Xbox to add limited exclusives as business recovers

In a recent interview, Xbox head Asha Sharma said the company will introduce platform exclusives “as the business is healthy,” beginning with “1 or 2” signature exclusives.

Sharma said Xbox still wants its games available on as many platforms as possible, but acknowledged that many platform holders offer exclusive services and content.

She described Xbox as increasingly acting like a platform while remaining a major publisher. Sharma noted Xbox ranks as the number two publisher globally and said wide distribution remains important for the company.

On the company’s current financial position, Sharma described the business as not “particularly healthy” at the moment. “Our business isn’t particularly healthy, as you noted. So we’re starting by introducing 1 or 2 signature exclusives, and as the business is healthy, we will look to try and do more,” she said.

Sharma did not name specific titles, release dates, or a timetable for adding additional exclusives.

Other Xbox executives have discussed exclusivity internally and indicated awareness of which titles could be affected if the strategy expands.

Sharma framed the change as a gradual process and said any expansion of exclusives would depend on the company’s financial recovery.