Xbox in trouble? Some publishers debate whether to support Microsoft consoles

Xbox may be left without publisher support Third sidewho are wondering whether games should be released on Microsoft consoles. Poor sales in Europe coupled with the strategy of launching games on Nintendo and PS5 would cause mistrust among some players. publishers.

According to Chris Dring, director GamesIndustry.biz, some publishers have expressed doubts about Xbox and its future strategy. The head of one of the most important publications in the industry shared his experience at the recent Game Developers Conference, where developers and studios meet. According to the manager, Xbox will have problems as a hardware manufacturer.

“One thing a big company said when they released a big game last year was, ‘I don’t know why we should support it,’” Dring said. “Another thing I heard (I heard from one very well-known company and one not-so-well-known company) was that Xbox performance in Europe is stagnating,” he added.

The fall of Xbox refers to a report from late 2023 detailing that Sales of Xbox Series X and S consoles in Europe fell by 52%. In contrast, the PS5 recorded 143% year-on-year growth and was positioned as the best-selling unit in the Old Continent. Because of this, and the fact that Microsoft is pushing digital, Several European retailers have turned their backs and started removing Xbox games from their shelves.

Against the backdrop of falling sales and lack of clarity in the exclusives strategy, some doubt that Xbox is still a viable platform publish games. According to Dring, one major publisher went even further and stated that the market is PS5 and PC.

Is the future of Xbox really in danger?

If we’ve learned anything from the Dreamcast, it’s that Third party support is critical for the success or premature death of the console. After launching without a specific strategy and poor support from large companies. publishersSEGA’s latest console failed to gain a foothold in the market. The arrival of the PS2 was the final nail in the coffin before the Japanese company abandoned the hardware business.

Two decades later, the industry has changed and We are about to transition to a generation without consoles. Despite losing the war against Sony and Nintendo, Xbox is in a privileged position to move to multiplatform. Activision-Blizzard purchase, Game Pass and end of exclusivity show that Microsoft is focusing on more than just hardware.

Phil Spencer, director of Microsoft Gaming, has expressed interest in using Xbox on laptops. Spencer believes that Steam deck with Game Pass This will be key to the company’s success, so it is considering options to offer a version of Windows optimized for video games. Ultimately, the goal is to get Game Pass into as many storefronts as possible.

If Xbox loses support from some publishers, it won’t be the end of the platform, although it will have a significant impact on their catalogue. The concept of “Xbox as a hardware manufacturer” is an idea that is fading as the months go by. Microsoft knows this and is stepping on the gas pedal to position itself for when the time comes when we don’t need consoles to play games.