While Xbox fans have had to be dragged kicking and screaming into Microsoft’s full 3rd Party Multiplatform publishing future, it seems the rest of the industry is catching up to how successful it can be. Sony are currently seeking to fill a ‘Senior Director, Multiplatform and Account Management’ role, and this new Sony job listing suggests an ever increasing focus on PlayStation multiplatform releases from the console manufacturer.
The job listing (seen above and spotted by HazzadorGamin on X) desires that this potential new employee will “play a critical leadership role in shaping and executing the global commercial strategy for PlayStation Studios software titles across all digital platforms beyond PlayStation hardware, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, Nintendo, and mobile. This role is accountable for optimizing title profitability, ensuring cross-functional alignment, and leading a high-performing team focused on multiplatform expansion, mid-range commercial planning, and platform partner management.“
We’ve already seen Sony’s most successful punt at a live-service title – the brilliant Helldivers 2 – be announced for the Xbox platform, and it’s already been suggested that Horizon: Lego Adventures will also be making its way to Xbox eventually (For what it’s worth, I’ve heard independently that the Xbox version is “ready to go“, so I remain curious as to when that may be announced). We know Bungie’s ‘Marathon‘ will also be a multiplatform release – whenever it arrives.
Microsoft’s strategy has proven to be financially sound, even if there are questions as to how much it ‘hurts’ the Xbox hardware ecosystem overall. We’ve seen Microsoft published titles consistently in the top ten on PlayStation in recent months, and Forza Horizon 5 is one of the top selling PlayStation games of the year since it released on the platform back in April.
Circana’s Mat Piscatella recently appeared on The Game Business with Christoper Dring, discussing the reality of the video game industry when it comes to exclusives, saying that “People who buy a hardware system these days, they’re doing it because of the ecosystem, because of their friends list. You’re not going to get people to transition consoles because of exclusives anymore. We’re way beyond that point. People are entrenched into their systems. And bringing the content to them is the only way to win. And that is what everyone is doing.“
And like it or not, he’s right.
Most gamers are entrenched on their platform of choice, likely with a library of games attached to that ecosystem, and the concept of a ‘system seller’ that would make them buy an additional system is quickly dying. The reality is that large ‘AAA’ video games cost a lot to make, so selling titles to gamers that may have never played them makes a lot of sensible financial sense.
How do you feel about playing more PlayStation Games on an Xbox Console? Do you think this is a good thing for the health and success of the video game industry? Let us know in the XboxEra Forums or make some noise in our lively Community Discord.
