Sarah Bond calls exclusives outdated
Xbox president Sarah Bond told Mashable that platform-exclusive games represent an outdated business model. Bond pointed to titles such as Call of Duty, Minecraft, Fortnite and Roblox as examples of successful multiplatform releases that build gaming communities. She said restricting games to single stores or devices no longer aligns with how players want to connect with friends across different systems.
Microsoft shifted its strategy after admitting defeat in the console market competition against Sony and Nintendo. The company began releasing first-party titles on PlayStation and Switch in February 2024, starting with Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush. More recent multiplatform launches have followed, with Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2 arriving simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox and PC this month.
Bond acknowledged that live service games benefit from broad platform availability. However, Sony and Nintendo continue prioritizing exclusive titles to drive hardware sales. While gamers would benefit from universal game availability, both competitors maintain their current approach to platform exclusivity.
