Tag: nintendo switch

Xbox Exclusives Pentiment, Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves Coming to PlayStation and Nintendo Switch

Microsoft first-party games Pentiment, Grounded, Hi-Fi Rush, and Sea of Thieves will soon be available on Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation platforms. Xbox confirmed on Wednesday that much like other popular multi-platform games like Minecraft, Call of Duty, Overwatch and Diablo, players will soon be able to access these exclusive games on their Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles. This move underscores a larger trend in the gaming industry towards greater accessibility and cross-platform interoperability. By adopting this strategy, the company hopes to encourage greater inclusivity and reach a wider range of gamers.

In a Xbox Wire release, the company confirmed that Pentiment from Obsidian Entertainment will come to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch on February 22. Another game by the same developer, Grounded, will also be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch from April 16.

Developed by Tango Gameworks, Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythm-based action-adventure game has not been confirmed for a Nintendo Switch release yet, the same as Rare’s Sea of Thieves. But these games are coming to PlayStation platforms. With pre-purchase available on PlayStation 5 digital storefronts from February 22, Hi-Fi Rush will come to the platform on March 19, while Sea of Thieves opens on the platform on April 30.

Meanwhile, Grounded and Sea of Thieves will come with cross-play support for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, the release confirmed. The company added that later this year titles like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and more will come to Xbox Series X and S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Xbox Game Pass.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer announced last week that four Xbox exclusives will be available on PS5 and Nintendo Switch platforms. The company had also confirmed that Activision-Blizzard titles will soon be available on Xbox Game Pass, starting with Diablo IV on March 28.

Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Microsoft Announces 4 Xbox Exclusives for PS5 and Nintendo Switch, Activision Blizzard Titles on Game Pass

Four Microsoft first-party games will launch on Sony’s PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch, the company confirmed late Thursday after weeks of speculation over its exclusive titles releasing on rival platforms. The announcement came on the Official Xbox Podcast from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, who also shed further light on the reasons behind Xbox’s business decision and confirmed that the next generation of Xbox consoles were in development. Microsoft has not yet revealed the four Xbox exclusives coming to PS5 and Nintendo Switch, but The Verge reported that said games would be Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves and Grounded.

Spencer addressed the rumours about Microsoft first-party titles and the future of Xbox exclusivity head on, confirming that contrary to reports, Triple-A Bethesda releases like Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will remain as Xbox and PC exclusives. “We’ve made the decision that we’re going to take four games to the other consoles, just four games,” the Xbox chief on the podcast. He confirmed that Xbox won’t be fundamentally changing its exclusives strategy, explaining the decision to port the four unnamed games over to rival consoles. “We think this is an interesting point in time for us to use what some of the other platforms have right now to help grow our franchises,” he said.

While Spencer refrained from naming the four Xbox exclusive titles slated for launch on PS5 and Nintendo Switch, a report from The Verge, citing sources privy to Microsoft’s plans, claimed that these would be Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of the Thieves and Grounded. The first three of these were previously reported to be coming to Sony and Nintendo’s platforms, too. There are no specific release dates or launch windows for these games, but Spencer said that their respective developers have plans for announcements that are “not too far away.”

Hi-Fi Rush has been rumoured to come to PS5 and Nintendo Switch
Photo Credit: Bethesda

The Xbox chief, however, did elaborate on the process of picking the four yet confirmed games for multi-platform transition. The company considered games released over a year ago that have been on Xbox and PC for a while. Two of the selected games are community-driven games, Spencer said, while the other two are smaller games that weren’t built to be platform exclusives. “As they’ve realised their potential on Xbox and PC, we see an opportunity to utilise the other platforms as a place to just drive more business value out of those games, allowing us to maybe invest in future iterations of those, or sequels to those, or just other games like that in our portfolio,” Spencer said. “And we don’t damage Xbox and we can grow our business using what other platforms have to help us with that. We’re gonna do that.”

Spencer, however, cautioned players on rival platforms that the change in Microsoft’s strategy did not mean that all or several Xbox exclusives going forward would arrive on PS5 and Nintendo Switch. No other games besides the four already confirmed titles are currently being considered for a multi-platform launch.

In the wide-ranging podcast, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty also reiterated that Game Pass would only be available on Xbox on PC. Additionally, Xbox president Sarah Bond also announced that Activision-Blizzard games would soon arrive on Xbox Game Pass, starting with Diablo IV on March 28. Microsoft acquired Call of Duty maker Activision-Blizzard late last year in $69 billion deal after a long running regulatory battle with the US’ Federal Trade Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. Bond also confirmed that Xbox Game Pass had reached 34 million subscribers.

Reports from earlier this month about Microsoft first-party games making their way to PS5 and Nintendo Switch had left the Xbox community unsettled, with many questioning the future of the platform. Major exclusives like Bethesda RPG Starfield and the recently announced Indiana Jones game were reported to be under consideration for a PS5 launch.

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Sony Set to Miss PS5 Sales Target for FY 2023, Says Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Sold 10 Million Copies

Japan’s Sony slashed the full-year sales forecast for its PlayStation 5 console on Wednesday and said it plans to list its financial business next year as it focuses on entertainment and image sensors.

Sony cut its PS5 sales forecast for the year ending March to 21 million units, from 25 million units previously, after weaker-than-expected sales over the year-end shopping season.

The company said it expects a gradual decline in unit sales from the next financial year and that it does not plan to release any major franchise titles in the coming fiscal year.

Sony, which in 2023 said it was examining a partial spin-off of its financial business, said it plans to list Sony Financial Group in October 2025 and retain a stake of just under 20 percent.

The company’s operating profit in the October-December quarter jumped 10 percent to JPY 463.3 billion ($3.08 billion, or roughly Rs. 25,568 crore), beating an average estimate of JPY 428 billion (roughly Rs. 23,663 crore) from 11 analysts polled by LSEG, as strong performance by the financial, movies and music businesses offset weakness in games.

Known as the inventor of the Walkman, Sony has transformed from an electronics manufacturer into an entertainment and tech behemoth spanning movies, music, games and chips.

Sony sold 8.2 million PlayStation 5 units in the third quarter, which spans the year-end shopping period, compared with 7.1 million units a year earlier.

Operating profit at the games business fell by around a quarter, hit by higher losses from hardware due to promotions and lower sales of first-party titles.

“Sony tried hard with promotions, bundles and discount but the sales target was too ambitious from the get-go,” said Serkan Toto, founder of consultancy Kantan Games.

“In the end they will probably land closer to 22-23 million units,” Toto added.

Monthly active users on the PlayStation network, a measure of engagement with the platform, reached 123 million units at the end of the quarter from 107 million three months earlier.

Sony said it has sold 10 million copies of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which launched on October 20, with the company also rolling out a slim version of the console from November to boost sales.

Nintendo last week hiked its full-year Switch forecast to 15.5 million units, from 15 million units previously, as the Kyoto-based company extends the lifecycle of the aging console.

Xbox maker Microsoft is due to share updates on its games business on Thursday amid speculation the company will bring its titles to other platforms.

“If big third-party titles grow that will be a positive factor and we hope to utilise that momentum,” Sony President Hiroki Totoki told a news briefing.

Sony, a leading maker of image sensors for smartphones, said profit at its chips division rose 18 percent on higher sales.

TSMC said last week it will build a second fab in Japan in partnership with companies including Sony in a vote of confidence by the leading contract chipmaker in the country.

Last month Sony scrapped plans for a $10 billion (roughly Rs. 83,000 crore) merger of its Indian business with Zee Entertainment which would have created a TV juggernaut.

The Indian market has great growth potential on a long-term basis, Totoki said.

“If we can find another opportunity that would replace this type of plan we will actively look at that and we also need to reformulate our organic growth strategy,” Totoki said.

Sony’s shares closed down 0.5 percent ahead of earnings. They have gained 9 percent this year.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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Lenovo Legion Go Handheld Gaming Console Could Launch in India Next Year

The Lenovo Legion Go handheld gaming console was launched globally at IFA (Internationale FunkAusstellung Berlin) showcase event in September. Powered by the new AMD Ryzen Z1 series of processors, the Windows-based device is set to go on sale in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) markets this month. While there’s been no official word from Lenovo over a launch timeline for the Indian market, the Lenovo Legion India Instagram page seems to have hinted at a regional release window for the handheld. The Lenovo Legion Go handheld could release in India next year.

As per games industry insider Rishi Alwani, the Lenovo Legion India Instagram handle responded to a query about the handheld gaming device’s availability in India. Replying to X (formerly Twitter) user Shanthosh Somasunthar (@SSomasunthar)’s query about Lenovo Legion Go, the account said the device was expected to launch in India in March 2024. Alwani posted a screenshot of the interaction on X, providing some hint about a possible launch window for the console in the country. However, it’s worth noting that the Lenovo Legion India page referred to the device as “Lenovo Legion Go laptop,” which could either be a mistake or a misunderstanding.

As mentioned earlier, Lenovo has not announced the launch window or the pricing for the Legion Go handheld in India. The device is priced at EUR 799 (roughly Rs. 70,000) in EMEA markets and will be available in a Shadow Black colourway.

Gaming fans in India, however, can be hopeful. While handhelds are a niche in a growing gaming market in the country, popular products in the category like the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck remain sought after among dedicated fans. While Nintendo and Valve do not have an official presence in India, import models of the two handhelds are readily available via third-party sellers on e-commerce websites. In July, Asus officially launched the ROG Ally handheld gaming device in India. Priced at Rs. 69,990, the RC71L model of the Asus ROG Ally comes with an AMD Z1 Extreme processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of inbuilt storage, and a 7-inch LCD display. The handheld can be bought on the Asus e-shop or Flipkart, as well as the company’s Asus and ROG stores.

The Lenovo Legion Go comes with an 8.8-inch QHD+ display with up to 144Hz refresh rate. It runs on Windows 11 Home with Legion Space software on top. Powered by the new AMD Ryzen Z1 series of processors, the handheld packs up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. The available storage can be expanded up to 2TB further through a microSD card slot.

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Google App for Android Starts Testing Bottom-Aligned Search Bar for Improved Reachability



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Mortal Kombat 1 Offers First Look at DLC Character Omni-Man’s Fatalities, Coming This November

Mortal Kombat 1 has debuted its first post-launch character Omni-Man from the Robert Kirkman comic book Invincible. NetherRealm Studios dropped the gameplay trailer during the New York Comic Con 2023 event, revealing a set of brutal moves that were pulled straight from the eponymous animated series adaptation on Amazon Prime Video. The villainous character will be available as a standalone fighter in November, accessible to those who bought the Premium Edition of the game or the Kombat Pack DLC separately. Actor J.K. Simmons is also reprising his role and voicing Omni-Man for Mortal Kombat 1.

While the Mortal Kombat series is known for major crossovers, this time, NetherRealm Studios is using multiversal shenanigans to explain the new comic book characters being included in the DLC. Omni-Man seems to have slipped into this new timeline forged by the Fire God Liu Kang and thus, we see the two squaring off in the gameplay trailer. Despite his arrogant demeanour and slow pace, Omni-Man quickly finds his footing through incredible strength, managing to easily toss around opponents using one hand and following it up with a brutal Fatality, where he pins them down and repeatedly punches faces, resulting in a bloodbath — before slamming down and cracking open their skulls. There’s also one where he squeezes Liu Kang’s head until his eyeballs pop out in gory fashion.

Mortal Kombat 1 Review

Revealing his plans to form the Viltrum Empire — the alien planet he’s from — he drags Scorpion onto a subway line. If you’ve seen Invincible, you already know what happens next — Omni-Man uses his opponent’s body as a shield against an incoming train, as its iron bars and torn metal continue cutting chunks off from their body, almost like a grater. Through all of this, Omni-Man’s violent facade never comes off, making this seem like a faithful recreation. The Mortal Kombat 1 gameplay trailer also reveals Tremor, a ninja honing Earth elemental powers, serving as a Kameo (assist) fighter for Omni-Man. He can be seen turning his arms into strong boulders and smashing enemies, or at times, emerging from underneath the Earth’s surface to catch them off guard.

As mentioned before, Omni-Man is included as part of Mortal Kombat 1’s DLC add-on pack, which promises to bring a bunch of other fighters, as well. Following Omni-Man and Tremor’s (Kameo) introduction in November, NetherRealm confirmed that we can expect the necromancy expert Quan Chi and DC Comics’ Peacemaker in Winter 2023/2024, the telekinetic Ermac and the villainous Homelander from The Boys in Spring 2024, and Scorpion’s student Takeda Takahashi in the American Summer of 2024. Some new Kameo fighters are also expected, albeit there’s no release window for them yet. Furthermore, Prime Video also dropped a trailer for Invincible season 2, as lead Mark Grayson/ Invincible (Steven Yeun) struggles to rebuild his life out of fear that he might become as vicious as his father Omni-Man was.

Mortal Kombat 1 is out now on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.

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Nintendo Reportedly Demoed Switch 2 to Select Developers at Gamescom

Nintendo reportedly showcased the Switch 2 behind closed doors at Gamescom last month. As per Eurogamer, select game developers got an early peek at the Switch successor, alongside tech demos highlighting its improved performance. One such demo is described to have shown an improved version of 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, targeting a higher framerate and resolution when compared to the original’s 30fps. That said, it’s unclear whether the game will be re-released for the new console, which is eyeing a launch in the second half of 2024. Back in August, Nintendo also sent development kits to certain studios for testing, with a promise of a portable mode.

Following Eurogamer’s initial report, VGChttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sources-nintendo-showed-switch-2-demos-at-gamescom/ corroborated the claim by adding that Nintendo also secretly presented Epic Games’ The Matrix Awakens tech demo, at the event. The real-time experience was released in 2021 to showcase the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X, in addition to showing the high-quality renders made possible by Unreal Engine 5. VGC’s sources suggest that the demo was making use of Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology with ray-tracing enabled.

Could this mean Nintendo and Nvidia are working together on a chip? Regardless, it is worth noting that ray-tracing shouldn’t be taken as a sign that the Switch 2’s raw power is anywhere near the current-gen consoles. The Switch 2 still needs to be portable and conserve battery power, whereas the PlayStation and Xbox consoles draw power directly from an outlet.

Earlier reports claimed that the Switch 2 will come with an LCD screen instead of the premium OLEDs as a cost-cutting measure, in addition to a cartridge slot to read physical games. While backwards compatibility will be advantageous for players, it appears as though some third-party developers have pushed back against the idea, so they could re-sell games for the new hardware. Heading into the next year, the company has a strong lineup of exclusive titles for the current Nintendo Switch, ranging from Super Mario Bros. Wonder to an untitled Princess Peach game. The need for a new Nintendo gaming system became super apparent during the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which struggled to provide smooth framerates.

Rumours of a Switch Pro began in 2020, with Bloomberg reporting that Nintendo was meant to leverage Nvidia’s upgraded hardware and 4K resolution. In other news, the European Union adopted a new regulation for battery sustainability, which implied that handheld consoles would be required to house replaceable batteries by 2027. It offered a four-year timeline for manufacturers to redesign their products, such that customers are able to remove and replace portable batteries using commercially available tools or specialised ones that must be included within the package. Currently, there’s no telling if Nintendo’s Switch follow-up will stick to those rules, albeit heavy opposition from console manufacturers could even prevent the ruling from going through.

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Sony Shares Fall 6 Percent After Quarterly Profit Slides, Gaming and Image Sensors Demand Sparks Concerns

Shares in Japan’s Sony fell 6 percent in Tokyo trade after first-quarter profit tumbled, with the entertainment conglomerate reporting lacklustre performances by its movie and financial divisions.

Operating profit slid 31 percent and comments by Sony executives over demand for its games and image sensors units also sparked concern.

The PlayStation 5 console launched in late 2020 but supply was badly affected by supply chain problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite an easing of those snarls, Sony said sales were below expectations in the April-June quarter. It is targeting sales of 25 million units for the full year.

Sony sold 3.3 million PS5 units in quarter. By comparison, Nintendo’s Switch console, which is in its seventh year on the market, sold 3.9 million units in the same period as consumers rushed to play the latest “Zelda” title.

Sony said promotions that began are July are improving sales momentum for the PS5.

“Sony started discounting the PS5 in the West, which is never a good sign,” said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy.

“The company has a lot of work to do, first and foremost to make sure those blockbuster first-party games come out quicker.”

“Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” is due for release in October ahead of the key year-end shopping season. Its predecessor has sold more than 13 million units.

Sony, a leading maker of image sensors used in cameras, also revised down its expectations for a gradual recovery in the smartphone market, saying it now does not expect one until 2024 at the earliest due to weak demand in major markets.

The company trimmed cut its annual operating profit forecast for the unit by 10 percent, citing the impact of lower sales.

Adjustment to procurement by smartphone manufacturers is having a large impact in the second quarter, Sony said.

The current financial year “will be tough” for the sensors division, Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal wrote in a client note, adding that higher margins are expected in the following year.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Nintendo Switch Successor Console to Reportedly Launch in Second Half of 2024

Nintendo’s next mainline console is reportedly set to launch in the second half of 2024. As per VGC’s sources, development kits for the next gaming console have been sent out to ‘key partner studios,’ adding that it can be used in portable mode akin to the current Nintendo Switch. It’s common for console manufacturers like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo to provide test units to developers, way ahead of launch, so they can start making, testing, and optimising games for the said platform. No pricing details were mentioned, but for comparison, the Nintendo Switch was launched at $299.99 (about Rs. 24,684) in the US.

The report also claims that Nintendo is planning to debut the new console with an LCD screen instead of the premium OLEDs, as a cost-cutting measure. Instead, the cost could be dedicated more towards storage, as games increase in fidelity, taking the current-gen PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X AAA titles upwards of 100GB. By default, the standard Switch edition comes with 32GB of in-built storage, with newer first-party games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom taking up more than half of it — 18.2GB. Not to mention, games from third-party publishers are even larger. It also appears as if the Japanese gaming giant isn’t putting an end to physical media either, with the new console allegedly primed with a cartridge slot to read games.

For now, Nintendo hasn’t officially commented on these reports, but a report from May alluded that the company won’t be releasing a new console at least until April 2024. While the Nintendo Switch has sold over 125 million units globally, the overall sales this year have gone down, which aligns perfectly with a 2024 launch for the next generation. Let’s not forget the Nintendo Direct event from June either, which revealed a pantheon of new games — including Super Mario Bros. Wonder — which would extend the Switch’s life cycle into the first half of next year. While backwards compatibility on the new unnamed console will be a blessing for customers, the VGC report suggests that certain third-party publishers have tried pushing back against the feature, claiming that it would prevent them from reselling older games on the new hardware.

Earlier this month, the European Union adopted a new regulation to implement sustainability for batteries, which implied that handheld gaming consoles would be required to house replaceable batteries by 2027. It feels like the four-year-long period is sufficient time for manufacturers to redesign their upcoming products to suit their ruling, which states that customers should be able to remove and replace portable batteries using commercially available tools or specialised ones that are included in the package — free of charge. Currently, it’s unclear whether Nintendo’s upcoming console will stick to the proposed rules for its EU market or if the heavy opposition from console manufacturers will prevent it altogether.

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Handheld Gaming Consoles Said to Be Required to Have Replaceable Batteries by 2027 Under New EU Regulation

Handheld gaming consoles could be required to have replaceable batteries by 2027, under a new European Union law. Currently available devices like the Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and Asus Rog Ally won’t be affected, but any upcoming iterations of the same would be forced to be redesigned in a way that will allow users to remove and replace portable batteries using commercially available tools. First reported by Eurogamer, the Council of the European Union adopted a new regulation that aims to regulate the entire life cycle of batteries, going from production to reuse to recycling, so it remains ‘safe, sustainable, and competitive.’

The regulation ties back to the right-to-repair power for end-users, where instead of having to take a defective battery to a service centre, one could easily replace it at home without having to rely on specialised tools — unless they’re included with the product, free of charge. While it’s true that companies could push back against the regulation, the four-year-long period gives them sufficient time to adapt and redesign their products’ internals so they can house a removable battery. Manufacturers would also be required to include a detailed manual and safety instructions to help users with easy removal. Bear in mind, this only applies to devices sold within the EU and paves the way for zero-emission modes of transportation since ‘batteries are key to the decarbonisation process.’

While the document never explicitly mentioned handheld gaming devices, in a statement to Overkill, an EU source revealed that it will be covered under the same regulation. The proposal might still face heavy opposition from companies who would prefer gatekeeping their services so they can make more money.

For now, it’s unclear when Nintendo will be releasing a successor to the Switch, and if so, whether these proposed rules would affect them. A report in May suggested that the Japanese gaming giant won’t be releasing a new console at least until April 2024. Rumours of a Switch Pro were floating around for a while, though that seems to have died down. Regardless, the need for a new Nintendo gaming system hasn’t been more apparent since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s release, where the Switch has been struggling to provide smooth framerates.

Meanwhile, the Steam Deck and the Rog Ally are fairly new, with Valve nowhere close to considering a new iteration for the former. Other companies entering the handheld market include Sony PlayStation, which revealed Project Q, a device that lets your stream games from the PS5 console via Remote Play or Wi-Fi. It comes with an 8-inch 1080p LCD screen in the centre, supported on either side by buttons and analogue sticks reminiscent of a DualSense controller.

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Microsoft Expects Next-Gen Xbox and PS6 to Launch in 2028, Claims It Has Been Losing Console Wars: Report

Microsoft believes the next generation of gaming consoles should be out in 2028, court documents in the ingoing FTC trial over the Xbox parent’s attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard revealed. The documents, as reviewed by IGN, detailed that the next Xbox and PlayStation 6 will potentially be out eight years after the current ones launched in 2020. The timeline coincides with Sony’s statement from 2022, which alluded that the next console generation won’t be here until 2027. The dates are important, considering Microsoft is trying to convince the court that it is willing to commit to making Activision’s biggest franchise Call of Duty available in parity on PlayStation consoles for a 10-year duration.

“This term would, in any case, go beyond the expected starting period of the next generation of consoles (in 2028),” Microsoft said in the documents (via IGN). “Thus, Call of Duty will be published on successor PlayStation consoles should one be released during the term of the agreement. The agreement also would ensure that Call of Duty console games are offered on PlayStation at parity with Xbox.” This contradicts Sony’s claim from November, last year, where it claimed that Microsoft only plans to offer Activision games on PlayStation until 2027. As it happens, team green had sent a draft of the 10-year agreement to Sony, but the latter has refused to respond to that offer. That duration would also exceed the 2028 release window, allowing Call of duty to flourish on Sony’s next-gen consoles. The US FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has requested to temporarily block Microsoft and Activision Blizzard from closing their $69 billion (about Rs. 5,65,921 crore) deal until the agency’s in-house court decides whether the deal hurts competition in the video game industry.

Additionally, Microsoft has now admitted that it has been losing the ‘console wars’ since 2001 i.e., since the first generation of Xbox launched. For the uninitiated, ‘console wars’ refers to the tussle between the biggest video game console manufacturers — PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo — for market domination, in an attempt to outsell one another. “Xbox has lost the console wars, and its rivals are positioned to continue to dominate, including by leveraging exclusive content,” Microsoft said in the documents. “Xbox’s console has consistently ranked third (of three) behind PlayStation and Nintendo in sales.” As per VGChartz, the Xbox Series S/X consoles have sold 21.3 million units since launch, whereas the PS5 and Nintendo Switch have sold about 36 million units in that period— as of April 2023. Nintendo takes the lead by a slight margin though, with 36.2 million units sold.

A Kotaku report notes that Microsoft has now given up competing in the current console wars and will instead focus on delivering quality software. This could be through games or even its subscription service Xbox Game Pass, which the company continues pushing every chance it gets. The document further goes on to stress that Xbox does not generate a profit through console sales, selling the systems at a loss in the hopes that it will make up for lost revenue through ‘sales of games and accessories.’ The company recently hiked the prices of its flagship Xbox Series X console in certain regions, and Game Pass subscription around the world.

In related news, the court hearing also revealed that Bethesda’s Indiana Jones game, which was originally planned as a multi-platform release, would now be exclusive to Xbox and PC only. The project was announced in 2021, merely months after Microsoft acquired parent company ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion (about Rs. 61,532 crore). During the court hearing, Bethesda’s head of publishing Pete Hines revealed that ZeniMax’s original agreement with Disney would have put the Indiana Jones game on multiple consoles. However, when Microsoft acquired the former, Disney had “questions” regarding console exclusivity. Minor changes were then made to the contract, making Indiana Jones an Xbox exclusive. Even Arkane’s Redfall was originally set to release on PS5 as well, but plans for the same were scrapped following the Bethesda acquisition.

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