Xbox Reportedly Holding “Very Big Discussions” Internally on Game Exclusivity

Ever since Asha Sharma assumed the role of Xbox CEO, Microsoft’s gaming division has suddenly been popping up in the news often lately. Be it Sharma’s last month’s internal discussion featuring CEO Satya Nadella or the internal memo that leaked yesterday hinting at the new Xbox CEO’s thoughts about Game Pass being too expensive. Now, it seems exclusivity is becoming a major internal talking point at Microsoft.

Xbox is reportedly in the middle of major internal discussions around game exclusivity

The news comes from industry insider and Windows Central’s executive editor, Jez Corden. In a recent podcast episode (timestamped below) on YouTube channel The XB2, Corden said that there are “very very very big discussions” happening behind the scenes around how Xbox should handle exclusives going forward. Here’s an excerpt from the podcast:

There are very very very big discussions about the exclusivity stuff going on right now. They do recognise the value – it’s just about what kind of company you want to be, at the end of the day. Do you want to be an ecosystem company first, or do you want to be a publishing company first?

The core debate reportedly centers on whether Microsoft wants to position itself primarily as an ecosystem company or focused on traditional publishing. Corden further suggested the company understands the value of exclusivity. However, the direction it wants to move towards reportedly isn’t finalized as of now.

Here it’s worth noting that Microsoft has already been moving closer to a publishing-first approach in recent years, especially following major acquisitions like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. However, whether that direction continues or is rethought under new leadership remains to be seen.

Not everything is expected to become exclusive

Corden also notes that while some internal conversations are ongoing, not everything is expected to become exclusive. In his view, major franchises like Call of Duty and Forza are unlikely to be locked down fully. However, smaller single-player titles could be treated differently depending on strategy. He further speculates that Microsoft may start drawing clearer lines between flagship live-service titles and narrative-driven releases when it comes to platform availability.

Corden’s comments suggest the company is still weighing both sides rather than committing to a single path. As of now, nothing is final, but the conversation itself hints at a potential turning point in how Xbox handles its biggest games. For now, it remains unclear which direction Microsoft will ultimately choose. But if these discussions do lead to change, the impact on future Xbox releases could be significant.

Here, it’s also worth noting that Xbox appears to be entering a more console-focused phase in 2026 under new leadership, with Asha Sharma now overseeing Microsoft’s gaming division. The new CEO is internally leading the development of a next-gen Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix. Reportedly, the upcoming console is on track for a late 2027 launch.