Rumor: Microsoft May Provide an Update on its Multiplatform Strategy Soon

A known Xbox insider has reported that Microsoft may provide specific details about its multiplatform pivot around the time of the company's annual summer showcase. Though Xbox's upcoming first-party lineup is the strongest it's been in years, the future of the brand has never looked more uncertain in the eyes of many fans. With rumors swirling around that Microsoft might release most or all of its first-party games on PlayStation/Nintendo consoles, this alleged update on the company's new strategy could be just what Xbox users who have been asking for clarification need.

After years of buying up studios and selling fans on the promise of consistent, high-quality Xbox exclusives to come from its acquisitions, Microsoft suddenly pivoted by making the surprising decision to release four of its first-party titles on rival platforms in early 2024. Given that the company had only recently flaunted its desire to keep Xbox games exclusive by canceling the PS5 ports of ZeniMax titles like Redfall, Starfield, and Indiana Jones, this move came as a shock to fans of the brand. Since then, many have questioned Microsoft's commitment to nurturing its own ecosystem, with some wondering what other Xbox exclusives may make their way to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. Fortunately, however, it seems that gamers might get some answers regarding Microsoft's multiplatform plans sooner rather than later.

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By  Dominik Bošnjak

According to a recent article from Windows Central's Jez Corden, Microsoft will reportedly provide clarification on where "pillar franchises like Halo, Forza, and Gears" fit within the company's "multiplatform push" sometime during the Xbox June showcase period. This new strategy, which is allegedly referred to as "[Project] Latitude at the firm," is seemingly the result of Microsoft's desire to boost its profit margins after the "gargantuan $72 billion+ acquisition of Activision-Blizzard," claims Corden. It appears that fans concerned about this pivot stripping the Xbox brand of its exclusive mascot franchises will get some answers in the near future, but whether it's the ones they want to hear or not is another story.

Fans May Soon Find Out If Games Like Halo, Gears, and Forza Will Come to Other Platforms

Like Sonic on Nintendo before it, the release of a Halo game on a non-Xbox console would be a landmark moment in gaming history and one that some fear could signal the death of the Xbox platform. Without any exclusives, many fans are concerned that Xbox console sales could fall dramatically, resulting in Microsoft ultimately pulling the plug on its gaming hardware division. Though the company has already confirmed that a next-gen Xbox is in development, Microsoft's drastic changes in business strategies have caused some gamers to lose trust in the platform holder.

Whether Halo, Gears, and Forza come to PlayStation or not, it seems likely that more Xbox games will go multiplatform. Just recently, rumors surfaced that the next mainline Doom game will release on PS5 day-one. If this is the case, then some future Xbox titles might not be exclusive to the console at all. It's been rough times for the Xbox brand lately, but hopefully, whatever Microsoft has to share during its June showcase will reignite confidence among the console manufacturer's fanbase.