In a recent interview with Destin Legarie, Xbox head Phil Spencer strongly hinted that Bethesda’s space-faring RPG, Starfield, may not stay an Xbox console exclusive for eternity.
When asked directly whether Starfield was “staying put for the time being,” Spencer’s answer was direct: “No.” He did hedge a little, continuing with, “There’s no reason for me to put a ring fence around any game and say this game will not go to a place where it would find players, where it would have business success for us.”
Starfield on PS5
This has divided fans, some believe that releasing Starfield on the PlayStation 5 would widen its reach and generate more financial success. According to one X user, “I gotta say, that makes sense. If you want to maximize your game’s reach it only makes sense to take it multi-platform.”
On the other side of that, though, are fans concerned with what that means for the identity of Xbox and the value of owning an Xbox console. One such user on Reddit said, “Have an Xbox Series X and if all Xbox games end up going to PlayStation-then what’s the point of having an Xbox?
Its not only limited to Starfield. Initial reports had claimed that Xbox would release other exclusives on the competition’s platform. For example, “Indiana Jones y el Gran Círculo” will be out on PS5 in spring 2025 after its launch on Xbox Series and PC.
Phil Spencer has repeatedly rubbed in the lack of “red lines” hindering the release of Xbox’s games on competing consoles: “There’s no reason for me to put a ring fence around any game and say this game will not go to a place where it would find players.”
Check out: PS Plus Tends to End Monthly PS4 Game Offerings by 2026 – pcngames.com
It appears, however, that the apparent slight operation is a trend within the greater industry scene. Thus, while investigating other platforms and creating nonexclusive titles for the PC, Sony has been looking around for opportunities to reach out to its diffuse markets.
The possible shift of Starfield to PS5 is another example of how dynamics are shifting in the field of game exclusivity. While it opens broader access to some fans, others fear that this may dilute what makes their platform of choice unique. How such strategies play out in the future of console gaming remains to be seen as the industry keeps changing.
