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In an interview with Fortune, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said her company will “look to try and do more” console exclusives if the health of its business improves.
Quizzed on the topic, the executive admitted the division “isn’t particularly healthy” and so that’s why it’s starting with “one or two signature exclusives”, Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution as announced last week.
The Xbox Podcast practically confirmed this week that The Coalition’s third-person shooter was planned for the PS5, as it accidentally uploaded an unedited trailer, showing Sony’s console logo at the end.
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On the subject, Sharma said:
“Look, I think that we are the number two publisher in the world, and when you do that you want your games to be everywhere. You’re stronger when the world plays with you. At the same time, we’re increasingly becoming more of a platform, and it’s hard to find examples of platforms out there that don’t have exclusive services and content.
And so, this is a journey for us. Our business isn’t particularly healthy, as you noted, and we’re starting by introducing one or two signature exclusives, and as the business is healthy, we will look to try and do more.”
Sharma wasn’t asked what would happen if the health of its business didn’t improve, but elsewhere in the interview she admitted the current cost of components is a huge issue for everyone in the industry.
She said it’s “hard to imagine mass audiences can afford [spending] thousands [of dollars] on consoles” and that “we’ll see radically different business models later this year”.
It’s going to be interesting to see how this all pans out.
I have a sneaking suspicion the likes of Halo: Campaign Evolved, Fable, and Forza Horizon 6 are going to sell by the bucketload on the PS5; I’m less convinced, in this environment, that Gears of War: E-Day or Clockwork Revolution are going to meaningfully strengthen Xbox’s position.
Perhaps this is an experiment Microsoft needs to conduct, but I’m not entirely sure I understand what’s materially changed since Starfield launched amid much fanfare as a console exclusive in 2023.
I guess we’re going to find out what happens either way.