Xbox boss Phil Spencer outlined Microsoft’s vision for exclusive content on the Xbox One. In an interview with Gamecore which was later translated by Dualshockers, Spencer stated that fans should expect fewer third-party deals for exclusive content going forward as Microsoft is shifting their focus on first-party (otherwise known as in-house games).
“My strategy is more around our own first-party franchises, and investing in franchises that we own, and probably fewer exclusive deals for third-party content,” he said. “I want to have strong third-party relations, but paying for many third-party exclusives isn’t our long-term strategy.”
Some good news is that Rise of the Tomb Raider, will launch this November first on the Xbox One and Xbox 360 before making its way to the PC and PlayStation 4 in 2016.
Spencer mentioned that it was “great” having Rise of the Tomb Raider as part of its lineup this year. But he reiterated that Microsoft is going to shift its focus to more first-party games this year and that it will be evident at Microsoft’s Gamescom announcement next week.
Spencer’s comments are directly opposite to that of Sony who earlier this year stated that third-party content deals such as Destiny, and Call of Duty: Black Ops III, are integral to the company’s business plan. This is a great lineup for this year considering it is a little sparse compared to previous years.
What do you think of Spencer’s comments and do you think that this is the right move for Microsoft?
