Strategy and Embrace of Game Pass
Thursday's announcement from Xbox suggests a shift in this strategy.
Although Microsoft maintains that there's no major change in its exclusivity approach, Spencer believes that exclusive games will become less significant in the gaming industry over the next five to ten years.
Microsoft has been gradually shifting away from this model through its "Game Pass" subscription service, which operates similarly to Netflix but for video games.
Activision Blizzard Acquisition Boosts Xbox Game Pass Expansion
The recent acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard by the tech giant further fuels the expansion of this service.
On Thursday, X box President Sarah Bond announced that the first Activision Blizzard game to be included in X box Game Pass will be Diablo IV, starting March 28.
Bond stated, "It's part of our commitment to make Xbox, the X box experience, and our games as widely available as possible."
Xbox Sales
Xbox, traditionally ranked third in sales behind PlayStation and Nintendo, is expected to receive a significant boost from the addition of Activision Blizzard's roster, which includes popular titles like Call of Duty and Overwatch.
Revenue for Microsoft's personal computing business, which includes X box games and services, increased by 19% to $16.89 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, largely due to the impact of Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft's X box-related revenues surged by 61% during the period, with 55% of that growth attributed to the addition of Activision Blizzard.
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