Recently, the gaming community was abuzz with claims that Microsoft plans to bring Xbox titles to PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. All at once, several rumours surfaced online, with insiders pointing to Microsoft unravelling a ‘multiplatform focus’ in the coming years. These claims were answered by Phil Spencer, who revealed that he’ll be holding a business talk in the coming days to set the record straight. For now, many believe that Xbox is moving to a path of non-exclusivity, publishing core titles on competing platforms.

It’s a break away from the norm, and for Xbox fans, it’s not good news. It’ll inevitably ‘water down’ the Xbox brand, especially if the platform’s first-party titles like Halo and Gears of War are allowed to be released on PlayStation 5 (and beyond). It means that there will be ‘no reason’ to own an Xbox console – but perhaps that’s what Microsoft has in mind. It’s no big secret that the last two generations of gaming have been well and truly won by Sony and the PlayStation brand. Could we be seeing the end of Xbox hardware?

Halo on PlayStation? Blasphemy!

It was recently discovered that the Halo will series will soon be ‘for all players, on all platforms’. That was a term dug up in a job listing at 343 Industries, the current developer of the Halo series and the most recent title – Halo Infinite. If Halo was ported to PlayStation and Nintendo platforms, it would signal the ‘death’ of one of Xbox’s most powerful and prolific exclusives. There are also whispers that Microsoft will release the likes of Starfield, Indiana Jones, and Gears of War on PlayStation platforms.

On one hand, it would create a near-seamless, collaborative, and borderless gaming community. On the other, it would mean that it’s effectively pointless to invest in any Xbox hardware. With that being said, there are reports that Microsoft still plans to release a new, next-generation Xbox console and a handheld variant, with the tech giant looking to break earnestly into that particular market. In recent years, handheld gaming has exploded, particularly with the arrival of the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw.

It’s worth stressing that this information isn’t all based on conjecture. It was revealed through recent datamining efforts that Hi-Fi Rush – which exists exclusively on Xbox at present – is going to be ported to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch soon.

Will other titles follow suit and emerge on the PlayStation 5 platform? Could we see Starfield winding up on PlayStation consoles the world over in a matter of years?

It’s very possible.

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