Developer Predicts PlayStation Could Follow Xbox in Dropping Exclusives

Thomas Mahler, the creative mind behind the Ori series, recently shared his thoughts about the future of gaming exclusives, particularly regarding Sony. Known for creating the Ori games primarily for Xbox and PC, Moon Studios, Mahler’s company, has notably left PlayStation out of its release portfolio. This decision seems to fuel Mahler’s criticism of platform exclusives.

Moving on to why Sony might reconsider its stance on exclusives, Mahler took to X (formerly known as Twitter), where he voiced his admiration for Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer. Mahler believes Spencer’s strategy of releasing games across multiple platforms hits the nail on the head in today’s gaming landscape. He shared that Moon Studios teamed up with Take-Two for their upcoming title “No Rest for the Wicked” because they wanted to reach as many gamers as possible, without being hemmed in by platform limitations.

To make his point, Mahler used an interesting analogy: “Imagine needing a specific DVD player just to watch certain movies,” he mused, comparing it to having to buy different consoles to play specific games. He emphasized that the gaming world has been courting the same 100-150 million players for what feels like ages. Mahler argues that if the market is to grow, creating easier access to content across different platforms is key.

Mahler also predicted that it would be shocking if Sony didn’t eventually mimic Microsoft’s approach, especially since PlayStation and Xbox share so many similarities. Meanwhile, it’s likely that Nintendo will continue to forge its own path.

In a recent tweet, Mahler addressed those who wanted him to pick a side in the console wars. He firmly stood by his belief in Xbox’s strategy. He explained that a few years back, Moon Studios opted out of developing under Microsoft because it would have excluded PlayStation and Switch users, which wasn’t aligned with their inclusive vision.

What are your thoughts on Thomas Mahler’s perspective? We’d love to hear from you.