Exclusives Sell Consoles, But Do They Serve Gamers?

I paid close attention to Sony’s PlayStation State of Play held on June 2, 2026, especially how it showcased its exclusives. With PlayStation recently announcing that it would be recommitting to console exclusivity, and the XBOX community pushing for a return to exclusives for their preferred platform, I started asking myself about the importance of gatekeeping.

Undoubtedly, the State of Play highlights were Wolverine and God of War: Laufey, which were used as the show's opener and closer, respectively. Both titles will undoubtedly sell in record numbers and probably move a few consoles. Social media was abuzz, with people applauding the event and deeming it a success.

Which leads to the exclusivity argument on the XBOX side. For many, Microsoft’s multi-platform approach sells games, not units, further reducing the importance of their preferred device. They long for a return to exclusivity that gives them a reason to belong.

Exclusivity does move units and instills confidence in a user base. For nearly five decades, Nintendo has proven that gamers keep coming back for the latest Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda releases (among others, of course), which is why Halo showing up on PlayStation feels awkward. People want a reason to show up.

Some even lamented the fact that PlayStation Studios chose to send a small, somewhat curated list of PlayStation titles to PC, a move that once again allowed a larger pool of players to access its games. Don’t own a PS5? That’s okay. A decent PC will enable you to play system sellers such as Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, and entries in The Last of Us franchise. However, as alluded to previously, and more than likely fearing the “God of War Now on XBOX” headline that could come with the eventual release of XBOX’s hybrid console-PC device, Project Helix, PlayStation announced in May 2026 that the walled garden would return and that future single-player titles would remain PlayStation exclusives.

Using the recently launched “XBOX Player’s Voice” feedback initiative, XBOX owners have indicated that their number one concern with the platform is the lack of exclusives and that they would like XBOX Game Studios to reconsider its approach. This, in a way, corners Microsoft, as it has already announced that its biggest franchise, Halo, is coming to PlayStation, and one of the best-selling PS5 titles has been Forza Horizon 5, which has sold nearly six million copies on the platform to date. Nothing would instill more confidence in the brand than Microsoft announcing at the end of its XBOX Games Showcase later this week that Halo: Campaign Evolved is “Only on XBOX.”

I get exclusives, and I understand the appeal of having a title appear on both console and PC, especially in a time when handheld gaming continues to grow with the emergence of handheld PCs. Having seamless cross-progression is the modern gaming convenience. Starting a game on the big screen at home and continuing it on your mobile device of choice is modern-day bliss. It’s hard to argue that Nintendo nailed it with its hybrid handheld-console Switch lineup.

Earlier this year, I got my hands on a Steam Deck, and one of the first games I purchased for it was Forza Horizon 5 (FH5). I was immediately hooked by the cross-progression. I hadn’t played FH5 on XBOX in over a year, and being able to continue my progression was astounding. I also saw the advantages of the XBOX Play Anywhere initiative when I was recently gifted a ROG XBOX Ally. Being able to start a game on one device and continue it on another is simply liberating (and costly, which is why the Play Anywhere initiative is worth a look).

One of my most anticipated games of 2026 is Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. Even though I own a PS5, I am waiting patiently for the PC specifications to be unveiled to see whether Sony Interactive Entertainment and Arc System Works’ new title will run on the Steam Deck. I am also hoping for cross-progression features so I can take my game on the go without missing a beat. This wouldn’t even be a possibility if the game were locked behind PlayStation exclusivity.

The more I play in 2026, the more I support an open gaming ecosystem where we, the gamers, can simply play wherever we choose. Exclusivity is only good for those who already hold a key to the garden. Opening the ecosystem to everyone not only increases sales, but also makes gaming more accessible to all.