XBOX Exclusivity Will Be Decided ‘Case-By-Case’

Matt Booty, XBOX’s Chief Content Officer, has outlined the new plans regarding exclusivity on XBOX, as he’s revealed it’ll largely be judged on a ‘case-by-case’ basis moving forward.

Of course, this follows the breaking news from the 2026 XBOX Games Showcase that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be XBOX console exclusives, though the messaging still remains blurred when the likes of Halo Campaign Evolved and Fable are still coming to PlayStation 5. Thankfully, Matt Booty set out to clarify XBOX’s position on the matter.

The Complex Matter Of XBOX Exclusives

Speaking to Gamertag Radio, Booty outlined how exclusivity will be handled at XBOX, and there are a few deciding factors.

Firstly, he set the record straight that big multiplayer and live-service titles will continue to be multiplatform, so there should be no confusion on that front. Following that, he explained that if XBOX had previously promised a title would be multiplatform—think of the aforementioned titles like Halo and Fable—then they’ll ‘honor that promise.’

With those two curve balls out of the way, it was time to discuss the general strategy, and Booty mentioned that they’ll look to ‘make the right decision, not the fast decision,’ as the team will continue to think about the matter moving forward. Until then, a game’s exclusivity will be judged on a ‘case-by-case’ basis, with the intention being to announce a game’s platforms alongside the release date.

If you think you’re having déjà vu, you wouldn’t be wrong, as it feels like this was the sentiment a few years back when it was announced that certain XBOX titles would be making the jump to PlayStation, with the likes of Indiana Jones and Forza Horizon soon following suit.

Unlike Sony, it feels like it’s far less black and white with XBOX, and this interview with Booty arguably raises more questions than it answers: Will the next Halo be cross-platform, considering it typically features a heavy online component? What about future Call of Duty titles and Elder Scrolls 6? It seems unlikely Microsoft will give up the revenue from other platforms, so where do they draw the line?

Time will tell, and perhaps in a year or two, once XBOX has upheld prior cross-platform promises, we’ll have a clearer picture.

What stance do you have regarding exclusives on XBOX? Should they be harsher and make more games console-exclusive, or share the love and publish more on PlayStation? Share your thoughts in the official Insider Gaming Discord Server.

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