One of the topics that has sparked controversy during the review process of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is the exclusivity of video games on consoles, a model that has been prevalent in the industry for decades and one that PlayStation and Nintendo have capitalized on. However, this is not to the liking of the Microsoft chief, who envisions an industry without exclusive games.
Satya Nadella doesn't like exclusives on consoles but says it's the world Sony built
During his participation in the Activision Blizzard case hearing, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, was questioned about the controversy surrounding console exclusives. In response, the executive stated that the company's stance is to think about the gaming industry differently from the established model, and if it were up to him, there would be no exclusivity. However, he pointed out that this is not possible because of Sony, as the Japanese company defined that model, which is the one currently in place.
Microsoft CEO says he wants to end Xbox exclusives but blames Sony. Full details here: https://t.co/ZXYBVkK4ye pic.twitter.com/UmVYvW9YJT
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) June 28, 2023
Satya Nadella's statement reads: "If it was up to me, I'd love to get rid of all console exclusives, but that's not for me to decide, especially as a low-share player when it comes to the console market. The dominant player there, Sony, has defined the competition in the market using exclusives, so that's the world we live in. I have no love for that world."
Part of Microsoft's current generation discourse is to break down the gaming barriers imposed by hardware and technology, with a perspective that rejects exclusivity. Hence, Xbox is now an ecosystem that includes consoles, PCs, the cloud, and portable or home devices. Both Satya Nadella and Phil Spencer claim that the goal of this new era of Xbox is to bring gaming to billions of people.
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