All articles tagged with #console exclusive
Hype surrounds Sad Cat Studios and Thunderful’s 2.5D cinematic platformer Replaced, a day-one Xbox Game Pass title and Xbox Series X exclusive; fans on the Game Pass Reddit call it 'insane' and a '10/10', praising its sci‑fi world, story, and puzzles, though some critics caution it’s a slow burn and suggest its 10–15 hour length may deter some players, while there’s no clear word yet on long-term Game Pass availability.
Phantom Blade Zero is confirmed to be a console-exclusive game for PS5 for the first 12 months of its release, limiting its availability to PlayStation 5 users during this period.
A new stealth release on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, UFO 50, has been highly praised by NES fans and is a console exclusive, available for $24.99 with over 100 hours of content, and has received acclaim for its quality and nostalgic appeal.
Sony and Square Enix have agreed to make the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy a PlayStation exclusive, with Sony's vice president stating that this aligns with PlayStation's focus on third-party content. The decision means that the trilogy will not be available on non-PlayStation consoles, and the development team may have had to alter their vision if it were to be released on other platforms. While the Remake made its way to PC in 2021, Rebirth is expected to follow suit, but the exclusivity deal means it won't be available on Game Pass or Nintendo Switch anytime soon.
Sony has reportedly secured the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy as a console exclusive, with the finer details of the exclusivity arrangement yet to be publicly disclosed. While the Washington Post article has been amended to mention only the Remake and Rebirth as exclusive to Sony, the trilogy's exclusivity remains uncertain. The move reflects Sony's focus on securing third-party deals and the significance of the Final Fantasy franchise on PlayStation consoles, with the benefits of console exclusivity for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth highlighted by Square Enix. The future availability of the trilogy on platforms other than PlayStation remains to be seen.
Indie studio Far From Home's sci-fi survival game Forever Skies, set to fully launch later this year, will be a timed console exclusive on PS5, with a simultaneous release on Steam. The game, heavily inspired by titles like Subnautica and Raft, involves building a flying base to survive a stranded and ruined future Earth, and can be played solo or in up to four-player co-op. Sony has been in partnership with the studio, providing funding and development support for the project.
Sony announced that the PS5 console exclusive game, Rise of the Ronin, will be released on March 22, 2024, with pre-orders opening on December 15, 2023. The game is set in late-Edo period Japan and features a vast world to explore, horse and glider transportation, and a variety of weapons.
Microsoft has reportedly blocked the horror game "Christmas Massacre" from appearing on the Xbox Store, making it a PlayStation console exclusive. The game, described as an 80's inspired stealth slasher with PS1-style graphics, involves going on a Christmas murder rampage without being caught. The developer claims that both Microsoft and Nintendo turned down the game and wouldn't allow them to censor it.
Bethesda's upcoming sci-fi game, Starfield, will be available on Xbox Series X/S and Windows PC at launch, but there is no official word on whether it will come to PS5. Given Bethesda's usual cross-platform capacity, it is possible that it may become available on other platforms in the future, but for now, it remains an Xbox console exclusive. This may be due to Bethesda being bought out by Microsoft and the rivalry between Xbox and PS5. Future Bethesda games may also be limited to PC and Xbox, disappointing PS5 owners.
Indie adventure game Somerville, previously an Xbox console exclusive, is confirmed to be coming to PlayStation 4 and 5 on August 31. Developed by Jumpship, the game follows a father navigating an alien invasion and features platforming and physics-based puzzles. Reviews for Somerville have been mixed, with some praising its emotional impact and memorable moments, while others criticize its technical shortcomings. Despite the varied reception, the game is considered enjoyable and worth checking out on PlayStation.
According to Pete Hines, Bethesda's head of global publishing, Starfield's Xbox console exclusivity is a good thing as it reduced the workload for developer Bethesda Game Studios, allowing the game to release on September 6. Hines quoted Starfield game director Todd Howard in calling the upcoming sci-fi RPG an "irresponsibly large" game, one that was made an Xbox console-exclusive in order to reduce quality assurance testing and created less work for the developer. The game was originally planned to release on PS5 prior to Microsoft acquiring Bethesda.
Bethesda's upcoming Indiana Jones game will be an Xbox and PC exclusive, confirmed by publishing boss Pete Hines during Microsoft's legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission. The game was originally planned for multiple consoles, but after Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda, the agreement was amended. Hines claimed that exclusivity decisions are made on a "case-by-case basis" and that titles released only on Xbox benefit from streamlined development. Indiana Jones will be a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass.
The PS Store has been reskinned to promote the release of Final Fantasy 16, which is a timed console exclusive for PS5. The store features artwork, links to the standard and Deluxe Editions of the game, an overview of the battle system, a demo, and trailers. Sony is heavily invested in the success of the title, and gamers can check out a Final Fantasy 16 guide for more information.
Xbox's upcoming console exclusive, Starfield, has convinced gamers to buy an Xbox just to play it. The game features over 1000 planets to explore, sprawling civilizations, and several factions to join and betray. Despite being locked at 30 FPS for Xbox consoles, fans are incredibly hyped for its release in September.
The post-apocalyptic kitty adventure game, Stray, which was a console exclusive for PlayStation and PC, is now listed on the U.S. ratings board (ESRB) for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Although there is no release date yet, it is expected to launch in July 2023, a year after its PlayStation release. It is likely to follow the trend of timed exclusives, which are usually limited to one year. Fans are hoping it will also be available on Xbox Game Pass.