When talking about Xbox, one of the most recurring themes has always been the direct competition of PlayStation and its exclusive gaming strategy. In recent years, and especially with the arrival of Xbox Game Pass, however, the Redmond company has taken steps that appear to be moving away from that old formula. Now, according to Jez Corden, a renowned journalist specializing in technology and video games, it seems that this transition is closer to completion: Xbox exclusivity as we understand it may have ended.

Microsoft it already took the first steps in this direction at the beginning of this yearwhen it officially announced that some of its exclusive games will be coming to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, as we already told you here. Although it was seen as a one-off decision at the time, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s part of a much broader strategy: to make its titles available on as many platforms as possible and expand its player base beyond its own hardware.

This philosophy is not new to Microsoft. Xbox boss Phil Spencer himself has already expressed his skepticism about the impact of exclusives on the market, as we tell you in this report. Spencer made it clear that directly competing with PlayStation and Nintendo in their territory is not enough to “come back” against their rivals. Instead, Xbox would opt for a more inclusive service-oriented vision.

Microsoft’s strategy isn’t new, but it isIts consequences are becoming more and more apparent. Instead of focusing on closing off its ecosystem, as other major players in the sector have historically done, Xbox has decided to democratize access to its games. This is evidenced by initiatives such as Game Pass, which allows you to enjoy quality titles on consoles, PC and mobile devices thanks to cloud gaming. Even some of the most important titles from in-house studios, such as those from Bethesda after its acquisition, made their way to other platforms.

Corden points out that this change is intentional, not a matter of resources or a lack of interest in exclusivity. Microsoft understood that its priority was not to “win” the console war in terms of hardware, but to reach as many gamers as possible, wherever they are. It’s a philosophy that flies in the face of the classic idea of ​​exclusives as selling weapons for a particular system, but it’s consistent with a subscription service model where it’s important to keep users within the ecosystem, not necessarily on the console.

Of course, The respondent also has this decision. For many traditional gamers, exclusives are an essential part of the console’s appeal, and removing them could weaken Xbox’s identity as a platform. However, it seems more important for Microsoft to establish its presence as a global ecosystem that competes not only with other consoles, but with any form of digital entertainment.