Summary
- Xbox acknowledging the PlayStation 5 in its most recent Xbox Developer Direct wasn’t by accident.
- According to CEO Phil Spencer, it was a conscious decision made in the name of being transparent and honest.
- Fans can also expect to see both Nintendo and Steam acknowledged down the line, with the company prioritizing being upfront about where its games will be made playable.
If there’s one thing that stood out from Xbox’s most recent Xbox Developer Direct, besides the revival of Ninja Gaiden, it was the presence of the PlayStation logo and branding.
Indeed, at multiple points during the presentation, the PlayStation 5 was acknowledged in full for games that have been confirmed for a multiplatform release, including Ninja Gaiden and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
As it turns out, that was a conscientious decision, according to CEO Phil Spencer. A decision that was made in an effort to be more transparent and honest.
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There’s Nothing To Hide
In a podcast appearance with XboxEra, among the many things Spencer was interviewed about, including Xbox’s commitment to single-player games, the CEO was asked about the recent shift to mention PlayStation.
“I think it’s just being honest and transparent about where the games are showing, and we actually even had this discussion last year for the June showcase, and by the time we kind of made our decision, we couldn’t get all of the assets done, and it felt weird to have some of them in and some of them out,” he said.
That desire to be transparent doesn’t just extend to PlayStation, as Spencer affirmed that games that will ship on Nintendo or be on Steam will also similarly feature company branding.
“People should know the storefronts where they can get our games, but I want people to be able to experience our Xbox community in our games and everything we have to offer, on every screen we can,” Spencer added.
Xbox’s most recent decision represents a major break from companies traditionally shying away from the competition. Rather than acknowledge the other platform, that information has historically been buried in press releases or blog posts.
For reference, Sony’s most recent State of Play had no such acknowledgments, leading the Xbox Twitter account to affirm that many of the games would also appear on the platform. “I know it’s not what everybody else is doing, but I just believe games should be the thing that’s at the forefront,” Spencer concluded. Only time will tell if Sony or Nintendo follows suit, but Spencer’s words highlight an important element — there’s no harm in being upfront with your consumers.
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