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Greenberg: Xbox Game Studios to Focus on Making Games on Microsoft Platforms Going Forward

Greenberg: Xbox Game Studios to Focus on Making Games on Microsoft Platforms Going Forward - News

by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 March 2020 / 4,022 Views

It has appeared that Microsoft was expanding to release its games on other platforms with Ori and the Blind Forest and Cuphead on the Nintendo Switch, and Gears 5 coming out for Steam. However, Microsoft’s GM of games marketing Aaron Greenberg speaking with MCVUK in an interview has clarified Microsoft's stance on this. 

Greenberg said that going forward Microsoft's internal development studios will focus on making games for their own platforms, the Xbox One, Microsoft Store on Windows 10, and the Xbox Scarlett when it launches in holiday 2020.

 

"Going forward, all of our internal studios, and the new studios we’ve added, will be focused on making games for our platforms and we have no plans to expand our exclusive first-party games to any other consoles," said Greenberg.

"People should recognise how excited we are with our internal development studios more than doubling. Those teams, going forward, will be focused on making games for our platforms. So while we know there’s existing commitments in place, take The Outer Worlds as an example, there was already a commitment to make that game available as a multiplatform title and we’ll continue to honour that."

Previous commitments for the studios acquired by Microsoft as inevitable. Greenberg said that once they commitments are fulfilled the studios will focus on developing games on their own platforms.

"Thinking about the next game from Obsidian, InXile or Ninja Theory, all those studios, just like our existing internal studios, whether it’s 343 or Turn 10, they’re going to be focused on making those games for our platforms," added Greenberg. "So we have no plans to expand any of those exclusive first-party titles to any other consoles."

"Ori is built by Moon Studios, which is an independent, external studio. They came to us with a desire to bring the original Ori to the Switch. We thought that made sense, and we’re happy to work with them to enable them to bring that to Switch," said Greenberg when asked about Ori and the Blind Forest release on the Switch.

Greenberg was asked about the release of Gears 5 on Steam. "We know there’s a big PC audience out there which may not own an Xbox and they want to be able to play some of our big IPs. And bringing Gears 5 to that audience makes a lot of sense," he said.

"Steam reaches PC gamers in a lot of markets that are traditionally not as console heavy. [Steam] has relationships with those customers there. It’s a very engaged PC audience and so to be able to bring a title like Gears 5 at launch to PC players in Eastern Europe, Germany, Russia and China, in these big PC markets, is a great way to reach a broader audience."

"We’ve always focused on putting the gamer at the centre of everything we’re doing," he added. "When we think about growing the amount of people playing our games, we want to do it in a way where we support crossplay, cross progression, with people playing on the console and the PC together. So the community of people you’re going to play with isn’t determined by where you actually bought the game.

"We’ve been able to work with Steam so that we’re enabling that community to also be able to play across Windows 10 and console. It’s been exciting and we’re bringing Halo: Reach and The Master Chief Collection to Steam as well."


A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.


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36 Comments
Mr Puggsly (on 25 September 2019)

I think its also MS saying don't bother them about bringing games to other platforms.

  • +7
SuperNintend0rk Mr Puggsly (on 26 September 2019)

You mean port begging? But I really want them to bring Will of the Wisps to Switch. Pretty pretty please! :P

  • +2
think-man (on 26 September 2019)

As long as MS games are coming to other platforms (including PC), then I won't be investing in their console. I bought a 360 because of it's amazing jrpg exclusives and skipped X1 because the majority of it's games could be played elsewhere. Next generation will probably be the same. I'll invest in a new PC rather than the Scarlet.

  • +4
Azzanation think-man (on 26 September 2019)

Even if they don't release on Steam?

  • 0
Mr Puggsly think-man (on 27 September 2019)

If you're willing to play their games on a Windows PC while using the Windows Store, I think MS will still be happy.

I've made this point many times. Xbox games on Windows helps appeal to a larger audience while encouraging people to use the Windows Store and Windows in general.

  • 0
DonFerrari (on 25 September 2019)

Until they change the speak again.

  • +4
EricHiggin DonFerrari (on 25 September 2019)

Wax on, wax off. Wax on, wax off.

  • +3
Ganoncrotch DonFerrari (on 25 September 2019)

They should just officially name the Scarlett the Xbox180 from jump.

  • +3
JRPGfan (on 26 September 2019)

So no more multiplats in future from studios owned huh?
More Xbox + PC releases..... focus on PC lately has overshadowed xbox console imo.
Its wack that, PC is getting stuff they make, kept off of their own console.

  • +3
poroporo (on 25 September 2019)

I hope this includes additional support for One X owners, because this gen has been very lackluster.

  • +1
Ganoncrotch poroporo (on 25 September 2019)

SUP ER LUCK Y TALE!

  • +3
hunter_alien (on 26 September 2019)

Yeah... yet another communique from MS, and 2 days later they will make something that will totally contradict their current stance. Completely headless management if you ask me, and one that is not only out of sync with the industry, but out of sync with each other as well.

  • 0
Azzanation hunter_alien (on 26 September 2019)

The only reason MS went with Multiplats this gen is due to them wanting to make more money and salvage whatever is left in gen 8. Its actually genise really. Next gen they will do the exact same if they are not making what they want to make.

  • +1
hunter_alien hunter_alien (on 27 September 2019)

Yes... this approach did wonders this gen, being dead last :-)

  • 0
DonFerrari hunter_alien (on 27 September 2019)

Indeed genius.

  • 0
G2ThaUNiT (on 25 September 2019)

Wait, so no Halo Infinite on Steam? :(

  • 0
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Sarkar G2ThaUNiT (on 26 September 2019)

After how badly Gears 5 sold I can't blame them. MS' franchises are played out and stale only those who grew up with Halo and Gears have any interest in it and even that group is shrinking rapidly.

  • +2
Azzanation G2ThaUNiT (on 26 September 2019)

@Sarkar Soooooo there games aren't selling well in your opinion so Xbox decides to limit there audience even further? Your logic confuses me..

  • -3
Sarkar G2ThaUNiT (on 26 September 2019)

@Azzanation Yes, Gears 5 sold like 10k on steam and people found out and it was just bad optics. Such low sales aren't worth the bad press that comes from them. It's better for MS to only release the game on their own platform so they can control such information better and they've taken care of it recently by announcing they will no longer be sharing any sales data and keep it locked down so it can't be used to make them look bad.

  • 0
Chazore G2ThaUNiT (on 26 September 2019)

@sokar

Then they can enjoy not obtaining the reach Steam has, and be stuck with a few gamepass users on PC. Meanwhile, they'll be lost to me, since I care little for sub services of game "renting", and I know very well that I'm not the only one on that notion.

  • -1
JRPGfan G2ThaUNiT (on 26 September 2019)

Halo infinite is STILL going to steam.

  • 0
Sarkar G2ThaUNiT (on 26 September 2019)

Also security is another problem with steam. Forza games took forever to crack. They put Gears 5 on Steam and it got crack within a week.

10k sales is not worth all the negatives that MS has to put up with.

  • -3
Chazore G2ThaUNiT (on 26 September 2019)

Uhh, games still get cracked either way. Just selling it only on the win 10 store isn't going to make it impregnable.

If anything, selling it only on win 10 store is a sure way to reduce your sales, and even MS knows this, hence them putting their games on Steam.

One game not selling a fucking motherload is an asinine thought process to hold onto, as a reason to not release future titles on the storefront.

Stop thinking like a board of directors, it helps clear the mind a little. You are not a boardroom director, you have no say in where the game does/doesn't go.

  • 0
Azzanation G2ThaUNiT (on 26 September 2019)

@Sarkar i agree and disagree with what you are saying.

I dont blame MS for taking there games off other future platforms due to the unwarranted negative feedback they have been receiving with Gears 5 only on the PC version but to say Gears 5 isnt selling well.. 3m people playing the game over its launch weekend is not nothing. Thats incredibly good and GamePass makes physical sales numbers obsolete now.

  • -1
Azzanation (on 26 September 2019)

This is no suprise really. I had a feeling the whole mulitplat games were there way on making up lost ground with profits this gen

  • -1
DonFerrari Azzanation (on 26 September 2019)

But you said they have their biggest profits and that their subs is making them bunch of money.

  • +2
Azzanation Azzanation (on 26 September 2019)

Haha profiting and making more money is how these mega corps work. X1 is making money and they are making money off there services, but due to the sale decline this gen to last gen, MS have been making it up by multiplatforms. Which part of that dont you agree with?

  • 0
DonFerrari Azzanation (on 27 September 2019)

You have been saying the whole gen that they are making more money now tha never. But on your post here you said they are making the lost ground on the profits of this gen. Seem like they don't match.

  • -1
hunter_alien Azzanation (on 27 September 2019)

@DonFerrari why are you arguing with Azzanation? It's like arguing with a somewhat intelligent brick. No matter how hard you try, at the end of the day it's still a brick.

  • -1
Azzanation Azzanation (on 27 September 2019)

@Don we don't know how much money MS are making off there services and they will never tell us. We do know the market share between both 360 and XB1 are completely different. MS has nothing to lose this gen bringing there games over to other platforms hence why they are doing it. They are trying to make even more money on the games front. Also GamePass is a long term feature not a short term feature. It will take a couple of years before it starts mounting huge profits hence why MS brought there games over to Switch and Steam to make up the gap difference. Its genies really. Do you not think the X1 is making money?

  • +1
DonFerrari Azzanation (on 30 September 2019)

So you finally admit to have no idea of how much they profit on Xbox or the service? Thank god. Because in plenty of threads you were swearing it was doing a megaton. Even here you were a little convoluted on if they are making or not.

I do think MS is having profit in X1 effort, but very small one. While you were being sure it was doing close to PS4 using strange metrics to claim XBL Gold had more subs than PS+ and some other strange stuff.

  • 0
Azzanation Azzanation (on 30 September 2019)

I don't have figures, but you wouldn't be smart thinking they are not profiting majorly from there online services. You can do the maths yourself $10 a month for GamePass and $60 a year for Gold Live members and add how many members you believe they have had over the years. Also can you link me a quote of me saying what you think I have said? I believe you are rather confused in what iv been saying all this time. I also don't believe i said Xbox is making anywhere near PS4's amount of profits. Sounds like you are spinning it.

  • 0
Jigsawx1 (on 26 September 2019)

After the Sony Ps4 Deal they should know that they have to cancel every project they are developing for ps4........

  • -6
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