A series of concerning reports has been coming out regarding the Xbox brand. Things were looking up for the community after Activision Blizzard was purchased. Fans were eager to see some of these incredible franchises land on the Game Pass subscription service and to learn what the future holds for the teams. But then last month, we got the report of mass layoffs happening at Xbox, which gave more than some concerning rumors of what this could even mean for physical game releases. Now, the rumors are growing rampant as Microsoft’s days of providing Xbox exclusives could be numbered.
We have seen a slew of reports lately about some Xbox games leaving their exclusivity behind. It started with Hi-Fi Rush being rumored to land on platforms like the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. That didn’t raise too many alarms, but the rumors started to run wild over the past few days. Now we’re looking at games like Starfield, Gears of War, and even the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle no longer being exclusive to the Xbox brand. If that’s the case, then some fans are looking to drop support for the brand, especially since we’re just getting to the midway point for the Xbox Series X/S console generation.
Thanks to a report from the VGC, we’re finding out that several influencers that helped hype and build up support under the Xbox banner are taking a step back. For instance, Klobrille, who has gained a strong following over his support for Xbox, has decided to step back and potentially outright retire. This is all due to the lack of excitement and energy of what is supposedly next for the Xbox brand. That being the eventual launch of once-exclusive franchises on rival platforms.
Fans have since started to voice frustration and concerns over the future. There are quite a few fans who have built up digital and physical libraries under the Xbox banner. Likewise, some fans have just started to get their hands on the latest-generation console, so the fact that this device could soon be left on the wayside might be a massive disappointment. Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 users might be relieved knowing that some of these games they missed out on from now owning one of Microsoft’s gaming consoles could finally become available for purchase on their desired platform.
Again, this is all just rumors and speculation, as we’ll have to wait until next week for the official word. The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, had recently taken to the X social media platform to confirm a business update is coming next week to help clear the air about the future of the gaming division at Microsoft.
