Four games that were formerly exclusive to Microsoft will soon be available on rival consoles. Hi-Fi Rush and pirate game Sea of Thieves are coming to Sony’s PS5 only. Meanwhile, narrative adventure game Pentiment and co-op game Grounded will be on PS5 as well as Nintendo Switch. Until now, it had not been known what those titles were. Two of the games were revealed on Wednesday in a Nintendo Direct, an online showcase for the firm, before Microsoft confirmed the full list in a blog post.
“These multiplayer titles available will bring more people together and continue to grow their communities of players,” said head of Xbox game studios Matt Booty. Neil Watton, editor of TheXboxHub, said fans would not be too surprised by the names of the games that were chosen to appear on other consoles, after several weeks of rumors. “It’s those jumping into Grounded and Sea of Thieves who will ultimately be rewarded, with full cross-play across platforms building the player base immediately on launch in April,” he told the BBC. “When you consider the depth of the cooperative play found in those titles, the moves make complete and utter sense.”
Several other upcoming titles for the Nintendo Switch were also revealed during Nintendo’s event, including a new Endless Ocean game, Monster Hunter Stories, and a remake of 2010 Disney hit Epic Mickey. Viewers were also surprised by the developers of the 2017 hit, Sonic Mania, unexpectedly announcing their latest game. Penny’s Big Breakaway, made by Evening Star, is a platform game with a distinctively 1990s look. “I think the 3D platformer genre at the moment is actually in a bit of a renaissance”, the developer’s director Christian Whitehead told the BBC. “There’s a lot to choose from, even just on Steam and Nintendo Switch”, he added.
Evening Star was formed by many of the people who worked on Sonic Mania as independent contractors. That game was a hit in 2017, picking up an average score of 86 on review aggregator Metacritic alongside a nomination at that year’s Game Awards. Though a sequel to that game was highly anticipated by fans, it never came to pass, and Sega instead released Sonic Superstars in 2023, made by Sonic’s original designer. Sonic and Mario – the mascots of Sega and Nintendo – were considered rivals in the 1990s, but after Sega stopped making its own consoles in the 2000s, it began releasing Sonic on rival consoles. Nowadays, Sonic games appear on Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft hardware.
Argick, a Scottish Twitch streamer with about 20,000 followers, said he planned on spending his evening playing Penny’s Big Breakaway on stream. “Sonic Mania was a phenomenal critical success, fans and critics loved it,” he told the BBC. “Just looking at the footage for Penny’s Big Breakaway, it looks really smooth, fluid, speedy, and fun – really simple to pick up and play. But it’s also really silly and not taking itself too seriously.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday, gamers less interested in Nintendo updates were treated to a trailer for the upcoming expansion to 2022 Game of the Year award winner Elden Ring. Shadow of the Erdtree is slated for a June release on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in the UK.
The recent announcement of previously exclusive Microsoft games becoming available on rival consoles is a major development in the gaming industry. This move will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for both Microsoft and its competitors, as well as for gamers themselves.
One of the key implications of this decision is the increasing trend towards cross-platform gaming. By allowing games like Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, and Grounded to be played on Sony’s PS5 and Nintendo Switch, Microsoft is embracing the concept of cross-play. This means that players on different consoles can now interact and play together, breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive gaming community. This move is a response to the growing demand for cross-platform compatibility and will likely lead to more game developers following suit.
Another important implication is the increasing competition among console manufacturers. With games like Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves now available on the PS5, Sony has gained a significant advantage over Microsoft in terms of exclusive titles. This move could potentially attract more gamers to the PS5, leading to increased sales and market dominance for Sony. It also puts pressure on Microsoft to continue developing exclusive games to stay competitive in the console market.
Furthermore, the announcement highlights the changing dynamics of the gaming industry. In the past, exclusive titles were a major selling point for consoles, often influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions. However, as cross-platform gaming becomes more prevalent, exclusivity is losing its significance. This shift reflects the changing priorities of gamers, who are now more focused on the overall gaming experience and the ability to play with friends, regardless of the console they own.
Looking towards the future, it is likely that this trend of formerly exclusive games becoming available on multiple platforms will continue to accelerate. As game developers recognize the benefits of cross-platform compatibility, they will prioritize creating games that can be enjoyed by players on different consoles. This will result in a more unified gaming experience, with players able to connect, compete, and cooperate across platforms.
In addition, the increasing popularity of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube will play a crucial role in shaping the future of gaming. Streaming has become a significant part of the gaming community, with