Third-Party Console Exclusive Games May Soon Be Obsolete

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Hey there fellow gamers! Just wanted to share some exciting news I stumbled upon recently. Mat Piscatella from Circana posted about Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth being the top-selling game in the US market last week of January. Now, this title was initially a PlayStation 5 exclusive, but it made a massive splash with its PC launch on Steam that same week. It seems like this success might be indicative of some shifts happening within the broader gaming industry. Can’t wait to see where these changes lead us! #GamingIndustryInsights

The age of third-party console exclusives might be on its way out

Schreier presented two perspectives regarding the information. The initial viewpoint suggests that “Steam has emerged as a promising avenue for numerous game creators, given the plateau of console sales.” This implies that Steam is an extensive platform for video game developers, hosting more games than any other place, and offering a simpler route for developers to publish their games compared to working with one of the three major console manufacturers. Furthermore, Steam’s immense market size is evident through games like _Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth_, as well as other PlayStation-published titles such as Helldivers 2, which became PlayStation’s top-selling game in the weeks following its launch last year. In light of this, one might question why a developer would limit itself to a single device or platform when there is such significant potential on PC.

Moving forward, it seems less logical for third-party publishers to maintain their restrictions. Notably, Square Enix, creators of games like Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and other large RPGs, has expressed plans to adopt a multiplatform approach. While this doesn’t imply that Super Mario Kart or The Legend of Zelda will appear on PlayStation 5 immediately, or God of War and Astro Bot will launch with the Switch 2 in the near future, it does suggest a trend. Lately, Xbox has been making waves as more of its first-party games are being ported to the PlayStation 5.

Outlaws and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown were reportedly sales disappointments, as was The Lost Crown which received critical acclaim. Notably, these games hit Steam stores months after their console and Ubisoft Connect debuts. As Ubisoft hovers near a sale and heavily relies on the upcoming Assassin’s Creed: Shadows for survival, it might be wise to launch future titles simultaneously on Steam alongside other platforms if they manage to weather the next year.

The fact that Steam is currently the only profitable avenue for PC games isn’t ideal, as it concentrates too much power in one platform. However, at present, viable alternatives are scarce. Epic Games Store exists, but beyond Fortnite, it struggles to rival Steam’s user base. Potentially, the landscape could shift in the future, but until then, developers find themselves primarily confined to Steam.

Just as many aspects of life evolve gradually, so does the console market. It’s not a given that Xbox won’t release another console after the Series X/S or Sony won’t introduce a PlayStation 7 or 8. However, considering the rapid changes in the gaming industry over recent console generations, it’s possible that we might see new iterations of popular systems.

Exclusive games from Xbox are now available on PlayStation. The Steam Deck has been a major success. The Switch 2 is expected to launch this year. There’s also speculation about the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, though it could still be delayed. By 2026, the gaming landscape will likely undergo significant transformations compared to its current state.

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2025-02-06 01:32