The difference in approach between the PS5 and Xbox Series X couldn’t be more telling. The latter is seemingly playing the long game, with many big IPs and new games coming down the pipeline. After all, what good is a gaming platform without quality games to play on it? Microsoft and Sony know this all too well. In the heat of the fast approaching holiday season, both companies have been vying for consumer attention with all kinds of high-profile game announcements.
Sony has done well for itself. It’s got some major launch titles that the Xbox Series X and S can’t offer, such as Godfall, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Demon’s Souls. In contrast, Microsoft is a little light on major launch titles. Fans hoped that Halo Infinite would be available as soon as the new Xbox, but now it won’t be out until 2021. This isn’t without reason, though, as it looks like Microsoft is content to build its success on future titles that’ll give the new Xbox a long lifespan.
There’s not much exclusive to the Xbox Series X and S that’ll really define the consoles for their first few months. The Medium is one of few brand new Microsoft exclusives that the consoles will offer. On paper, that seems like a tremendous weakness compared to the PS5’s wealth of titles. However, Microsoft has a clever way to make up for it, at least for those with an Xbox One. Thanks to the Smart Delivery system, players can get free upgrades of certain Xbox One games they own on the Xbox Series X. It’s a clever way to keep players entertained while new games get developed, and it encourages fans to stay dedicated by rewarding their patronage.
Further good news is that there’s plenty of Microsoft games on the horizon. Naturally, there’s Halo Infinite, the much anticipated continuation of Master Chief’s saga, but there’s also new games that won’t be out for a while yet. For instance, Obsidian’s Avowed drew lots of eyes when it was revealed. Even though this fantasy RPG won’t be out for a long time, it’s already a selling point for the Xbox Series X and S. Microsoft is probably okay with delaying games like Halo Infinite because it’s already structuring this console around long term success anyway.
The Xbox has another crucial buffer that will allow it to serve as a strong platform in spite of a modest roster of launch titles. Microsoft has doubled down on the Game Pass lately, which makes a lot of sense taken in context with the many Xbox games that are quite a ways away from launch. The Xbox Series X isn’t being designed for a flashy launch with a ton of enticing titles. It’s trying to build a schedule of new games that stretches years into the future. In the meantime, it’s offering players ports and the Game Pass catalogue as ample means to enjoy the Xbox Series X and S.
This strategy is sort of odd when it comes to the console war. One would expect that Microsoft would fight tooth and nail to have the biggest, strongest launch possible for the console. However, this approach sounds like it might be a very healthy way to go about supporting the new versions of the Xbox. It’s wise to plan ahead in business. Microsoft might lose out a little bit this holiday without so many launch titles, but years from now, it might be able to look back on many years of success throughout the console’s lifetime.
The Xbox Series X releases November 10.
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