Xbox Exclusives Will Not be Enough to Affect Sony’s Marketshare – Analyst

Despite upcoming releases, research firm DFC Intelligence believes that Microsoft’s first-party line-up of upcoming games isn’t enough to bite into Sony’s PlayStation marketshare. A large part of this seems to be the fact that quite a few Xbox games over the last year saw delays.

However, even with games like Starfield and Redfall, the research firm believes that Sony’s market share won’t see too big of a hit. The firm also notes that it doesn’t take into account the impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard that Microsoft is currently in the process of.

Among 200 upcoming games that are slated to be released, 26 will be exclusive to Xbox Series X/S, compared to 22 PS5-exclusive titles. These numbers don’t take into account multi-platform releases on PC or Nintendo Switch.

“The big question is will these major titles be enough to encourage consumers to buy an Xbox Series X/S over a PlayStation 5,” DFC Intelligence writes. “Currently, DFC Intelligence believes the answer is no. These titles have been anticipated for some time and presumably have been factored into purchase decisions. On the contrary, if a title like Starfield does not meet expectations it could hurt Xbox Series X/S sales.

“The bigger long-term issue is the role software exclusives will continue to play in a multi-platform environment. Right now core gamers can buy a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch and subscribe to Game Pass to play major Xbox titles on PC. There is not a major need for buying Xbox hardware.

“It is also important to note that companies like Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard are focused on ongoing live service games, versus releasing new games. These games tend to be multi-platform. Thus, exclusives are a major driver for picking a specific hardware platform. Nintendo has definitely learned that lesson.

“Obviously, the Activision Blizzard acquisition could go a long way toward balancing the competitive landscape. Right now, it is looking like the deal will go through. If it is not approved, Microsoft’s position in the video game industry will be in jeopardy. Yes, Xbox has some big exclusives in the pipeline but currently, they are not enough to chop into the PlayStation marketshare.”

The next major release Xbox players can look forward to is Arkane’s co-op vampire-slaying game Redfall, which is slated to be released on Xbox Series X/S and PC on May 2. Redfall‘s creative director Harvey Smith recently spoke about how it will be the “most supported game” for the studio when it comes to post-launch content.