Unlock Xbox Exclusives: Is the PS5’s Forza Sufficient to Switch Lanes?

The End of an Era: How Microsoft Just Killed the Next Xbox

When the next generation of gaming consoles arrives, one thing is all but certain: Xbox will be last on everyone’s wish list. The format’s most loyal fans are finally coming to accept this harsh reality in light of recent news that Forza, one of Xbox’s crown jewels, is ditching the platform for PlayStation.

Microsoft’s Xbox Everywhere strategy, which involves releasing second-tier games to non-Xbox platforms, is one thing. Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, and Pentiment making the switch is expected. But Forza? That’s a different story. This beloved franchise, a 20-year Xbox exclusive, is part of the holy trinity, along with Halo and Gears of War. Its departure from Xbox is a Punch to the Gut for fans.

As one user summed it up in a Reddit thread: "I can’t believe they did it. They really gave away Forza. Even with all that messaging about multi-platform releases, I didn’t think it was possible, but I guess you’re right, they actually did it. They gave away Forza. That leaves Halo and Gears, and if they go, then the deck is stacked."

Nothing is Sacred

The Forza Horizon 5 release on PS5 is a milestone moment. It sends a message loud and clear: nothing is sacred. It tells Xbox fans that the Holy Trinity of Xbox is being dismantled, piece by piece. Who’s to stop Microsoft from abandoning Halo and Gears of War next? The direction of travel suggests the opposite: we might see synchronised releases with PS6, where console gamers get the exclusive games a few months after PC players.

Take Indiana Jones, for example. Will it be a timed exclusive on Xbox, as others speculate? This would mean that PS6 owners would get the game a few months earlier, joining the ranks of other fully exclusive Sony console games like God of War, Horizon, and whatever Naughty Dog has in store. The thought is unsettling for Xbox enthusiasts who had grown accustomed to having these franchises as their own exclusive treasures.

The Death of Xbox as a Console

The Xbox app is available on Fire TV devices, Samsung TVs, and web browsers, offering access to the Game Pass library via cloud streaming. This, paired with the increasing number of locations where cloud gaming is available, suggests that owning an Xbox is becoming less necessary, even for its most loyal fans. Gamers can access these exclusive games through the Game Pass cloud streaming service, making console ownership a less relevant choice.

Forza, one of the games that will follow, solidifies this point. Xbox as a console brand is being redefined, much like Sega, where the focus shifts from console ownership to game subscription services. The next-generation console is expected, but is there really a point to it?

In this new era, Xbox is no longer just a console brand but a big publisher, even like Sega. As one fan lamented, "I guess we should start viewing Xbox not as a console brand, but more like a big publisher. Kinda like Sega, if you think about it." The future of Xbox is uncertain, and the question is: what’s the point of buying one?