Xbox lead Phil Spencer says there are no 'red lines' for what games could come to PlayStation and Nintendo

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The head of Microsoft Gaming doesn't see any particular games as a line that can't be crossed.

Phil Spencer, Microsoft / Xbox Gaming CEO, 2023
Phil Spencer is the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, overseeing all things Xbox.  (Image credit: Microsoft)

What you need to know

  • In an interview with Bloomberg reporter Dina Bass, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer touched on a number of topics regarding the Xbox business.
  • Per Spencer, the experiment of bringing some former Xbox exclusives to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles has been a success.
  • Spencer added that he doesn't see any particular "red lines" on certain games that shouldn't be brought over.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, we've got a bit more insight into what one platform holding is planning.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer spoke with Bloomberg in an interview published Wednesday regarding a number of topics around how the Xbox business is performing. Highlighting Microsoft's decision to bring four formerly Xbox console exclusive games to PlayStation and Nintendo hardware, Spencer noted that he's been pleased with the results and that Microsoft will continue to bring games over.

“I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say ‘thou must not,’" Spencer explained, eschewing the idea that there are any particular games that can't be ported, though he then added that it's too early for any kind of decision regarding Halo.

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Microsoft brought Obsidian Entertainment's Grounded and Pentiment, Rare's Sea of Thieves and the formerly-owned Tango Gameworks' Hi-Fi Rush to non-Xbox consoles earlier in 2024. While some of these ports were clearly more successful than others — Microsoft went on to try and close Tango Gameworks before the studio was saved by Krafton — Sea of Thieves on PlayStation 5 has been a highlight, with Microsoft Gaming content and studios head Matt Booty previously praising the game's performance.

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Constant change, but seeing a path through?

Screenshot of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle deep dive trailer showing Indiana Jones finding an ancient artifact

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is launching first on Xbox and PC before coming to PS5. (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

Navigating what is and isn't exclusive will continue to be a blurry line for Microsoft as it juggles being a massive multi-platform publisher as well as a console platform holder.

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MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is launching as a timed exclusive on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC before heading to PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, id Software's DOOM: The Dark Ages is set to launch across all these platforms on day one.

It's early days yet in terms of data, but so far, recent launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 across all platforms and Xbox Game Pass has borne out a success for Microsoft's strategy, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noting the game's subscriber adds on Xbox and increased year-over-year sales on Steam and PlayStation.

RELATED: Microsoft's officially working on an Xbox handheld, but it's years out

Things are changing all over, and Microsoft isn't alone in expanding its IP across different platforms, with Sony's PlayStation directly publishing LEGO Horizon Adventures on Nintendo Switch. Even so, it's one thing to say something and another to truly commit. It'll be interesting to see just what other Xbox games do and don't get ported to other hardware in the coming years.

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Samuel Tolbert
Samuel Tolbert
Freelance Writer

Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter @SamuelTolbert.

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • Lurking_Lurker_Lurks
    The path forward seems clear to me, just wait for the market to change where this strategy doesn't look weak, but rather a showcase of power. Heck, Sea of Thieves (an XGS game) topped PS5 charts despite being years old. It utterly embarrassed Skull and Bones. Microsoft as a whole now dominate the PS storefront and drive it between COD, Overwatch, ESO, F76, and Sea of Thieves. If gaming journalists used a metric of success other than exclusives they'd be singing praises instead of echoing fears.

    Third party exclusives are dead and even timed exclusives aren't as numerous as in the past. For the most part multiplatform releases don't just strive for parity but even features like cross play and cross save across platforms. If we just consider the first party margins that leaked from Sony, exclusives just aren't that economically sound anymore. They aren't really driving new hardware (an argument can be made exclusives and other walls between platforms just made consoles look less accessible from non gamers; general audiences complain about flipping between streaming services for their originals... why would anyone want to flip between hardware that costs hundreds to pay for exclusives). Sony is holding because they're Sony, but even they've had to make major changes in their business to deal with increasingly small margins. That's ultimately led to unprecedentedly holding on console price, raising price in some regions, and the most expensive pro model they've done. It's also led to PC ports and day one PC releases and even Switch releases for Lego Horizon. They seem to see Xbox as their bitter rival far more than Xbox does. If I were Microsoft I'd start to get in talks with Sony leadership moving forward about tearing down those walls. They really just stifle gaming and tribal BS has been the downfall of the console market. But I think if they continue to onesidely make efforts to evolve the console market, well they'll be seen as swimming against the tide. I'd argue they should just try to change the direction the tide itself is going.
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