[Bullet Club]

An 'acclaimed' Xbox game will go multiplatform this year, it's claimed

The title was reportedly "in the game of the year conversation" in the year that it released

Microsoft is planning to bring one of its "more acclaimed" first-party games to competing platforms this year, it's claimed.

That's according to the Nate the Hate podcast, a show which often breaks stories involving the games industry.

The show did not name which title is allegedly coming to competing platforms, but noted that it was "in the game of the year conversation" in the year that it was released.

"In the calendar year of 2024, Microsoft will bring one of their more acclaimed first-party games to a competitor's system," the show claimed.

"The title I'm referring to was met with high critical acclaim. Fans loved it and it was in the game of the year conversation in the year that it released."

'Nate' added: "When the announcement comes I think it will be met with a lot of excitement because it's a quality game.

"I think this is a smart move for Microsoft… from a business perspective, if you're bringing select games to multiplatform, to Switch and PlayStation, you're doing so because you see the quality of the IP and the franchise and you want to expand its reach beyond just the Xbox."

Some fans on social media have speculated that the unnamed title could be Tango Gameworks' Hi-Fi Rush, the action game that was shadowdropped this time last year, and which received strong critical praise.

Microsoft has dabbled in multiplatform releases in the recent past, including ports of the Ori games for Nintendo Switch, and continued support for Minecraft on PlayStation and other platforms.

It also honoured multiplatform agreements for Bethesda titles Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Double Fine's Psychonauts 2. However, some games, most notably Starfield, were made exclusive to Xbox consoles after Microsoft acquired their developers.

Speaking in 2019, Xbox's then first-party studios boss, Matt Booty, said the platform holder would determine if it made sense to put future games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch on a per-franchise basis.

"I think that the question is less binary about, 'should it be on Switch, should it be on PlayStation?' and more, 'does it make sense for the franchise?'" he said.

"In other words, is it a kind of game where it would benefit from the network effect of being on a bunch of different platforms, or is it a game where we can best support it by putting resources and making sure that our platforms, things like xCloud and Game Pass and Xbox Live, are really leaning in to support the game?"

Source: VGC

 

[Stilton Disco]

Hi Fi Rush as a Switch 2 launch title would absolutely not shock me at all.

Anything coming to PS5 would shock me, and would pretty much signal Xbox's withdrawal from hardware and competing as a platform holder, because at that point they genuinely would just be a third party publisher and provide zero reasons to actually buy an Xbox, even if you insisted on wanting a console over a PC.

 

[CAB_Life]

Shitfield, probably.

 

[GreyHorace]

I'm going to go big and say HALO. It hasn't been the Xbox exclusive system seller that Microsoft wanted ever since Bungie left.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

Guessing something from their back-catalogue, then theyll proceed to roll out Game Pass on Switch and eventually PlayStation. Starfield will jump over before the end of 2025

Called this years ago and the fanboys screeched. Not at all surprising to see it go down this way.

 

[HeresJohnny]

This is incredibly sad if true. It didn't have to be like this, and the brand has been completely mismanaged by idiots. I see this as the first step to them exiting hardware.

 

[Grinchy]

This is incredibly sad if true. It didn't have to be like this, and the brand has been completely mismanaged by idiots.

And they just keep growing the number of studios they're gonna mismanage. Yay!

 

[Stilton Disco]

And they just keep growing the number of studios they're gonna mismanage. Yay!

This is why I'm glad they bought Activision. If Xbox insists on plunging into a death spiral, at least they're taking those cunts with them.

 

[HeresJohnny]

And they just keep growing the number of studios they're gonna mismanage. Yay!

Yep lol it's amazing how Phil Spencer has been able to bullshit his way through such an absolute disastrous tenure. I thought after Mattrick is was impossible to actually see the division run worse, but here we are. Microsoft seemingly cannot find anyone who really understands this business and so they've been left to try to brute force their way in by buying up studios.

This should also serve as a warning to Sony. You don't release hardware and also release software on competing hardware. These are literally mutually exclusive actions. Launching hardware costs billions and anything that goes against both capturing marketshare and recouping that R&D is foolish. That's what really troubles me about this, I see some of the same level of stupidity in the Sony camp.

 

[TaySan]

Hi Fi Rush is the only one i can think of that makes sense

 

[Stilton Disco]

Yep lol it's amazing how Phil Spencer has been able to bullshit his way through such an absolute disastrous tenure. I thought after Mattrick is was impossible to actually see the division run worse, but here we are. Microsoft seemingly cannot find anyone who really understands this business and so they've been left to try to brute force their way in by buying up studios.

Don't get me wrong, I think Phil Spencer is the second biggest dickhead when it comes to running a gaming platform (looking ar you Jim Ryan), but in his defence, he's much more of a gamer than 99% of the corporate suits that usually end up running games companies into the ground.

I think his biggest flaws are a complete inability to hire competent managers, because with as much power as he has, he is not actually making the bad decisions that ruin so many Xbox Studio games, and falling for the subscription based future meme that every major entertainment business hitched their wagon too, and is now causing even juggernauts like Dianey to crash and burn now the reality of how unsustainable that business model is has hit.

 

[HeresJohnny]

I keep hearing Hi Fi Rush mentioned, but did it make any kind of appreciable splash with the public? I know it was a critical and enthusiast darling, but how many copies did it sell exactly?

 

[HeresJohnny]

Don't get me wrong, I think Phil Spencer is the second biggest dickhead when it comes to running a gaming platform (looking ar you Jim Ryan), but in his defence, he's much more of a gamer than 99% of the corporate suits that usually end up running games companies into the ground.

I think his biggest flaws are a complete inability to hire competent managers, because with as much power as he has, he is not actually making the bad decisions that ruin so many Xbox Studio games, and falling for the subscription based future meme that every major entertainment business hitched their wagon too, and is now causing even juggernauts like Dianey to crash and burn now the reality of how unsustainable that business model is has hit.

I believe you are right in that the entire division has been mishandled, but in any other timeline that isn't Mad World, Spencer would've been kicked out on his ass years ago. In most businesses, the buck stops with the guy in charge.

 

[regawdless]

"To a competitors system" ... Yeah so apparently to one, and Nintendo would make sense because they're not really a competitor (different market segment). Like said above, Switch 2 title is likely.

 

[Stilton Disco]

I keep hearing Hi Fi Rush mentioned, but did it make any kind of appreciable splash with the public? I know it was a critical and enthusiast darling, but how many copies did it sell exactly?

They just said 'critically acclaimed', not 'successful', and that narrows it down to just Hi Fi Rush and Forza, unless they start digging into the back catalogue and release Halo Remastered or such like.

 

[HeresJohnny]

This is completely the wrong message to be sending as well with getting people to buy Xbox hardware. If I was on the fence about an Xbox and I hear Xbox games may be coming to other platforms, why not consider those other platforms instead?

Microsoft's message should immediately be changed to "You'll have to buy our console if you like our games." Period. Fuck the PC market, and fuck sending titles to competing platforms. In the short term it will be difficult but in the long run it will pay huge dividends assuming the quality is there software wise. Look at Nintendo. They need to make it a premium brand, not whore it out to every platform for a dollar.

 

[HeresJohnny]

They just said 'critically acclaimed', not 'successful', and that narrows it down to just Hi Fi Rush and Forza, unless they start digging into the back catalogue and release Halo Remastered or such like.

My thought on that then is: why? If the public didn't really give a shit on PC and Xbox, what makes them think they're going to care on platforms with more competition? Releasing a critical darling that underperformed on systems with more and better games seems like a hail Mary to me.

I wonder if this has something to do with the monopoly suits Microsoft has been fending off. Maybe by releasing a game or two with positive buzz, it deflects some of the "Microsoft is a monopoly" accusations.

 

[regawdless]

Fuck the PC market

 

[HE1NZ]

Hope it's Pentiment on a Switch. Would be a good platform for it

 

[Stilton Disco]

"To a competitors system" ... Yeah so apparently to one, and Nintendo would make sense because they're not really a competitor (different market segment). Like said above, Switch 2 title is likely.

The idea Nintendo aren't a competitor died either when the Switch passed 100 million, or when the Switch port of Hogwarts Legacy curbstomped the Xbox's combined cross gen sales.

People absolutely are choosing to buy a Switch over an Xbox, and buy games on it rather than on an Xbox too.

The idea that it somehow has a completely seperate audience, based on being a hybrid and relatively weak power, the later of which while be erased once the Switch 2 launches due to the XSS existing, simply does not hold water against the evidence we have from years of comparative sales data.

My thought on that then is: why? If the public didn't really give a shit on PC and Xbox, what makes them think they're going to care on platforms with more competition? Releasing a critical darling that underperformed on systems with more and better games seems like a hail Mary to me.

I wonder if this has something to do with the monopoly suits Microsoft has been fending off. Maybe by releasing a game or two with positive buzz, it deflects some of the "Microsoft is a monopoly" accusations.

Honestly I think if it is Hi Fi Rush, then the audience for such a game is likely far bigger on either Playstation or Switch than it is on Xbox and PC combined, given the historical sales of such a games across various platforms.

Kind of like how obvious it was Sunset Overdrive was DOA when it was announced as an XO exclusive and made less than a grand on PC, when similar genre games like Infamous: Second Son were selling gangbusters on PS4.

Theere's also the lack of damage to sales from Gamepass to bear in mind too, so they'll also be making more money due to not cannibalising sales for subscriber numbers.

 

[regawdless]

My thought on that then is: why? If the public didn't really give a shit on PC and Xbox, what makes them think they're going to care on platforms with more competition? Releasing a critical darling that underperformed on systems with more and better games seems like a hail Mary to me.

I wonder if this has something to do with the monopoly suits Microsoft has been fending off. Maybe by releasing a game or two with positive buzz, it deflects some of the "Microsoft is a monopoly" accusations.

I think it's just simple business calculation. If it's Hi-Fi Rush, it's a smaller title that isn't important on a larger scale for the brand at all. But money has to come in for a studio to survive and to fund the next project. Sales on Xbox and PC very likely flat lined for the game, the Game Pass money is already used up. Nobody cares about the game anymore, it made it's splash.

Releasing on Switch and Switch 2 for example could easily generate some hundred thousand sold units, bringing in millions that could be crucial for the studio.

 

[Nobel 6]

Hi-Fi Rush on Nintendo is a perfect match. I think the game will do well there and it belongs there.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

Hi-Fi Rush on Nintendo is a perfect match. I think the game will do well there and it belongs there.

Would it run in the Switch hardware though?

 

[Stilton Disco]

Would it run in the Switch hardware though?

Probably. Running well is another question.

I'd still say a Switch 2 launch game is more likely. If god was to smile upon us, it'd be the Rare Replay collection though.

 

[regawdless]

Would it run in the Switch hardware though?

Not much going on there tech wise tbh. I think it should handle it with low res and FSR.

 

[kiNeMs]

Shouldn't be hard to guess. They haven't made many games full stop. Let alone game of the year contenders.

 

[Goatmilk]

If you guessed ANY Xbox game - you're WRONG.

They were never acclaimed.

 

[Nikana]

I mean Microsoft has been basically signaling they will approaching software differently and already have done this with success with the Ori franchise. Granted they constantly talk outside both sides of their mouth so I sort of see why some people are shocked but I am not in the slightest.

Everyone will be third party at some point. We can keep dancing around these lines and making these arbitrary arguments that both Microsoft and Sony haven't already been third party for awhile or that Nintendo is "doing their own thing," but reality is that the exclusive box with exclusive stores is on its way out.

 

[QuantumZebra]

I'm going to go big and say HALO. It hasn't been the Xbox exclusive system seller that Microsoft wanted ever since Bungie left.

At some point Micro$oft has to realize they aren't gonna keep their studios afloat by locking them to the weakest console (by market share).

 

[SEGA_2012]

Via Windows Central
Via Reddit
Via Twitter

Jez Corden on WC says:

Rumors suggest Xbox is bringing more games to Nintendo Switch and PS5, but what's the truth?

According to Nate, HFR is coming to PS5:

"Yeah, about this. While there was a Switch (and PS5) version in development, plans may have changed in terms of platforms. As in dropping the Switch version and keeping the PS5 one.
tbh I don't think this changes the whole picture about some specific Xbox/Bethesda/AKB games going multiplatform."

According to Jeff Grubb, Sea of Thieves is coming to PS5 and Switch. More games are also coming to Switch and PS5.



However, Jez Corden says that the new games are still XBOX exclusives:

I also confirmed with some sources separately over the holiday period that games like Hellblade 2, Avowed, and The Elder Scrolls VI are still slated to be Xbox console exclusive

What is your opinion about this, D-Pad bros ?

 

[Stilton Disco]

If they're porting that many titles to PS5 that is it for Xbox hardware.

They can claim new titles are Xbox console exclusives all they like, but what they'd actually be showing is that the games would truly just be 'timed' exclusives from now on.

 

[regawdless]

Via Windows Central
Via Reddit
Via Twitter

Jez Corden on WC says:



According to Nate, HFR is coming to PS5:



According to Jeff Grubb, Sea of Thieves is coming to PS5 and Switch. More games are also coming to Switch and PS5.



However, Jez Corden says that the new games are still XBOX exclusives:



What is your opinion about this, D-Pad bros ?

I mean, they surely could need the additional software sales from platforms with significantly higher user bases (lol the irony). I don't really care, as long as they release everything on PC

 

[p_banned]

If they're porting that many titles to PS5 that is it for Xbox hardware.

They can claim new titles are Xbox console exclusives all they like, but what they'd actually be showing is that the games would truly just be 'timed' exclusives from now on.

Woth their strategy being Game Pass and streaming, I think that's it with physical hardware.

 

[WesternBlood]

Out of nowhere guess: Gears of War.

 

[JORMBO]

 

[Stilton Disco]

PS4 and Switch???

Ok, if it get's a last gen only release that's kind of hilarious.

 

[JORMBO]

PS4 and Switch???

Ok, if it get's a last gen only release that's kind of hilarious.

Actually I think it is fake news. Redfall is listed as coming to Retro Game Consoles, WiiU and various other things. Australia is weird.

https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/redfall

 

[CAPTAIN RAINCOAT]

Actually I think it is fake news. Redfall is listed as coming to Retro Game Consoles, WiiU and various other things. Australia is weird.

https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/redfall

They review the actual game ..not the platform it would be released on so in many cases its just chucked in the same pile as game consoles

 

[Phunkydiabetic]

PS4 and Switch???

Ok, if it get's a last gen only release that's kind of hilarious.

It would be such a Microsoft as fuck decision. Would you expect anything less?

 

[DonDonDonPata]

PS4 and Switch???

Ok, if it get's a last gen only release that's kind of hilarious.

PS4 and Switch still get a shocking number of ports. I've mentioned it elsewhere how they're kinda feeding one another since the current gen sales and economic conditions aren't stellar