Report: XBOX to Keep More of Its Best Games Exclusive to Boost Console Sales

XBOX‘s biggest reset in company history may not just change how the business operates. It will likely also determine where its biggest games are headed next. According to a new Bloomberg report, Microsoft is preparing to lean more heavily into console exclusives again after years of pushing multi-platform strategy, which fans have criticized.

Bloomberg reports XBOX wants to keep big games exclusive so players have a reason to buy consoles

The report claims the shift comes after Microsoft concluded that its previous strategy failed to deliver the growth it expected. Following billions spent on studio acquisitions and Game Pass expansion, XBOX reportedly plans to refocus on its console business by giving players more reasons to buy XBOX consoles.

While large live-service and multiplayer games will continue launching across multiple platforms, Microsoft reportedly wants more of its premium first-party titles to remain exclusive to XBOX consoles.

The report follows jaw-dropping XBOX Reset announcement, in which CEO Asha Sharma confirmed laying off 3,200 employees, multiple studios spin-off, and the first-ever COO to look over key parts of the business. Bloomberg also reported that XBOX’s internal Game Pass targets fell well short of expectations, prompting the company to rethink several long-term strategies.

That being said, Microsoft isn’t killing its multi-platform ambitions altogether. The news outlet notes that games built around massive online communities will continue reaching the widest possible audience. As of now, Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed which future games could become XBOX exclusives again. Considering that Bloomberg’s report proves accurate, the company’s next generation of first-party releases may look very different from the strategy XBOX has followed over the past several years.