During a recent Twitter Spaces appearance, industry veteran Geoff Keighley shared his thoughts on the rumours that Microsoft plans to end hardware exclusivity for Xbox games.
While Keighley said he doesn’t “have any insight into what’s really going to happen,” he speculated that Xbox leadership likely “loves this community” and wants what’s best for fans. However, he explained that “business realities” sometimes dictate changes, even if they seem contrary to a company’s values.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily full doom and gloom, or Xbox is leaving the hardware business or anything like that,” Keighley clarified. “I think it’s probably something like we’ve heard of, you know, maybe they’re gonna be experimenting with some games on other platforms and exploring what’s possible there.”
Keighley pointed out that many games have already launched on both Xbox and PC on day one via services like Game Pass. He believes Microsoft may test the waters by bringing legacy games or providing timed exclusivity windows to new releases.
He went on to elaborate, comparing the concept to what Hollywood currently does with movies, explaining, “Movies go through different windows of being theatrical and then coming to disc and then premium VOD and Netflix.” Detailing it is very different than what has been done in the past with games, but as more things move to a subscription model, it starts to make a lot more sense.
While disruptive to the traditional console model, Keighley notes experiments like this give creators more ways for people to experience their games. However, he acknowledged potential challenges in marketing titles across staggered release schedules.
A speaker in the Twitter Space pushed back on the notion Xbox lacks funding, given Microsoft’s trillion-dollar valuation. Keighley acknowledged larger corporations still analyze budgets and profitability division by division. While Xbox as a whole may be earning more than ever, individual games can operate at a loss.
Keighley believes the philosophy around exclusives may be shifting from a means to sell hardware to a vehicle to drive subscriptions. “The question I wonder about is what is the platform now? Is the platform the hardware box, or is the platform Game Pass?” he posed.
With Xbox prepping a range of new titles for release in 2024 and into 2025, including the highly anticipated Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, this latest rumour seems to be on the top of everyone’s mind. Even the short discussion gives an idea of how industry leaders are interpreting recent events and what the future may hold for Xbox exclusivity. One thing is clear: significant changes seem imminent, but their exact shape remains ambiguous.
Keighley and the hosts demonstrate fans and insiders alike have more questions than answers right now. Luckily, according to the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, we will hear more on the subject and the future of the company from Xbox directly sometime next week.
