Recent rumors that a number of Xbox exclusives will release on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles have sent Xbox fans into a fury. Some are going as far as to sell their consoles in response.
Earlier this week, credible rumors from inside sources at Microsoft revealed that Starfield could be coming to PlayStation 5. This added to previous rumblings that smaller titles like Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves would also be going cross-platform.
Rather than squashing the speculation, Xbox head Phil Spencer announced that he would host a business update event regarding “the future of Xbox”. Dedicated players of Microsoft’s home consoles have responded with disbelief and a torrent of backlash at the potential move.
Following Spencer’s announcement and taking it as a writing-on-the-wall moment, a number of Xbox players have begun selling their Series S and X consoles. They’ve even taken to X to post proof.
Annnnnnd it’s done, bye bye Series X. They don’t accept the storage device at GameStop sadly so I have a literal paperweight now, but I got UFC 5 for my PS5 and $300 worth of steam cards. So long Xbox, it was a good run pic.twitter.com/reXKdH8eua
— Yung Kiryu (@yungkiryu) February 5, 2024
The rumors of Xbox exclusives that may go cross-platform include juggernauts like the Halo franchise and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Along with rumors of Starfield, this potential loss of exclusivity has fuelled discourse that Xbox consoles are set to lose value.
Many selling their Xbox consoles claim they’re doing so ahead of the planned business update to get ahead of potential financial losses. “Gotta sell it before it’s not worth a pair of socks,” one Xbox gamer explained.
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Others think the move is a little premature ahead of word from Spencer and have cautioned players thinking of pawning their Xbox. “I would have advised you to keep your stuff until you get confirmation this week,” a user warned.
Those who are still suspicious of the rumors but want to send a message have found a less permanent form of protest. Xbox players have also been canceling their Game Pass subscriptions and posting the proof.
Xbox gamers are cancelling their Gamepass subscription in droves after the confirmation of Microsoft going 3rd partyWill Xbox come back from this or is it Game Over? pic.twitter.com/BuxermLv6X
— Karim Jovian (@KJovian) February 5, 2024
Breaking down the barriers of console exclusivity is an ideal situation for some players though there’s no word on whether Sony or Nintendo plan to reciprocate. Some gamers worry that a lack of competition in the console market may lead to a less consumer-friendly culture from hardware manufacturers.
We’ll have to wait and see exactly what’s going on after Xbox makes its position clear.