Every gaming system is different in different ways, from specifications to features. But the main thing people focus on when deciding which console brand to invest in is its exclusive games. Xbox is known for Halo, PlayStation has God of War and Nintendo has Mario.
They each also have a bunch of other exclusive titles that help set them apart from the others. But exclusive products don't always stay exclusive, especially lately. Some games that seem synonymous with certain systems end up on a rival console. Here are some notable examples.
Like most early Metal Gear Solid games, the original MGS was a PlayStation exclusive for a while. A few years after its release, it was ported to the PC, but it still had a reputation as a PS1 game.
But 25 years after the game's release, it finally landed on an Xbox system, the Xbox Series X|S. It was included in the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1 bundle, along with a few other MGS titles. It wasn't the first MGS game on the Xbox, but it still feels strange to see it on a Microsoft system, since the Xbox branding didn't even exist when the game originally came out.
Mass Effect 2 on PlayStation 3
By now, people are probably used to Mass Effect on PlayStation consoles, but it felt weird when it first happened. The first two games were released on Xbox 360 and PC, which wasn't too surprising since these systems often shared exclusives at the time.
A year after Mass Effect 2's release in 2010, the game was ported to the PS3. This was very unexpected as the first Mass Effect game hadn't even been released on a PlayStation system yet. So before ME2's PS3 port, it very much felt like Mass Effect was always going to stick to Xbox and PC. Sony eventually got their hands on all the main Mass Effect games.
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex on GameCube and Xbox
In the late 90s, PlayStation seemingly tried to establish Crash Bandicoot as its mascot, as Mario is for Nintendo. And the first three main Crash games, along with the two spin-offs, were PlayStation exclusives. By 2001, Universal had acquired the rights to Crash Bandicoot, which meant that Sony no longer published the games.
Therefore, the new game, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, was also released on GameCube and Xbox, so Sony now shared the series with its two biggest rivals. This felt impossible when Crash became the face of the PlayStation just a few years earlier.
Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5
For a long time both Xbox and PlayStation had their own racing series. Xbox had Forza, while PlayStation had Gran Turismo. Now, the two brands have shared Forza ever since Forza Horizon 5 was released on PlayStation 5 in 2025.
This means that if you love simulation racing, the PlayStation consoles are the best to have as they offer both Forza and Gran Turismo. Xbox only has Forza. Because of this, it's surprising that Xbox allowed this to happen for a series that they publish.
Final Fantasy 11: Online on Xbox 360
Final Fantasy was already a very well established series before the Xbox even existed. In fact, the series had revolutionized RPG gaming. When the Xbox arrived on the scene, it didn't get FF games right away. Instead, it was still known as a PlayStation series at the time, with some games also coming to PC.
Still, four years after Final Fantasy 11: Online launched, it was also released on Xbox, making it the first Final Fantasy on Microsoft's consoles. As the Xbox and PlayStation console wars were in full swing at the time, it was a little surprising to see a FF game on the Xbox 360. The series has been released fairly regularly on Xbox consoles since then, but the games usually launch on the PlayStation first.
Horizon Zero Dawn on PC
While Xbox and PC had often shared games, PlayStation was once known to be more greedy with its first-party exclusives. So it was a big surprise when Sony-published Horizon Zero Dawn was ported to the PC in 2020.
It has since sparked a trend, with titles like God of War, The Last of Us Part 1 and Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered being released on PC. And Helldivers 2 has been ported to PC and Xbox. Therefore, it is a change of attitude for PlayStation, and it all started with Horizon Zero Dawn.
Resident Evil 4 on everything
Nowadays, Resident Evil 4 is available on almost every modern console imaginable. However, it wasn't always like that. It was originally released as a GameCube exclusive, and Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami was adamant that it would stay that way.
He explained that this was due to his lack of faith that Sony and Microsoft would remain in the gaming industry. He believed that Nintendo might be the game's only chance for a future, so he signed an exclusive deal with the company. Therefore, it was a huge shock when it was released on the PS2 before being ported to every possible system since then. Now people barely remember it was a GameCube exclusive.
Gears Of War: Reloaded on PlayStation 5
When you think of Xbox exclusive series, Gears of War is probably one of the first names that comes to mind. Apart from a few PC releases, the series has been synonymous with Xbox.
That is until Gears of War: Reloaded was released on PlayStation 5 in 2025. This is a remaster of the original Gears of War, so it's very classic Gears. Seeing the game running on a PlayStation console will probably always feel weird.
Sonic Adventure 2: Battle On GameCube
Long before the PlayStation and Xbox rivalry, Nintendo and Sega had their own console war in the 80s and 90s. At the time, they were the two major console brands, each with their own mascot. Nintendo had Mario and Sega had Sonic.
But by the end of 2001, Sega had stopped making consoles. So, the company ported Sonic Adventure 2 (as Sonic Adventure 2: Battle) to Nintendo's GameCube. Seeing a Sonic game on a Nintendo system back then was wild. Now you can play many Sonic titles on Nintendo consoles.
Halo: Campaign Evolved on PlayStation 5
To say Halo is Xbox's biggest series would be an understatement. These games are what really put the Xbox brand on the map, especially Halo 2 and Halo 3. Some of the games have also been on PC, but the FPS series has always been synonymous with Xbox.
That's why the revelation that a remake of the original Halo game will be released on PS5 is such a shock. That Master Chief appears on a system created by Xbox's biggest rival feels strange. It's as if a main Mario game was ported to the Xbox Series X|S or PS5.
