The Xbox backlash continues as another console 'exclusive' is reportedly being explored for PlayStation 5

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By Jez Corden
published

Sea of Thieves heads to fresh waters?

Promotional screenshot of Sea of Thieves
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

What you need to know

  • At the weekend, rumors began to swirl that Hi-Fi Rush, one of Microsoft's biggest Xbox hits from last year, is coming to other console platforms. 
  • It would mark a departure from Xbox's previous comments, wherein they suggested they wouldn't explore these avenues again after creating confusion with Ori and the Blind Forest on Nintendo Switch. 
  • More recently, Xbox CFO Tim Stuart said that, indeed, Xbox will begin bringing more of its games to other platforms, which potentially shows a change in thinking. Previously, Microsoft said its games would be where Game Pass exists. Markedly, Game Pass is very much not on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, and likely won't be until Xbox stops competing in the hardware space. 
  • Now, prominent journalists Jeff Grubb and Stephen Totilo have claimed that Sea of Thieves may also be exploring a PlayStation version.  

The rumor mill won't stop for this latest round of reports that Microsoft is gearing up to abandon Xbox exclusivity for its premium titles. Over the weekend, rumors began to percolate suggesting Hi-Fi Rush, last year's break out action hit, will move from being an Xbox exclusive to a multi-platform console title, potentially hitting Nintendo Switch or PS5. It follows earlier comments from Xbox CFO Tim Stuart who publicly said Xbox will be bringing more of its games to competing platforms in the coming years, marking a departure from previous strategies. 

Microsoft is a prolific "third-party" publisher already technically, with Call of Duty and Minecraft being notable properties the firm owns. Games like Fallout 76 and Elder Scrolls Online continue to be updated in a third-party capacity too, across competing platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Microsoft also is contractually obligated to keep Call of Duty multi-platform, per regulatory deals following its acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. Xbox fans had hoped, however, that games like Starfield, Hellblade 2, Avowed, and other upcoming Xbox games might help the platform grow, faced with stiff competition from Sony's PS5 and Nintendo's Switch. It seems that Microsoft may be gearing up to throw in the towel before giving their acquisitions a real chance to turn the tide. 

In reports from both Giantbomb's Jeff Grubb and Game Files' Stephen Totilo (which you should defo subscribe to), it has been claimed that Microsoft's pirate adventure service title Sea of Thieves could be exploring new waters.

While it's unconfirmed if the plans went ahead, I also received tips in mid December that Sea of Thieves was slated for multiplatform treatment. My attempts to verify the rumors with multiple people didn't pan out, which is usually my benchmark for making these kinds of reports. "Exploring" a port doesn't necessarily mean they will, or are doing it, though, and the can of worms it might potentially open could dissuade Microsoft from seeing it through. 

Why Sea of Thieves, but not Halo Infinite? etc. ad nauseum.

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
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The business rationale for moving Sea of Thieves to PlayStation most likely makes total and complete sense from a numbers perspective. The game might've served everyone it can possibly serve on Xbox and PC, and moving it to another platform might be a good way to help it find new users and generate new revenue. It does open a can of worms, though, much like the Hi-Fi Rush rumors. 

People might say Sea of Thieves being ported makes sense, since it's towards the end of its life cycle potentially — but then why not Halo Infinite? The iconic Xbox franchise moving to PlayStation would be a huge coup and become emblematic of Xbox's thorough defeat. But only with core Xbox fans, whom Microsoft doesn't seem to think are enough to carry the future of the platform. If you're porting Sea of Thieves, what is the excuse Microsoft will give for Halo, Forza, or Gears of War, and any other Xbox game not being ported? Are they timed exclusive? For how long? 

Microsoft has always said that exclusivity for its games will be on a case-by-case basis. CFO Tim Stuart said that Xbox will be bringing more of its games to other platforms too. CEO Satya Nadella said that the only reason they do exclusives at all is because PlayStation does. Microsoft still hasn't announced platforms for Marvel's Blade, leading many to think it isn't Xbox exclusive too.

It's not as if they've been shy about the plans to be less restrictive over competing console platforms. But the confusion over "which games?" and "when are the ports?" will be a constant source of contention for Xbox in this strange new world, where the Xbox and Windows just aren't enough.  

Jez Corden
Jez Corden
Co-Managing Editor

Jez Corden is a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!

8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • fdruid
    Why the hissy fit here? Xbox is about selling games, and subscriptions. Why shouldn't they release them everywhere?
    If anything, they're looking ahead of the curve here too and bringing an industry without exclusives ans with ubiquitous releases. Which is what it should be, exclusive titles are rancidly anticonsumer.
    If anything, we should expect Sony do the same with their usual delay in ten years, if they're still around by them. In the meantime, MS, ignoring the astonished faces of those who don't understand their business will be making additional millions selling their games to more users.
    Reply
  • Jez Corden
    fdruid said:
    Why the hissy fit here? Xbox is about selling games, and subscriptions. Why shouldn't they release them everywhere?
    you're not wrong. i think you're right in saying that sony would also follow suit eventually, and xbox and playstation hardware will be more akin to ios vs. android, where you pick your ecosystem and can largely expect content to be ubiquitous.
    Reply
  • fjtorres5591
    Jez Corden said:
    you're not wrong. i think you're right in saying that sony would also follow suit eventually, and xbox and playstation hardware will be more akin to ios vs. android, where you pick your ecosystem and can largely expect content to be ubiquitous.
    On theory and in most cases and times it wouldn't matter.
    As I keep pointing out MS is already multiplat; Bethesda, ABK, and (on ocassion) XGS.
    But...
    SEA OF THIEVES is a bad choice to bring to Playstation becuse as an *established* XBOX/PC online game, it has a community identity built around those platforms. Nintendo I could understand since RARE is a name that community is familar with and has fond memories of their past games. And the ABK deal is bringing good things to that community.

    But Playstation, especially in 2024, is not a good fit as a portion of that community is visibly and vitriolicly against XBOX and to a lesser degree PC for losing their COD privileges moving forward. They may not be many but if iadded to SEA OF THIEVES will be trouble, there will be bannings, there will be drama.

    If MS is to take advantage of Sony's 2024 game...drought...it should be with single player games where the bad blood between the communities can't impact the business. That the bad blood does exist is undeniable: witness all the bad mouthing of STARFIELD (you did see the METRO pieces?) and the ongoing angst that even the rumor of *one* XBOX original coming to Playstation is causing? (40+ comments to the mere rumor?)

    Part of it is the internet being the internet but the discord between the communities is real right now. (Sony's role and tactics in trying to stop the ABK deal won't soon be forgotten.) Rationality does not factor in it.

    MS doesn't need the drama.
    (Some customers aren't worth the money they bring.)
    Not at this time and not in an established community game.
    Maybe a different game at a different time.

    Good thing this is most likely a made up rumor.
    Reply
  • ShinyProton
    With the actual consoles sales ratio, this is unavoidable.
    When you paid millions to develop a game, you want the best ROI possible. The picture is clear now and the PS5 ecosystem is the place to be.
    Once again, for this generation, Microsoft was unable to secure/attract the mass.
    The downward spiral has started before the Series S|X shipped and will continue.

    So, be ready for more news like this one.
    Reply
  • John McIlhinney
    ShinyProton said:
    With the actual consoles sales ratio, this is unavoidable.
    When you paid millions to develop a game, you want the best ROI possible. The picture is clear now and the PS5 ecosystem is the place to be.
    Once again, for this generation, Microsoft was unable to secure/attract the mass.
    The downward spiral has started before the Series S|X shipped and will continue.

    So, be ready for more news like this one.
    I guess the point is that one of the main reasons that PS has the upper hand in sales is their exclusive games so, if Xbox wants to close that gap, more exclusive games rather than fewer is perceived to be the best way to do that. The big question is where Microsoft sees their console hardware in years to come. If they have ambitions of being the best-selling console then more exclusives would make sense. If they see console hardware as losing relevance in the future then having their games everywhere they can get them makes more sense.
    Reply
  • John McIlhinney
    fdruid said:
    Why the hissy fit here? Xbox is about selling games, and subscriptions. Why shouldn't they release them everywhere?
    If anything, they're looking ahead of the curve here too and bringing an industry without exclusives ans with ubiquitous releases. Which is what it should be, exclusive titles are rancidly anticonsumer.
    If anything, we should expect Sony do the same with their usual delay in ten years, if they're still around by them. In the meantime, MS, ignoring the astonished faces of those who don't understand their business will be making additional millions selling their games to more users.
    Whether you agree with them or not, I think the reason for the hissy fit is obvious. PS fanbois have always boasted about their exclusive games and they are right that PS has more and better exclusives than Xbox. For Xbox fanbois, it's got to hurt that, even if you genuinely believe that Xbox hardware is better and/or that Game Pass is the sheet, there's really no meaningful counter to those boasts about PS exclusives. That Microsoft would reduce the number and/or quality of Xbox exclusives makes it even harder to take the taunts from the PS crowd.

    What we should or do expect from Sony makes little difference to what they'll do. Look how long it's taken for them even to release some of their games to PC. That is another market from which to make money for Sony but it does little for Xbox gamers as they still need a beefy PC to play those games. Xbox releasing their games to PS consoles is rather different.

    Microsoft may have got over who has bragging rights in the console wars but many of their customers have not. The question is how many of those customers there are and how much will it take to lose them if Microsoft don't make specific efforts to keep them happy. Microsoft and other companies are often criticised for prioritising making money over serving their loyal customers and this will certainly be perceived as another example of that and probably rightfully so. Whether or not that's bad in this case is another matter but you have said that Microsoft is ignoring what certain customers want in order to make more money.
    Reply
  • TheFerrango
    Hmmm, here's hoping Xbox customers are treated better than WP users were once Microsoft started embracing other platforms. There too the reasoning was "there are customers there, it would be dumb for Microsoft not to bring their offerings there"; soon that turned into "there are more users there, so they get the updates first because it gets pushed to more people", which finally ended with MS' own platform being abandoned.

    Microsoft abandons Xbox hardware and the console market in the near future, you've heard it here first, folks! :D
    Reply
  • John McIlhinney
    TheFerrango said:
    Hmmm, here's hoping Xbox customers are treated better than WP users were once Microsoft started embracing other platforms. There too the reasoning was "there are customers there, it would be dumb for Microsoft not to bring their offerings there"; soon that turned into "there are more users there, so they get the updates first because it gets pushed to more people", which finally ended with MS' own platform being abandoned.

    Microsoft abandons Xbox hardware and the console market in the near future, you've heard it here first, folks! :D
    Microsoft have been talking about platform-specific console hardware not really being a thing in the future for some time now, so I think you're definitely correct that they see that happening some time. Their giving up on Xbox hardware while Playstation is still a thing is something different. I don't think it will happen any time soon, but I certainly can't rule it out.

    As far as exclusives are concerned, it will be interesting to see how many come out of Microsoft's new studios for Xbox. That might be a good indication of where they are intending to go. SoT has been around for a good while now and they may well not see it as bringing new players to Xbox any more, so it might benefit them and current players if there is an influx of new players from another platform. If there isn't a significant number of new games appearing as Xbox exclusives then that would be a bad sign.
    Reply