Xbox Game Studios boss says multiplatform approach is ‘good for players and developers’

Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan has labeled Microsoft’s multiplatform strategy a win-win approach for players and developers.

Multiple former Xbox exclusives have been released for PS5 and/or Switch over the past year, including Sea of Thieves, a game which Duncan oversaw the launch of during his previous role as boss of developer Rare.

During the latest official Xbox podcast, which is viewable below, he was asked what he thinks the Xbox community should take away from Microsoft’s multiplatform approach.

“Yeah, I think it’s good for gamers, I think it’s good for our studios,” Duncan said.

“Our studios make amazing games, and we want to give those games the chance to reach the broadest audience possible.”

Xbox announced last February plans to bring a wave of games to PlayStation and Switch, starting with Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves and Grounded.

Later, Microsoft announced Doom: The Dark Ages for Xbox Series X/S, PC and PS5, and confirmed that a PS5 version of its Indiana Jones game will be released this spring.

Forza Horizon 5 will also be released for PS5 this spring, Microsoft said in January. And this month, Xbox revealed plans to bring Age of Mythology: Retold and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition to Sony’s console this year too.

“I just think it’s good for gamers, it’s good to have our games reach more places,” Duncan said.

“Everyone that makes a game wants it to reach as many players as possible, so I love that we can give that opportunity,” he added.

Last November, Microsoft’s gaming CEO Phil Spencer reiterated that the company won’t rule out any first-party Xbox game potentially coming to other platforms in the future.

It was recently claimed that Hellblade 2 could be one of the next Xbox exclusives coming to PS5.

During the official Xbox podcast, Duncan also confirmed that Fable’s release has been delayed to 2026.