Xbox President Calls Exclusives 'Antiquated,' Signals Strategy Shift
In a statement that could signal a fundamental shift in the video game industry, Xbox President Sarah Bond has called the long-standing practice of platform-exclusive games "antiquated." Speaking in a recent interview about the future of gaming, Bond suggested that the industry and its players are evolving beyond the traditional "walled garden" approach to content.
Her comments point toward a future where major titles are accessible to the widest possible audience, irrespective of the device they choose to play on. This philosophy challenges a core tenet of the console wars that has defined the market for decades, suggesting a bold new direction for the Xbox brand as it looks toward the next generation of hardware and services.
A Philosophy for the Modern Gamer
At the heart of Bond's argument is the observation that the world's most successful and community-driven games are already available everywhere. She pointed to global phenomena as evidence of this trend.
"The biggest games in the world are available everywhere," Bond stated. "You look at Call of Duty, you look at Minecraft, you look at Fortnite, you look at Roblox... that's actually what's really driving community in gaming. That's where people gather."
By highlighting these titans of the industry, all of which thrive on cross-platform accessibility, Bond makes a powerful case that player engagement is highest when barriers are removed. She directly contrasted this successful model with the traditional strategy of locking content to a single ecosystem.
"The idea of locking it to one store or one device is antiquated for most people," she continued, articulating a vision where games, and the communities that form around them, should be allowed to flourish without hardware-based restrictions.
From Words to Action: Xbox's Multiplatform Push
This forward-looking statement is not just a hypothetical ideal; it aligns perfectly with Xbox's recent and very tangible actions. Earlier this year, the company made waves by committing to bring several of its acclaimed first-party titles to competing platforms.
This initiative saw a curated selection of games expand their reach to new player bases, including:
- Hi-Fi Rush: The vibrant, rhythm-action hit.
- Pentiment: A unique, narrative-driven historical adventure.
- Grounded: The popular cooperative survival game.
- Sea of Thieves: The ever-evolving shared-world pirate adventure.
By releasing these titles on other systems, Xbox demonstrated a willingness to prioritize the health and reach of its games over strict hardware exclusivity. Bond's comments now frame that decision not as a one-time experiment, but as a core pillar of a much broader, long-term strategy. The goal is to meet players where they are, transforming the Xbox brand from a console-centric platform into a global, device-agnostic gaming publisher and service provider.
What This Means for the Future of Xbox Hardware
Paradoxically, these remarks on the diminishing role of exclusives were made while also discussing the development of new Xbox hardware. Bond has indicated that a next-generation console is on the horizon, with the potential for it to be a "very premium, very high-end" device aimed at delivering a top-tier gameplay experience.
This raises a critical question: If exclusives are "antiquated," what is the primary role of a powerful new Xbox console?
The emerging strategy suggests a shift in value proposition. Instead of being the only place to play marquee titles, the next Xbox will be positioned as the best place to play them. The focus will likely be on superior performance, deeper integration with the Xbox ecosystem like Game Pass, and exclusive features that enhance the experience, rather than locking it away entirely. This allows the company to cater to its dedicated hardware audience while simultaneously growing its software footprint across the entire gaming landscape.
The console, therefore, becomes the flagship device for the most dedicated fans—a portal to the ultimate expression of the Xbox vision—while services like Game Pass and cloud gaming extend that vision to millions of other players on PCs, mobile devices, and even competing hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Did the Xbox president say all future Xbox games will be multiplatform?
A: Sarah Bond did not explicitly state that every future title will be released on all platforms. However, her characterization of exclusivity as "antiquated" strongly indicates a philosophical shift away from the traditional model. The strategy appears focused on making games and communities as accessible as possible.
Q: What games did Sarah Bond use as examples?
A: She cited some of the world's largest multiplatform games—Call of Duty, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox—as examples of titles that build massive, healthy communities by being available to players everywhere.
Q: Is Xbox still making a new console?
A: Yes. In the same discussions, it was confirmed that a next-generation Xbox is in development. It has been described as a potentially "very premium, very high-end" machine designed to offer a premier gaming experience for players who want the best performance and features.