Microsoft recently announced that Xbox Series X launch games won't be exclusive to the next-gen console, releasing "cross-gen" on both the Xbox Series X and Xbox One. It may seem like an odd move to skip out on the potential console sales allowed by exclusive launch titles, but Microsoft has a few good reasons to avoid Series X exclusivity.
Xbox Series X specs revealed the reason for the utilitarian design. According to Microsoft, the tower-like design allows the console to stay as quiet and cool as possible, despite having four times the processing power of the Xbox One X. That enhanced power means the Series X can deliver 4K resolution at 60 FPS, and Microsoft said it's possible to get up to 120 FPS on the console.
Releasing estimated Xbox One sales put the system's numbers at less than half of the PS4's in early 2019.
This strategy also gives Microsoft an opportunity to establish a clear advantage to owning the Xbox Series X version of a game. When announcing the Xbox Series X cross-gen game launch plan, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty said the Halo Infinite development team will be taking advantage of the Series X's unique capabilities, despite the game also releasing on Xbox One. Since competitive shooters like Halo can see gameplay drastically affected by graphical fidelity and frame rate - both of which will likely be improved in the Series X versions of the game - establishing a Halo Infinite fan base on Xbox One is likely to lead to at least some players buying Series X systems to get the most out of the game they've grown to love.
It probably won't be only Xbox that follows this strategy, either. With major PS4-exclusive titles like the Final Fantasy 7 Remake and The Last of Us Part 2 releasing so close to the PS5 console launch, Sony is likely to get in on the action, porting these recent titles to its new system. Nintendo did the same thing last generation, as well, releasing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on both Switch and Wii U, despite the Wii U's terrible sales. Sony has no reason miss out on Microsoft's game, so there's a good chance the company will go for a few extra The Last of Us 2 sales on PS5, in addition to the copies its Wii-topping PS4 customer base buys.
The Xbox Series X is launching sometime in holiday 2020.
