It seems like the Xbox we’ve known is on the verge of a major transformation, as the company shifts toward a new era—one that not everyone is embracing.
This change has been building up over time. Xbox's recent "This is an Xbox" ad campaign highlights the ability to play Xbox games on a variety of devices through streaming, meaning an Xbox console is no longer a necessity. On top of that, exclusives such as Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush have made their way to PlayStation 5, while upcoming titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and possibly Starfield are expected to follow suit.
In short, the traditional Xbox model—focused on exclusive console games—is a thing of the past. Xbox insider Jez Corden recently tweeted that the company is fully abandoning permanent console exclusives. According to Corden, the decision stems from a desire to avoid forcing teams into a development process not suited for simultaneous multiplatform releases. As he put it, "the era of Xbox having permanent console exclusives is over."
As someone who owns both an Xbox Series X and a PlayStation 5, I find this shift positive, as it allows more flexibility for players. However, many gamers view this change as a negative one. One Reddit user lamented that they never thought they’d see the day when Xbox would become a third-party publisher. Others blame the Activision Blizzard acquisition, suggesting it led investors to realize that making games widely available on multiple platforms would be more profitable than maintaining exclusive titles.
One commenter also expressed frustration with Xbox's long absence of significant exclusives, pointing out that after buying major studios, Xbox is now walking away from the console market in favor of a broader publishing strategy. For those loyal to the brand, it certainly feels like a letdown.
In related news, one of Xbox's most beloved exclusives, Forza Horizon 4, will be delisted from all digital platforms on December 15, 2024, marking a significant loss for Xbox fans. The game and its downloadable content will no longer be available for purchase due to expiring licensing agreements with car manufacturers like Ferrari, BMW, and Aston Martin. These agreements, which allowed the game to feature real-world cars, are only temporary, and it no longer makes financial sense for Microsoft to renew them for a game that's six years old.
Forza Horizon 4’s removal stings particularly hard because, for many, it represents one of the best exclusives on the Xbox Series X/S. The game’s delisting highlights an ongoing issue with licensed content in video games, where the rights to feature real-world brands are time-limited. This is why some games opt to use fictional brands instead of real-world ones.
Back in the days of Need for Speed: Underground 2, when digital storefronts weren’t as prevalent, games could feature real cars without worrying about delisting. But today, with the prominence of digital sales, the situation has changed, leaving games like Forza Horizon 4 to fade away as the license agreements expire.
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