Report: Microsoft Has “No Plans” On First-Party IPs Migrating To Other Platforms

This past year, we have witness what might have been conceived as the impossible as Microsft-published titles have slowly migrated to the Nintendo Switch. With games like Studio MDHR’s Cuphead and more recently with Moon Studios’ Ori and the Blind Forest scheduled to arrive to the Switch late next month, it is unsure where the line draws for that Microsoft will allow to cross onto other platforms.

According to gamesindustry.biz, the exclusivity barrier will only apply to first-party exclusive title. What this means exactly is franchises under Microsoft’s Xbox game Studios network like Halo, Gears of War, and Forza will remain on the Xbox Platform. By meaning the Xbox platform, this specifically means Xbox consoles and Windows 10.

“The past year has been an exciting time for us as we have more than doubled the internal creative teams making up Xbox Game Studios,” The company stated. “As these new studios transitioned in, we were aware of some existing commitments to other platforms and will honor them,” Microsoft’s statement to the gaming industry outlet reads. ”However, going forward these new studios will focus on making games for our platforms. We have no plans to further expand our exclusive first party games to other consoles. We continue to believe deeply in cross play and progression of games with the right flexibility for developers to insure a fair and fun experience.”

However, this still is left in a grey area especially looking at Halo regarding the Master Chief Collection. While Microsoft does state to be keeping its first-party IPs close to home through Xbox and its storefront on PC, it should be noted that Halo Reach which is expected to debut later this year for PC will also be available on Steam.

Atop of Microsoft’s plans for PC, the company has also detailed its Project xCloud initiative to bring the platform away from the home and into your pocket by allowing Xbox users to stream their library of games to any mobile device. Applying to phones or tablets, this will be another addition to the Xbox platform ultimately when the streaming service officially launches in the coming future.

It’s reassuring that Microsoft has finally showed where the platform’s exclusive titles do stop regarding expanding its accessibility: viewing the status of the Xbox One platform since its launch back in 2013 has been quite the rollercoaster for users who have stayed for the ride. So reshaping the brand leading into the new generation will be unidentical to what we are familiar with now if Microsoft continues to procees in this direction.

Source: gamesindustry.biz