Xbox reportedly in “Very Big Discussions” over returning to exclusives

According to a prominent industry insider, some very serious conversations are happening behind closed doors at Microsoft.

Windows Central’s Jez Corden, speaking on the latest episode of the Xbox Two Podcast, revealed that Xbox is currently engaged in significant internal deliberations around exclusivity, suggesting the platform’s multiplatform-first approach may not be set in stone for much longer.

“Very, Very, Very Big Discussions”

“You know how I said they were thinking about adjusting Game Pass?” Corden said. “There are very, very, very big discussions about the exclusivity stuff going on.”

He framed the debate as an identity question for the company: “Do you want to be an ecosystem company first, or do you want to be a publishing company first?” Corden stopped short of detailing what conclusions, if any, had been reached or how many at Xbox are pushing for change.

Xbox is trying to find its footing

The claims come amid a broader shake-up at Xbox. Since Asha Sharma took over as CEO, the company has been visibly reassessing its direction, most recently with Sharma reportedly acknowledging in an internal memo that Game Pass pricing was “too expensive” for many players.

A return to exclusives would bring Xbox back in line with its competitors. Nintendo remains the strictest, keeping its titles entirely off rival hardware. PlayStation, meanwhile, maintains a strong exclusive portfolio, even if select titles like Helldivers 2 have made their way to other platforms.

For now, nothing is confirmed. But with Microsoft leaving money on the table for the sake of brand recovery, the pressure to act is clearly mounting.

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