Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty has said that first-party versions from Microsoft will be exclusive to consoles on an individual basis. Booty's statement came after confirmation that two major Xbox releases coming later in 2026 and 2027 would not be ported to other consoles, such as the PS5.
During the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, Microsoft pulled back the curtain on games coming to Xbox Series X/S and Windows PCs in 2026 and beyond. Along with more information about upcoming releases such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Fablethe showcase also featured reveals of third-party games, such as the highly anticipated ones Persona 6 and Castlevania: Curse of Belmont. Each title that appeared in the Xbox Games Showcase also clarified which platforms it would be released for, including PS5 and Switch 2.
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Exclusive to the Xbox console will be clear from the start
Even if Gears of War: E-Day will be an Xbox console-exclusive title when it arrives on October 6, which won't necessarily apply to some of Microsoft's upcoming releases. Matt Booty stated in an interview with GamerTag Radio that Xbox console exclusivity for its first-party titles will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Booty confirmed that this strategy will be in place for both Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution. However, Booty stated that Xbox's exclusivity strategy will not affect games with multiplayer and live service functionality, as they will continue to be released and supported across platforms. Ergo games such as Sea of Thieves, The Elder Scrolls Onlineand Fallout 76 will still receive updates on all platforms.
Once the release date information for a game is determined, Booty said Microsoft will continue to list all the platforms where an Xbox game will be available. Booty said that, at the core of Microsoft's exclusivity strategy, the company wants to reward longtime fans who have been with Xbox for years, along with offering consumers a reason to buy an Xbox console in the first place. Booty echoed the words of Xbox head Asha Sharma, saying the company needs to “make the right decision, not the quick decision” when it comes to choosing which Xbox games will receive console exclusivity.
Given that Xbox has been receptive to fan feedback on exclusive products, it remains to be seen how sales of Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be affected by Microsoft's choice. In addition, Booty said that all Xbox titles previously confirmed to be multi-platform launches will still be honored. Ergo games such as Fable and Halo: Campaign Evolved will still be released on PS5 alongside Xbox and Windows PCs. With that in mind Halo: Campaign Evolved will not support multiplayer, it is unclear if future Halo titles will be released on PS5, with or without multiplayer functionality.
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However, as Xbox returns to console exclusivity after releasing titles such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5, PlayStation fans may have to buy an Xbox to continue playing some of Microsoft's IPs. With Xbox also developing the next-generation Project Helix console, time will tell what exclusive games will be offered as a way to draw new players into Microsoft's gaming ecosystem.
