Developers and Publishers question, what's the point of developing for the Xbox Series consoles?

From Reeeeeeeee

Pretty much, with an Asus developed Xbox Handheld design to be running Windows 11 and gamepass, MS is focus on putting their first party games on PS and PC. It all seems pointless to own an Xbox console when you also have Gamepass in Tablets, TV, and PC handhelds.

This is very concerning. And I should be concerned but I am not sure why. Help me out with this concern.😏

Not point anymore. Xbox failed the console space just like Sega and Atari.

TLHBO

It's moot. The Xbox development environment is being retired. The next Xbox hardware will run Win32 software, so essentially the PC version will be the Xbox version. It doesn't matter if they stop making native Xbox games, that's all disappearing when they launch the next hardware anyway. Maybe that's not great for the current consoles, but I guess they can use the cloud to play the new games on the current hardware, or maybe MS will add Win32 support to the current consoles. Because of this I already expected developers to be dropping development of native Xbox games.

This reminds me of a scene from this funny movie where two black guys are getting in each other's face and look like they're going to throw down, but all they do is sort of compliment each other but with an intimidating inflection. Very "hood" but also like a really sweet, funny moment.

This is sort of like that.

Like...this is wonderful news. But everyone is saying it like it's bad. "SOn of a bitch, these jerks are just awesome. *glowers* I wish them the best *shakes head angrily* a lack of exclusives is truly great news."

*Found it.

*concerns intensely*

Take some of my concern!

The point of developing games for Xbox is so people who own an Xbox can play them.

Obviously.

Because it still has a customer-base in the millions. It's not difficult to understand.

Xbox consoles do sell less than the competition but still sell a lot of units, developing a port for the system pays off, it's a dumb question honestly.

Certain genres sell very little on an Xbox but some sell almost as well if not close to equal a PlayStation or Steam. Devil May Cry 5 for example was stated to have sold very well on the Xbox.

I don't know. Bigger games will still sell some copies, but for a shrinking platform whose users are entirely dependent on Game Pass I'm sure the reasons for porting to Xbox are getting challenged daily. Not every dev is going to get a Game Pass bag to see them through

Suffice to say...

Xbox Won!! lol :P

My last Xbox was the 360 but I’m interested in what the next one will be like especially because of this multi platform stuff. Maybe they have something cool planned that would entice people to still get one.

If there is a system wars years from now it will be interesting to see how the pieces have shifted.... The old man generation or brand loyalty is gonna eventually die... Physical hardware and software possibly gone... Will be interesting to see who is making the right moves now to position for the future.

RIP xbox.

You make a good point about Microsoft's focus on Game Pass across multiple devices. However, many gamers still value the console experience, including exclusive titles and optimized performance. Developing for Xbox Series consoles can still be beneficial, as it allows access to a dedicated audience and robust infrastructure

Brand loyalty is dead. I will say it's for the best for MS to just release every exclusive IP games elsewhere on PS5 and Switch 2 moving forward. Another reason why I love PC gaming because I get both of Sony and MS games on PC. PC gaming enjoys playing it safe.

Brand loyalty is the reason Xbox hasn’t been able to gain any market share. Brand loyalty has proven to be more important than having the most powerful console, multiple skus, the best perceived value, etc.

yet game sales show other wise now. for sony games sold on ps5.

most never hit a million units.

@ghostofgolden: I keep saying this, MS took their loyal fans for granted after the Xbox One reveal. So many 360 fans were really hurt moving forward, and MS hasn't recovered from the Xbox One fiasco, as that console was really disappointing.

MS knows they can't make money as they have lost support from most hardcore fans. All MS can do now is port their IP games elsewhere. Nintendo has true loyal fans for sure, to keep them safe.

@mrbojangles25: That clip you posted, my friends and I do that. XD "Your mother is a saint and I respect her for it."

No source, no publishers and no developers. Nice. While thousands of devs continue to make games for the 33+ million and growing Xbox Series customer base lol.

to reach an additional ~50 million potential customers?..

regardless of what fanboys want to believe, the Xbox console userbase is still "too big to ignore" for just about any 3rd party publisher/developer..

All the rage on Xbox is Game Pass, which is fine. For developers that don't want to release their games on Game Pass...how well do games sell on Xbox?

I seriously hope Game Pass numbers decline or stagnate. We need small and mid-sized developers to have a stable, decent income stream. We cannot allow them to be annihilated by a value-destroying model like Game Pass.

The subscription model for games is a complete betrayal of independent developers. It conditions players to expect everything for “free,” eroding the perceived value of individual titles. In the long run, this kills creativity, experimentation, and the survival of studios that can’t operate at the scale of massive, monetized live-service platforms.

these days, just about every 3rd party game is multiplatform.. so the real question is:

do you think a PS+PC game will sell more copies than if the same game was released on PS+XB+PC?.. simple math dictates that putting the game on Xbox will result in more potential sales..

Because there is still money to be made on the platform and gamepass

For existing projects it could make a difference if the cost of supporting that XB version is less than what they make off of it, but in the next console cycle if it is PS+PC only then it will be on Xbox anyway because the PC version will be the Xbox version so the equation will be simpler.

@FireEmblem_Man: If things go the way a lot of us think, then the real question is going to be: Why would you develop games for a closed ecosystem like the PS6?

If the next Xbox is a Windows device, then you have PC, Cloud, XBox, SmartTV, and streaming devices with one release. Or, you could put your effort into a version for Playstation 6 and get... well... Playstation 6 only.

Game over.

@Antwan3K: "do you think a PS+PC game will sell more copies than if the same game was released on PS+XB+PC?.. simple math dictates that putting the game on Xbox will result in more potential sales.."

And yet we still get developers skipping Xbox. Frankly, I think Sony altered much of their exclusive approach from paying to slap the exclusive label on games, to just keeping a game's exclusivity deals quiet to make the appearance that developers and publishers are opting skip Xbox by choice as if to give the impression it was done without any incentive. I hadn't seen this narrative pushed in years. Maybe it's back because that whole MS-ABK-FTC thing being over.

@BenjaminBanklin said:

@taint said:

No source, no publishers and no developers. Nice. While thousands of devs continue to make games for the 33+ million and growing Xbox Series customer base lol.

I guess you think facts are funny. So cute!

There's a market for people who want a platform that has a specific set of accessories they know will work with it, there are games they know are compatible and tested specifically on that platform and with those accessories, where certain expectations are met and they don't have to think too much about it. One store which means one set of policies, one payment system, parental controls that work with all of that and all the games are supported with it, and the owner of that platform whose best interest it is to make sure they do that stuff as well as possible to meet the expectations of the buyers.

Some people see that as an advantage, some people see that as a disadvantage, but there is a market for it nonetheless.

Facts are funny... complete fallacies, in this case, are hilarious

Maybe because PlayStation has a brand name? Streaming is inconsistent, at least with Nintendo they'll stubbornly will keep their first party exclusive to their ecosystem, unlike MS, which only cements people to just buy the competition instead of getting a Gamepass Subscription.

WHAT??!!!!

Most of Sony games do in fact sell 1 million + on the ps5. As of this gen Sony hasn’t released much on the ps5 but what little they have/had released must of those games did reach the 1 million mark.

I dunno, I've been a Sony person since the PS1. I've also owned every Xbox and I'll admit that I became disillusioned with the brand for about the last decade. This year that's kind of turned around. I've played Indiana Jones. I've played South of Midnight. I'm currently working through Clair Oscur: Expedition 33.

I'm having a great time with my Xbox this year and am hoping they still make consoles in the future. But even if they stop, I expect I'll have a device for streaming games from Game Pass.

They need question no more.SALES are king.

Ms has turned playstation into one of its family.

JUMP IN

https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/05/new-sales-data-highlights-how-xbox-is-dominating-ps5-right-now

^^^^^. Lems this is your guy? 😂

@uitravioience:

Don't cry kid.

Playstation is an Xbox

JUMP in

@saint-george: lol T'Wan. Here's your Lem who's still fighting the fight. Look at him... So pathetic. Lol

@uitravioience:

Don't get triggered kid....Xbox dominating gives you a reason to turn on your console.

Xboxstation.

The takeover continues

Sales and profits baby,sales and profits 🤣😂

@saint-george: lol you still think Xbox has a chance,kid. Thanks for the games. Let me know how helldiver's 2 s on Xbox. 😂

Here's a question - what's the point of switching to PlayStation if you're already invested in the Xbox ecosystem?

Xbox's library features games from 4 generations via backwards compatibility, can Sony say the same? Hardly. Do they offer a program similar to Play Anywhere? No.

They have a handful of exclusive games and even they are outclassed by Nintendo in that regard. What was the last great exclusive to come to PlayStation, MGS4???

Get out of here with this crap.

he isn't talking about hardware sales.. 🙄 he's talking about how Xbox is dominating in SOFTWARE sales on all platforms; including PlayStation..

not a single Lem on this forum is still console warring because the console war is over.. it's cows like you that can't seem to accept that reality..

and, beyond that, both Xbox and PlayStation are 3rd party publishers.. Xbox software just happens to be topping charts while PlayStation software is MIA..

very little reason if we're being honest about the current landscape where PlayStation is barely putting out one new game a year..

if you're actually interesting in these Xbox games, the Xbox ecosystem remains the best place to play them whether via Game Pass or via a gaming PC..

An actual Xbox is the worst place to play them....that's the problem.

Why is that impressive exactly? They spent 80 billion dollars the past 5 years buying up half the industry. They did that because their first party software wasn't selling and their hardware platform is all but dead.

Although it is true Sony's first party has been pitiful( mainly because their quick pivot to live service) where over half the games were canceled. That will not last forever.

It seems quite desperate that lemmings are bragging about COD, Oblivion and Doom when all these games would have been made without the involvement of Microsoft. MS has done absolutely nothing worthy of bragging about. They can't even put their actual games on a disk.

PlayStation acquired Insomniac and went on to have one of the biggest titles in gaming under their umbrella in Spiderman.. i somehow didn't notice you questioning whether or not that was "impressive"..

you'd be singing a different tune if PlayStation owned Call of Duty, Doom, and Elder Scrolls.. we all know it so please spare us.. both PlayStation and Xbox have acquired studios, Microsoft just happens to have the bigger wallet..

I'm not sure how you are not seeing the difference.

Spider-Man would have never been created without Sony funding the project and using their ownership of the movie IP to obtain rights for the game. In other words without Sony Insomniac would have never been able to make Spider-Man. Not only that but Insomniac made several games without the help of Sony and none were of the quality of their Sony funded titles Ratchet and Clank/Spider-Man. Even when Insomniac was independent their best games were funded exclusively for PlayStation.

Microsoft on the other hand created nothing. They bought a bunch of studios that were going to release these games regardless if Microsoft bought them or not. Doom the Dark Ages is a sequel to Doom 2016 and Doom eternal. They did nothing for the the title outside of making sure the game isn't actually on the disk. COD exitsted well before MS bought Activision and MS has done Nothing to improve it. Oblivion is a simple remaster running over the same code in UE5.

And no I wouldn't be singing a different tune. Do you see any cows praising the success of Destiny 2? No because Sony did nothing for that IP. Take your fanboy goggles off for once and think critically.

If Microsoft startedd funding big budget single player exclusives in the Warcraft and Starcraft universe then I would start praising them..

The one exception that they do deserve credit for is they were involved in the funding of Ninja Gaiden 4 and to that I will give them props. But for most of these games they are doing NOTHING! These studios are doing what they would have done anyway and MS is just collecting money