In light of the successful launch of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 this year, there are speculations that Xbox could potentially expand its game library to include Sony’s PlayStation 5 and even the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Although Microsoft hasn’t explicitly confirmed any such plans, industry reports from The Game Business and analysis by Mat Piscatella of Circana suggest this possibility, given the impressive performance of Forza Horizon 5.
According to Circana’s perspective in the report, the gaming market has advanced such that players are unlikely to switch their primary gaming console due to exclusive games. Instead, they believe we have surpassed that phase, and the future for Xbox may involve more multiplatform game releases. Piscatella points out the recent triumph of Forza Horizon 5 on both Xbox and PS5 as an example of this trend, hinting at its continuation in the coming times.
For approximately a year now, Piscatella mentioned, we’ve noticed a recurring trend: games that were previously absent reappear every month. It leaves us wondering, “How is this possible?” The answer lies in the fact that these games have been released on different platforms.
The increased availability of Forza Horizon 5 beyond Xbox and PC has significantly contributed to its recent surge in popularity, as more players now have access to it compared to when it was exclusively available on those two platforms. According to Piscatella, this shift is likely due to the fact that modern gamers are deeply embedded within their respective console communities, such as Sony’s or Microsoft’s, which encompass social features like friends lists and the ability to purchase games across multiple platforms.
Today, individuals opt for a hardware system primarily due to its ecosystem and the friends they have connected on it. It’s unlikely that people will switch consoles solely based on exclusive games anymore, as we’ve moved past that stage.
People generally stick with their existing systems, so delivering content directly to them is the most effective strategy for success. Everybody seems to be adopting this approach, except Nintendo, who prefer to follow their unique path. While it might benefit them too, that’s not typically how they operate.
In the U.S., as pointed out by Piscatella, the market has reached a level of competitiveness where game companies are better off delivering their games directly to players, rather than relying on console exclusives to attract them. This shift is largely due to the surge in popularity of live service games like Fortnite, which consume significant amounts of player time, leaving less for non-live service titles to compete over.
In the United States, it’s clear that the top ten live service games consume nearly half of all gaming time each month, leaving the rest of the games to compete for the remaining share. To succeed in today’s competitive landscape, the strategy is to deliver content where players already are.
The strength of “Forza” being so robust… that’s fantastic. This will certainly benefit its upcoming version, especially if it launches simultaneously on different systems. As games become available on more retailers and platforms… that’s the key to staying relevant and succeeding in this competitive market.
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2025-07-28 16:41