Future single-player focused Xbox console exclusive games will be decided on a case-by-case basis, while live service titles will remain multiplatform.
During an interview with Gamertag Radio (via shinobi602 on Twitter/X) following the recent Xbox Games Showcase, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty addressed questions regarding the multiplatform status of first-party titles, confirming that the company’s future single-player-focused console exclusive games will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis while multiplayer-focused and live-service titles will continue to launch across multiple platforms.
According to Booty, exclusives remain an important part of the Xbox ecosystem because they give players a reason to invest in Xbox hardware and remain engaged with the platform. “We want people to have a reason to get on board with Xbox. We want them to have a reason to buy an Xbox, a reason to be an Xbox fan,” he explained. He also talked about the importance of rewarding long-time Xbox players, saying that exclusives continue to play a role in that effort.
Booty pointed to upcoming titles such as Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution as examples of games intended to strengthen the Xbox platform. However, he made it clear that Microsoft’s strategy is not shifting back to a blanket exclusivity model. “We also want to be clear, our big multiplayer games, live service games are going to continue to be multiplatform,” he said. As for games already announced for other consoles, he clarified that Xbox intends to honor commitments already made to players.
Rather than establishing a rigid policy for all future releases, Xbox plans to evaluate projects individually. “It’s going to be case by case,” Booty stated, adding that the company intends to make “the right decision, not the fast decision” when determining where future titles will launch. He also assured that the company will communicate platform plans clearly once games receive release dates. “When we announce a date, we want to announce the platforms,” he said.
