Xbox’s approach to console-exclusive games (or lack thereof) has been the hot topic of conversation over recent years. Over recent years, we’ve seen the company become more of a third-party publisher, which many fans were against. And ever since Asha Sharma took over the brand, Xbox has returned to releasing console-exclusive titles in the form of Gears of War E-Day and Clockwork Revolution. And now it looks like Xbox Games Studios is in the driver’s seat as to where the company is headed when it comes to console-exclusive games.
Do You Know Ball?
A recent interview was held between Christopher Dring of The Game Business and the CSO of Xbox, Matthew Ball. In this interview, Matthew Ball explains how Xbox is going to approach console-exclusive games and notes that the studios under the Xbox umbrella will largely drive choices made about what games are to become exclusives and which ones aren’t.
“We are trying to build a healthier business overall. In the short term, yes, there are going to be titles that are probably going to sell fewer units. That’s an investment we are making. That’s a decision that our studios are behind because they all believe this puts us on a path to your question, which is: Can we take market share? Can we grow? Can we be stronger? I believe the answer to all three of those questions is ‘yes’, and that will hold none of our franchises back over time.”
Within this same interview, Ball stated that Xbox wants to make sure that their next-generation console, dubbed Project Helix, is going to be affordable, which forced them to rethink what video game consoles can be. The goal for Xbox is not to box out players but to include more players on this next-generation device than ever.
This is Still an Xbox
The road ahead for Asha Sharma’s team over at Xbox is going to be one full of trials and tribulations. We’ve seen the recent reactions surrounding the return of Xbox console-exclusive games, and the announcement drew a wide range of responses online. Pair this with the recent announcement of potential mass layoffs happening next month, and Xbox still finds itself fighting an uphill battle. For now, things look promising as Xbox heads into a pivotal era for the brand, and hopefully brighter days are ahead.
