The Xbox Series X and PS5 are getting closer. The PS5 has already shown some exclusives that are meant to entice players to the console. A strategy that looks different for the Xbox.
The approaches look very different: When the PS5 was presented, it immediately provided a series of exclusive games that can be expected on the new console. These include games like:
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Horizon: Forbidden West
These games are meant to demonstrate the strong technology of the new console – and likely make many PS4 players consider an upgrade.
The Xbox Series X looks a bit different. A report from “Games Industry” made it clear that the new Microsoft console is pursuing a more holistic concept – also with a view towards Game Pass. Here, the user base of 10 million is to be further increased – through exclusive games that can also run on PC, Xbox One, and the xCloud streaming service. For at least a year, new games should also work on the old console.
Spencer: “Completely contrary to the importance of gaming”
In an interview, Xbox chief Phil Spencer commented on this plan. It’s important to him that there’s no fear that games will be held back by the view on older technology, and he refers to the experiences with PC hardware. “Our teams have pretty good capabilities to design things to be scalable, and to put this in the hands of players,” added Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty.
Regarding the PS5 exclusives, Spencer emphasizes that the work done by Sony, for example on the SSD, should be praised. “We should welcome load times and accuracy of scenes, frame rates, and latency,” said Spencer: “But that shouldn’t exclude people from being able to play. That’s our point. How do we create an ecosystem where if you want to play an Xbox game, we give you a way to do it?”
In the Xbox strategy, the device is not the focus, but the players: “We want to enable you to play the games you want, with the friends you want, on any device you want,” said Spencer, who also recently spoke very positively about the new Xbox: “The Xbox Series X is the most powerful console there is, and it will have the absolute best versions of our console games. But that shouldn’t exclude other people from being able to play.”
According to him, gaming is about entertainment and community: “I find it completely contrary to the importance of gaming to say that part of it is keeping people from experiencing those games. Or forcing someone to buy my specific device on the day I want them to buy it in order to participate in what gaming is all about.”
Does Sony see it the same way? They seem to be confidently preparing for the release at the moment. Recently, the production of the PS5 has reportedly doubled.
