Microsoft announced in February that it would bring four Xbox-exclusive games to rival platforms from Sony and Nintendo. The company doesn’t seem to be stopping at bringing four first-party games to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. A new report claims that the Xbox parent company plans to launch more games on multiple platforms. Under the program, which is internally codenamed “Latitude,” more upcoming first-party Xbox games are said to be in development for PS5.
Windows Central’s report doesn’t mention any Xbox games planned for release on PS5, but it claims they are “potentially obvious games” that people want to see released on rival platforms. “More upcoming Microsoft-owned games for PlayStation are already in development,” the report states.
Microsoft tried to draw a line in the sand when it announced plans to release some exclusive games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch in February, confirming that its biggest exclusives such as Bethesda’s “Starfield” and the upcoming “Indiana Jones and the Circle” would not be released on PS5. However, a new report claims that Microsoft is ready to consider a more unrestricted approach to launching its games on rival platforms. “…Microsoft is pushing for no ‘redlines’ on games on PlayStation, all centered around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood’s mission to boost profits in every division,” the report states.
While the company is making plans to bring more games to Sony and Nintendo consoles, “Latitude” isn’t without internal controversy. The plan has sparked debate and unease at Microsoft, with questions looming over its merits, the report said.
Microsoft has released Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Grounded and Sea of Thieves on rival consoles as part of announcements made earlier this year, signaling a shift in its strategy towards exclusivity. Announcing more upcoming PS5 and Nintendo Switch games will solidify the shift to finding new players for its games outside of the Xbox ecosystem.
Microsoft’s gaming unit is strong with its $69 billion acquisition of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard last year, but Xbox has struggled to see results from its expanding roster of studios. Last week, the company announced that it would be closing three studios and absorbing another into its existing team as part of a plan to shift focus to “prioritized games.” Hi-Fi Rush maker Tango Gameworks, Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Alpha Dog Games, maker of the mobile game Mighty Doom, were shut down, while Roundhouse Studios, which also contributed to the development of Redfall, was absorbed into ZeniMax Online Studios.
Following the shutdown, a Bloomberg report said Microsoft plans to further cut its Xbox business, and that the company has begun offering voluntary severance deals to producers, quality assurance testers and other employees at Bethesda parent company ZeniMax.
Microsoft has yet to make an official statement on the news of studio closures and layoffs, but the company is scheduled to host an Xbox Game Showcase event on June 9, where it will showcase its upcoming lineup of exclusive and third-party games.
