Matt Booty says no next gen 1st party Xbox exclusives for the first couple of years

“As our content comes out over the next year, two years, all of our games, sort of like PC, will play up and down that family of devices,” Booty explains. “We want to make sure that if someone invests in Xbox between now and [Series X] that they feel that they made a good investment and that we’re committed to them with content.”

https://www.mcvuk.com/we-need-to-deliver-on-the-promises-that-we-make-xbox-game-studios-matt-booty-on-the-future-of-xbox/

Oh dear. they really committed to that "no generations" thing for a while, huh? So basically the Series X (and the rumored other console) are just another round of upgrade boxes until MS feels comfortable enough with breaking away from this current gen. Will Xbox games be glorified phone apps for the time being with this strategy?

Even if the games still run amazingly, they're just going to be upscaled versions of what's available on the low-end hardware. We're not going to see those titles that justify the purchase of their possibly highest priced ever box for a while. What are you doing, MS? How long until Series X/PC become the standard baseline for Xbox games?

But, this is something that should have been expected when MS invested in new studios too late. It's not like most of them are working on AAA content, just Game Pass fluff. Did they just hand Sony another early W with this?

This was to be expected. MS always nothing but smoke screens to cover their shitty first party offerings.

Seeing how Sony and Nintendo are capable of publishing 1st-party exclusives every few months of the year, this is terrible for MS. Halo Infinite isn't going to satisfied gamers for the next few years.

But since I game on PC for the majority of my gaming life. As long as MS keeps quality 3rd-party games coming to Game Pass, I'm cool with that.

So, Xbox gamers being able to enjoy the new games on their current system is bad because?

Early adopters are a silly bunch.

They can enjoy them, but they're going to be crossplats for the first couple of years... at least. Takes the luster off that shiny new console. Makes you wonder why they bothered with new hardware when Game Pass is the obvious focus.

Meh. I don’t really care if the games are exclusive to the next gen hardware or not myself. As long as the games themselves interest me and as long as they look and run appropriately well on the system then I’ll be satisfied and enjoy my time with them.

Why bother upgrading your CPU or GPU if you are going to play the same games? That's the logic you want to subscribe to?

For sure, I mean look at this gens release consoles. PS4 especially ran super hot and loud.

Why bother buying a new closed box when you're playing the same games everyone else is from the last gen? Imagine still playing higher frame rate/resolution PS2 games to this day because Sony wanted to make sure no one was left out years later. MS is feeling less compelled to push their customers forward.

As to be expected.

So, you are saying that if other people can play the games you can play it makes no sense upgrading your gaming hardware?

Continuing support for your previous console for a few years after releasing a new console is a bad thing?

Fanboys gotta fanboy, I guess.

Hahaha, so what's the point of having the, "most powerful gaming system" when the said system will be playing games designed on the xbox one? This is such a failure.

A handful of crossplats are expected. Not the WHOLE batch of 1st party content for two years and beyond, Pedro. You gotta have games that show off the new hardware if you want to move it. If not, what's the point? Just put GP on every platform and bail on hardware.

As a PC owner, I'm still gonna be playing higher asset Xbox One games for the foreseeable future due to this. They gotta do better.

Great, exclusives are just annoying.

That’s horrible news.

So Xbox fans are left with the option of playing gamepass on Xbox One or Xbox Series X. Same games but maybe a slightly higher Rez bump for the newer console.

With MS confirming they won’t have any new games for least the first 3 years, you have to wonder why anyone would upgrade to a series x if the Xbox one can play the same games for much cheaper at 1080p instead of maybe some weird checkerboard 4K on series x?

I don’t understand this strategy and it seems horrible going forward against the PS5.

It sounds like we will have to wait until the PS6/Xbox Series Turbo XXX/next next gen until they might leave the past behind?

Halo infinite is going to suck knowing it’s a base Xbox one game that is being up rezed for the series x. New console owners are going to be mad.

Why are you falling on flawed logic? Are you trying to tell me Hellblade 2 doesn't look like its utilizing newer tech? Are you trying to argue that software that supports older hardware cannot show off the features of newer hardware? Are you still living in a world in which secret sauce exist? Are you seriously trying to argue that gamers who purchase the Series X would not experience any advantages over the Xbox One purely because the weaker systems can play the same games?

This strategy is gamer friendly and makes strong business sense. I don't understand how this is escaping you. Gamers who own Xbox One S or One X can enjoy the newer games (not at the same level of performance or fidelity) and the new games has access to One, One X and Series X gamers.

I'd imagine any "PC owner" knows that there's a gulf of difference between a game running on a PC with the latest and greatest hardware versus a PC running the minimum hardware specifications. Anyone who bashes the idea of Xbox games running across a wide range of hardware (assumingly Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PC) should also be bashing anyone who does PC upgrades..

"Why upgrade your PC when you can just play that game on your current hardware?!?1"..

That's essentially the hill some of these guys are planting their flag in with these comments..

Because the games will be limited in scope and not pushing the envelope. If the games are still tied to the shit Jaguar CPU (which was already outdated at the launch of this generation), then how are games going to have any substantial evolution?

How long away is Hellblade 2 though? It's not likely one of these games that's going to be in this crossplat window. It wouldn't do anything for that game if they have to run it in potato mode to get it to work on the S. Older games on newer hardware aren't going to see drastic development differences if Microsoft wants all the customers of their current hardware since the 2013 Xbox One to have a similar experience with these games.

It's the same type of jump like with the mid-gen models. Bumped up assets, but not a night and day difference like it should be going into a new gen. They still have to work within the base model so they know what to scale. Plus newer hardware will be utilizing the SSD drives as well, which is something the same game on the older models can't take advantage of. It's hamstringing those titles.

Honestly, how many PS4 or Xbox One launch titles "pushed the envelope" and provided a "substantial evolution" over what was being offered in the last years of the PS3 and Xbox 360?..

This concept as described by Matt Booty is only supposed to be around for the first couple years of the Xbox Series X lifespan anyway.. likely when the data shows enough people have upgraded from an Xbox One S to more powerful hardware and/or games are demanding enough to justify a title that excludes the Xbox One S, essentially phasing that console out.. It's the best of both worlds really: higher install base for the first half of the gen and more games pushing the envelope on the back half of the gen (which is what typically happens anyway, just without the having to buy a game twice due to cross-gen releases and remasters)..

Last I checked PC gaming has a spectacular delta between the weakest and the strongest hardware. You also tout on a regular basis how the same games are SOOOO much better on PC. Now you are trying to argue to the contrary? You are falsely trying to argue that games aren't able to scale to hardware, games are not able to "push the envelope" if they support older hardware and that supporting legacy hardware running x86 is going to hinder gaming. Seems like you don't understand how PCs work. :)

@Antwan3K: I understand the reasons from a business POV, but from a hardcore gamer POV, it is disappointing. This next-gen will actually have decently balanced hardware for a change and will allow the developers to do a lot more. If they are not tapping into that due to being handcuffed by supporting old-gen hardware, it sucks. There are benefits to be had playing cross-gen games on the new consoles when it comes to resolutions, frame rates, loading, etc., but the core design and scope of the games will be severely limited by last-gen hardware. I have already been enjoying these benefits on PC for a long time. I want more advanced games and we need to raise the lowest common denominator as soon as possible to achieve that.

There are benefits to be had with better hardware in terms of quality, but the lowest common denominator needs to be raised if we want to see evolution in game design and the scope of games increase.

You said that this direction is going to prevent MS from showing what the hardware is capable of. Hellblade 2 was demoed showing the hardware capabilities. Its release date is irrelevant for your claim has been founded to inaccurate. Hellbade is super light on gameplay so unless they are changing the core "game" the extra TFLOPS on the Series X is only going to make it look prettier.

I don't know what you are talking about with regards to MS wanting all its customers having similar experiences. That doesn't make any sense because they support PC and consoles which automatically creates variation in gamers experiences depending on the hardware.

If you were expecting a night and day difference next gen you are going to be disappointed. It is the smallest generational leap. All this nonsensical talk about gaming being held back yet we have the Witcher 3 and Doom running on the Switch, mobile hardware that is significantly weaker than its competitors.

@Antwan3K: I don't understand this new twist in logic that some of these folks are referencing. This flip flopping depending on allegiance just silly,

@BassMan: fair point, sir.. And in a vacuum I would have to agree with you..

But history has shown that launch titles for new consoles are rarely some huge evolutionary jump.. Heck, the primary launch games that come to mind that truly seemed revolutionary at the time are Mario 64 and Halo: Combat Evolved.. neither of those being consoles having an apples-to-apples generational predecessor as we define them today.. Honestly, I just don't think we are going to see that huge jump anymore like we saw going from the PS2 to PS3, and even then, what PS3 launch titles knocked our socks off?..

I just think some people in this thread are speaking about ideals instead of reality.. The reality is that the launch titles for the PS4 and Xbox One were basically spec bumps to what was possible at the end of the PS3 and Xbox 360 eras.. And if all we're going to get are spec bumps anyway, why pretend like we can't just make everything universally cross-gen and scale the games appropriately?.. At least for the 1st couple years anyway..

But honestly, I'm curious to see how Sony responds with the PS5.. Do you think they are going to do a traditional hard-reset at the start of the new gen and make all their new games PS5 exclusive?..

This is a good thing. Those with OneX and Xbone won't be alienated from playing the new releases, for a while at least. Good going Microsoft.

Is he saying that all Xbox games up to two years after Series X is released will be cross gen? If so, that doesn't sound too bad. I understand the concern about scaling games up and down between the devices but that's what MS' architecture is built for. I don't think people need to worry about that unless MS has done a poor job with their architecture.

Great, Microsoft keeps on being the more consumer friendly party next gen. Also Matt clearly said in the interview that those games will still show the power of the Xbox Series X, so win-win for every consumer.

@Antwan3K: I definitely miss seeing quick innovation and massive leaps in technology like we saw with PC and arcades back in the day. Now everything is so intertwined, normalized, and focused on the lowest common denominator.

@Pedro: meh, just the usual SW stuff.. I mean, how many PC exclusives take full advantage of the latest hardware combinations to make these truly evolutionary experiences never seen before?..

Virtually none.. For all that "console destroying" horsepower, it's just the same game available on consoles but way prettier..

Now Microsoft is saying, "hey, it seems PC gamers (teh master race) enjoy being able to budget their point of entry while enjoying the same games we all play.. Let's do that with Xbox consoles"..

If you're a budget gamer who doesn't care about resolutions and framerates but you do want to play the new Madden and maybe some Call of Duty?.. Great, keep using your Xbox One S.. And on the other end of the spectrum, there's the Xbox Series X, which likely will provide the best a console gamer could ask for in terms of hardware.. In either case, you can all play the same new games that are released..

Sounds alot like what's currently happening on PC today.. And apparently everyone in SW loves that concept since everyone here has a PC that destroys the Xbox One X.. But these same people can't seem to wrap their minds around that same concept being applied to consoles?.. Yeah, ok sure..

And I'm saying Hellblade 2 is early in development, like MS says it is. In the meantime, It's going to be games like Halo: Infinite and lesser until the AAA games that utilize the hardware finally drop. A bunch of 4K Xbox One-level games until then. They're not going to be pushing massive engines on that old hardware and HDDs if they truly want to turn heads.

And LOL and using Switch games as an example. Those weren't ports developed at the same time, those were games recoded and stripped WAY back to run on Switch hardware, not just scaled down. Hell, some Switch 3rd party games have to remove whole modes to get a port from their HD counterparts. They're not going to do that with with these Xbox games.

Remember when Xbox One games were on 360 like Titanfall and FH2? Those were separately developed games that were gutted and tailored specifically for the console. Now, just imagine that, but the low end version ISN'T developed separately for the low end hardware, they have to make the one game where it's runnable on several platforms. Meaning, that the game will perform better on better hardware, but the game still has to have the base assets and functions across the board. It can't tear away and take advantage of the new hardware's features completely since it has that tether. This is what XSX is going to be stuck with for the first two or so years of it's lifespan.

Xbox games are going to be stuck because MS is going to stay in this constant limbo of trying to please Game Pass subscribers over people that want a true next gen experience from the new hardware.

Lol, yeah damn MS for not forcing gamers to have to buy a new expensive console just to play new games...

Cows really are getting more desperate by the day. Lmao.

@BenjaminBanklin: do you think Sony is going to do a hard-reset with the PS5 and only release titles exclusive to that console at launch?.. No cross-gen crossover with PS4?

Most are missing the point here. Sure, not having to buy new hardware for a few more years is a positive for Xbox gamers. But here are the negatives and what should be the main takeaway

1 - Why spend hundreds of millions of dollars on R&D, development, production, marketing and distribution of a product you are basically saying is unnecessary?

2 - Why market the Series X as the most powerful console ever made? How is that a substantial bullet point when the console will be playing the same games as the 7 year old launch Xbox One? We’ve seen multiple devs skimp on Xbox One X enhancements compared to the PS4 Pro and Xbox One because of development costs. Now you want them to develop across 3-4 different consoles as well as PC? This is going to hold back game design like we’ve never seen before!

What’s the point of a 8 core Zen 2 CPU when games also must run on a slow ass cheez it? 12 Tflops (lol) when the old shit only has 1.31? Console gamers say optimization and having a closed box is a strength And advantage of console gaming. Well now we can totally throw that out the window.

3 - The latest rumors are stating the Series X can run in Windows/Steam mode and act as a PC. Why is that relevant?

Microsoft is prepping for the exit of the Xbox hardware ecosystem. You heard it here first. They are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help you console kids transition to PC and/or streaming. The Series X is their marginal hardware upgrade that should hold enthusiast over until streaming hits. And they are betting on streaming being ready before the casual “wait a couple years before I buy” crowd gets the itch. And the best way to keep that crowd engaged is to keep them involved when the next gen hits.

The plan is genius and disastrous at the same time. But mark my words, this is the last hardware generation for Xbox. They’ve all but come out and said it

1. The money is not in console sales. I can easily see it happen that if Sony lets them, Microsoft would launch gamepass on Playstation.

2. For the people that want the most powerful console and the best experience.

3. It isn't, and that rumor is already debunked, that's not happening.

If it is true then it's typical MS get your hopes up then crush them.

They're going to have new games on the platform. They're not doing all crossplats. Bluepoint said their new game is a 1st party exclusive. Sony still does the generational thing. And that's with over 100 million consoles out there.

Xbox still staying attached to those 40 million (I guess) Xbox One owners for this long is silly. For a company as wealthy as they are, they're still too afraid to make a clean break.

MS' exclusive offerings have been shit ever since the original Xbox and they are still here. Quality exclusives are great to have but it looks like they really don't need them all that much.

It looks like MS is all about the hardware and infrastructure, leaving the games mostly to the 3rd parties. I really don't think they care about exclusives all that much if you look at their output. It's probably why Xbox live is a much better service than PSN and (hahahah) Nintendo's. If you look at what they are doing with Gamepass and the upcoming cloud service, they are building an interesting foundation for their future endeavors. I do wish they would spend some thought (and money) on some good exclusives though.

@BenjaminBanklin: you didn't really answer my question.. Do you think Sony will only release PS5 exclusive titles moving forward after its launch?.. No 1st party cross-gen stuff with the PS4?..

Forcing? Most of you are saying you'll be there day one. And what's your reward for that? Sharing the same version of the Xbox exclusives with the last box for the next two years except with the effects turned up. You gotta admit, that's kind of an L there.

What you say is mostly true, but have you been hibernating the last year or so when it comes to gaming news? Microsoft bought a bunch of studios and have talked repeatedly about having first party games, they just take time to develop, especially now a days.

So the exclusives are coming, and they have spent a lot of time and money preparing for them.

I gave you my answer. it doesn't matter if it's only, they're releasing brand new next gen only exclusives with their console. We don't know what their plans are for crossplat anyway. If they'll have remasters or just let them be b/c. I'm sure Sony wants to give you a reason to move to the next platform. Can't do that on just old games and sharing software with the old box.

Halo Infinite is not a triple A game? Are we living in a pretend world where the first generation of games for a new system is not just higher res versions of existing games? What technical limitations is going to prevent these supposed massive engines on older hardware and HDD?

The Switch example is perfect because it shows the fallacy of games being held back by hardware.

Yes, one game that is "runnable" on several platforms. That is a very alien notion. I guess you weren't aware of multi-platform games that run on PC, PS4, Xbox and Switch. These games don't take advantage of hardware. It probably explains why Control and Metro abandon ray tracing because it would be on consoles, right? :|

The fact is that games are software and it can take advantage of hardware depending on the capability of the hardware. Stating that "it can't tear away and take advantage of new hardware features completely..." is demonstrably false.

1. Because its sets the new standard like every new device. Whether it be GPU, CPU, phone, tablet and in this case consoles.

2. They market it as the most powerful console they have ever made because well it is the most powerful console they have ever made. Should Nvidia not release new GPUs because it would be playing the same games that can be played on a 7 year old video card? Is that the logic that your falling back on? What devs are you referring to when you say they have skimp on Xbox One X enhancements? Xbox Gaming Studios are the ones that are making the cross generational. I have not read anything indicating that this is a mandate for other developers. So, yes MS wants its studios to be develop for 3-4 different consoles as well as PC because they are all PC hardware.

What is the point of buying a new processor when game developers also design their games for slower processors on PCs? (lol)

3. Rumors are well rumors.

Microsoft is more into to hardware than it has ever been in its entire existence yet you believe they are going to abandon the Xbox hardware ecosystem. I guess one may ask you your own question "Why spend hundreds of millions of dollars on R&D if you are leaving the hardware business?"

The fact is that there is NOTHING on the next gen systems that CANNOT be done on the current gen systems. They all will be offering just better performance, nothing more and nothing less.

@hrt_rulz01:

WTF?

No wait really WTF is wrong with you lemmings?

New consoles are about damn NEW GAMES NEW EXPERIENCES not about old games or cross gen games.

Kameo,PDZ and several other 360 games on launch were unique experiences,regardless of how good or not they were,they were not on PS2,Xbox or GC.

Dead rising 3,Forza 5,Ryse again we're not on Xbox 360,PS3 or Wii U.

I chose those games on 360 and Xbox one to make a clear point,you will always have cross gen games,ports and your usual milk series,but always there is something not found anywhere else.

New consoles are about new experiences not about old ones with prettier graphics.

There is no point in owning a Series X. MS has gone from a laughingstock in the video game business to something so laughable it's not even funny anymore. It's like they don't want to sell consoles.