With former Microsoft exclusives like Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves going multiplatform, the floodgates are now open for Microsoft to publish more and more of its first-party titles on the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. From future releases like Blade to Xbox staples like Gears of War, Microsoft has no shortage of IP that would sell like gangbusters if they released on other consoles.
Blade
Although it was only just announced at The Game Awards 2023, Arkane Lyon needs to provide clarity to Blade’s platform exclusivity ASAP. Marvel fans know no platform allegiance, and will be hungry to play as Marvel’s #1 vampire hunter on any and all platforms. Because it wasn’t announced as an Xbox/PC exclusive, the door is cracked open for the possibility of a multiplatform launch for Blade. However, don’t be surprised if Blade ends up exclusive to Microsoft platforms as a sort of revenge for Marvel’s top superhero, Spider-Man, finding an exclusive home on PlayStation.
Avowed
Obsidian’s previous game, Pentiment, can now be found on PlayStation and Switch, so perhaps a multiplatform release down the pipeline for Avowed isn’t too far fetched? The studio is known for some absolute bangers of RPGs, like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, Fallout: New Vegas, and South Park: The Stick of Truth. With Avowed, they return to the universe they created in Pillars of Eternity for a new fantasy ARPG. The game’s box art is already the year’s best – and wouldn’t it look oh so good with the white PlayStation 5 stripe at the top?
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Although he’s had great success on the big screen, Indy hasn’t quite starred in a hit video game like one would expect of a mega film franchise’s leading man. Bethesda’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks to change that. The first-person adventure game will star Troy Baker doing a spot-on Harrison Ford impersonation and will tell an original story set between the first and third films. It’s currently only confirmed for the Xbox Series X/S and PC, but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would find a worthy home on the PlayStation 5.
Forza
Both Microsoft and Sony have their own exclusive racing franchises, and both series do something different. The Gran Turismo series on PlayStation focuses on circuit-based races and impressive car models, while Forza over on Xbox recently went open-world and has a more arcade-y gameplay experience. Both offer something different, so Microsoft could benefit from having its Forza games sit on the shelf next to Gran Turismo and being able to offer a new racing sim to PS5 owners who are looking for something different.
Senua’s Saga Hellblade II
The original Hellblade received a multiplatform release, and developer Ninja Theory was acquired by Microsoft a year later, meaning its sequel won’t be getting the same treatment. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was revealed alongside the Xbox Series X/S reveal in 2019, so it’s been a long time coming. Long enough for Microsoft to have changed its mind about Hellblade’s exclusivity? PlayStation fans of the original certainly hope!
Fable
You know a game series is in dire straits when its Wikipedia page has an eight-year “Decline” section. A Fable reboot was announced in 2020 for a PC and Xbox Series X/S release, but, four years later, it doesn’t seem very close to releasing. With how bloated game development timelines are, don’t be surprised if the Fable reboot launches on Microsoft’s next Xbox. By the time it does finally launch, perhaps Microsoft will have fully embraced multiplatform launches and Fable lands on the PlayStation 6.
Starfield
Bethesda’s space RPG launched last fall and promptly crash landed in hostile territory. Many reviews were lukewarm at best and when held against 2023’s other high profile releases like Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield clearly disappointed. However, despite the criticisms and disappointments, plenty of PlayStation gamers are still interested in checking out “Skyrim in space” for themselves. Going multiplatform with Starfield might just breathe new life into a dead-on-arrival franchise starter.
The Elder Scrolls VI
The next Elder Scrolls game is probably the least likely Microsoft exclusive to go multiplatform. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is one of the biggest video games of all time, so even if the sixth Elder Scrolls doesn’t reach the same highs, it’s still going to sell like crazy, exclusive or not, and could be a big draw for Microsoft in terms of consumers choosing an Xbox platform over its competitors. However, to reach the sales highs and prominence of Skyrim, a multiplatform release, even at a later date, might have to be in the cards for The Elder Scrolls VI.
Gears of War
Even though each of the mainline Gears of War games reviewed and sold well, fans have been waiting for what seems like ages for the next entry in the franchise after 2019’s Gears 5. What better way to keep those fans engaged – as well as bring in new ones – than to release past Gears games on PlayStation? Microsoft could take a page out of its Halo playbook and release a Gears of War: Fenix Collection (packaging all five mainline games) on PS5 and Switch. What better way could there be to chainsaw a Locust in the face than with a DualSense controller?
Halo
Blasphemous, you might say! But if Microsoft is serious about a pivot toward putting more of its marquee franchises on other platforms, they don’t get much more marquee than Halo. Master Chief has almost single-handedly been a system seller for over two decades now, and sales would surely explode if he ended up fighting Covenant forces on the PlayStation 5. The Master Chief Collection, collecting six games from the franchise, is basically ready made to draw in a new Halo-loving audience on PlayStation platforms.
However, if Halo does end up on Sony platforms, that might be the biggest white flag Microsoft could wave in the fabled ‘console wars.’ The Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S have lagged behind their respective PlayStation counterparts in terms of sales and impact. If Master Chief can be found on the same console as Kratos and Spider-Man, then Microsoft would be losing one of its biggest selling points for its hardware. However, if Microsoft shifts its strategy to a focus on software over hardware, then that could end up being a boon for the publisher.
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