Starfield Might Be Coming To Other Consoles, As Phil Spencer Suggests It's A Possibility
Phil Spencer has confirmed that there's no Xbox game that he'd ever say will always be exclusive, including the still quite recently released Starfield. Since its launch in 2023, the game has been met with a mixed reception from fans, particularly due to it not quite living up to the expectations it set. Even with the later release of the Shattered Space DLC, the game hasn't completely lived up to the success it could've been.
In a recent interview with Destin Legarie, Xbox boss Phil Spencer revealed that Starfield might not remain an Xbox-exclusive title. With the mindset that it would be limiting to any game's success to keep it on just one platform, it seems that this might not be the only Xbox gem players could expect to see elsewhere either. As Xbox seems to move away from the idea of exclusives and lean further into models like Game Pass, their entire brand almost seems to be entirely separate from anything else right now.
Phil Spencer Says Xbox Exclusives "Don't Work"
The Xbox Business Model Changes Things Up
Sharing that exclusive games haven't been working for Xbox, Phil Spencer alludes to a future of multi-platform gaming when it comes to their future releases. Particularly as "the world's biggest games are available in multiple places", it would seem that Xbox is placing less of a focus on console sales and a greater priority on their gaming experiences, regardless of where they're available. With the news of an Xbox handheld down the line too, it's no surprise that Xbox will be leaning into a future that's less restrictive for gamers.
As Xbox seems to be finding a new direction in the gaming world, Phil shares that this new perspective is integral to their modern brand: "We think that makes us unique... We want Xbox to be a platform that enables creators across any screen that people want to play on." Through the growth of Game Pass, which has seen some major popularity, it makes sense for Xbox to continue down this path of driving fans to their games regardless of the platform. Despite lesser console sales as a result, this new direction for Xbox could set it apart from the PlayStation in a brand-new way.
The Future Of Console-Exclusive Titles Hangs In The Balance
The Industry Might Be Changing - For Better Or For Worse
There are a lot of mixed opinions on whether or not players should purchase Starfield, as it still doesn't quite live up to what players were hoping for. Due to its lackluster performance, it makes sense for Xbox to be going down a route that no longer keeps titles as platform exclusives, branching out to new audiences and seeing greater success for games like this that somewhat struggled. It seems likely that if Starfieldand other hits were brought to the PS5 or Nintendo Switch, fans would find new things to enjoy about them.
That's not to say that this move from Xbox is the best for the industry on the whole, as exclusive titles are often integral for console sales across the board. While many may just be daunted by the prospects of beginning PC gaming, a lot of players still pick up consoles just for the games that release on them alone. With this big shift down the line, the entire gaming industry could change for better or for worse.
Source: X, Videogameschronicle
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