Xbox still “case by case” on Xbox exclusive releases, announces titles both ways today

Clear as mud.

Xbox came out from its Xbox Games Showcase with a couple new Xbox console exclusive releases, but has stressed that future releases will be on a “case by case” basis rather than anything that makes logical, consistent sense.

Cases in point: while Gears of War E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will remain Xbox console exclusives, titles like Halo Campaign Evolved, Fable, and State of Decay 3 are headed to platforms including the PS5. While you might think that’s because those titles have already been detailed to head to PS5, newly announced title Senua is also getting the multiplatform treatment.

Speaking with Gamertag Radio, chief content officer Matt Booty attempted to explain the exclusives situation and ended up making it more confusing.

“[We] want people to have a reason to get on board with Xbox,” Booty told the podcast. “We want them to have a reason to buy an Xbox reason to be an Xbox fan. At the same time we want to reward all our players that have been with us for a long time. We know that exclusives are important. That’s why we got Gears coming in 2026, Clockwork in 2027.

“We also want to be clear, our big multiplayer games, live service, games are going to continue to be multiplatform,” Booty continued. “If we’ve promised something to players already, we’re going to honour that promise, right? And then we’re going to really — I think Asha said it — we’re going to make the right decision, not the fast decision.

“We’re going to keep thinking about this going forward. And I think you guys know as well as anybody that our principle is when we announce a date, we want to announce the platforms. So, it’s going to be case by case, but we’re going to be clear that when it’s got a date, it’s got a platform and you’ll know uh what the choice is going to be.”

“We want people to choose Xbox because of great games and experiences,” added new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma on Twitter — referencing both Gears and Clockwork Revolution — following the showcase.

So there you have it — Xbox exclusives are exclusives until they’re not. Or they are. You’ll have to wait and see with each new release… which, to me (still), is more reason to invest in a gaming PC or a PS5 over an Xbox.

Back in March, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that PlayStation made the decision to stop releasing its PS5 exclusives on PC — and while I might not agree with that decision, it’s one seemingly set in stone, and one that would have me choosing between PS5 and PC depending on the types of titles that I play.