Tag

First Party

All articles tagged with #first party

technology2 days ago•6 min saved

Microsoft weighs broader Xbox-exclusive first-party titles to boost console appeal

Microsoft is reportedly shifting toward making more of its first-party games Xbox-exclusive to lure players, with two announced titles—Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution—confirmed as console exclusives. While big multiplayer releases may stay multiplatform, the broader strategy includes continued PC availability for many titles. The Bloomberg report comes amid large-scale layoffs and studio reorganizations at Microsoft, fueling questions about the fate of future tentpole franchises.

via Eurogamer.net|

#exclusives #first-party #microsoft

gaming21 days ago•4 min saved

Sony retools PC strategy: single-player first-party titles staying PlayStation-only while live-service games go multi-platform

PlayStation reportedly revised its PC strategy for first-party games, with Hermen Hulst telling staff that single-player narrative titles will remain PlayStation-only due to insufficient PC revenue, while live-service games will continue to release on both PS5 and PC. Sony’s Nishino said platform choices depend on the title, and the company will prioritize maximizing the gaming experience; this follows earlier reports of scaling back PC ports and aligns with broader industry moves toward multi-platform live-service strategies.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#first-party #gaming #live-service

gaming22 days ago•13 min saved

Sony Signals PC Ports Possible, But PS5 Exclusivity Remains Central

Sony’s Hideaki Nishino says first-party single-player games will remain PS5-focused to maximize the platform’s value, while live-service titles may release on both PS5 and PC; he stops short of ruling out PC ports, keeping options open for second-party games and cross-platform releases depending on the title.

via Push Square|

#exclusivity #first-party #gaming

technology1 month ago•7 min saved

Xbox's Sharma hedges on exclusivity as she pursues platform-driven strategy

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says exclusivity is a tough, nuanced topic, arguing publishers must reach large audiences while Xbox is increasingly becoming a platform; no firm decisions on limiting first-party games to Xbox/PC yet, and the only concrete move cited is a price cut to Xbox Game Pass that came at the expense of removing Call of Duty from the service.

via Eurogamer|

#asha-sharma #exclusivity #first-party

gaming1 month ago•22 min saved

Sony’s PS5 First-Party Slump Isn’t the Whole Story

Sony’s PS5-first-party game sales fell from 58.4 million in FY20 to 28.9 million in FY24, but the article argues that this decline isn’t the full picture. Factors like higher $70 launch-price points, fewer game releases, the shift to PS Plus Extra, discounts becoming less aggressive, ongoing live-service strategies, evergreen titles, cross-gen development, and more PC ports all reshape revenue and engagement beyond unit counts. When these contextual elements are considered, the trend is nuanced rather than simply negative, with the author hoping upcoming titles and strategies will improve the outlook.

via Push Square|

#first-party #gaming #live-service

business1 month ago•32 min saved

Sony’s First-Party Slump Signals a Tough Road Ahead for PlayStation

A data dive shows PlayStation’s first-party software sales fell from 58.4 million in FY2020 to about 29 million in FY2024, with a modest rebound to roughly 32.1 million in FY2025, hampered by a weak release slate and underperforming titles. The shift toward live-service games and the Bungie acquisition (around $3.7B) has contributed to impairment losses (~$765M) as Destiny 2 winds down and focus turns to Marathon and future projects. With Sony’s State of Play looming, analysts are watching for a slate of compelling titles to restore momentum.

via Insider Gaming|

#bungie #business #first-party

technology2 months ago•16 min saved

Xbox’s Helix Is a True First-Party Console, as Rumors About Other Devices Linger

Xbox Vice President Jason Ronald reaffirmed that Project Helix will be a first-party Xbox console capable of playing both console and PC games, while ongoing rumors that the Helix chip could appear in non-Xbox devices (like third‑party PCs) remain unconfirmed. There’s no official confirmation of third‑party manufacturing, and backward compatibility details are unclear beyond emphasizing first‑party support as the Helix lineup develops.

via Pure Xbox|

#console #first-party #project-helix

gaming2 months ago•21 min saved

Xbox Unveils 30-Game Week, Highlighting Vampire Crawlers Day One and Kiln

Xbox is launching a 30-game wave across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC next week (April 20–24), headlined by Vampire Crawlers arriving on Game Pass day one and Double Fine’s Kiln; the slate spans indie titles, strategy and puzzle games, and several first-party releases across multiple days.

via TrueAchievements|

#first-party #game-pass #gaming

gaming4 months ago•4 min saved

Sony pivots from PC releases, pledging mostly console-only first-party games

Bloomberg reports Sony plans to scrap its PC-release strategy for most first-party games and revert to console exclusivity on PS5, with only select online titles like Marathon and Marvel Tokon potentially coming to PC. The shift—driven by concerns over brand strength and console sales—ends a six-year experiment that began with Horizon Zero Dawn and could still change in the future.

via Eurogamer|

#console-exclusives #first-party #gaming

gaming4 months ago•10 min saved

Xbox commits to first-party and hardware, rejects becoming 'just a publisher'

In a Windows Central interview, Xbox EVP Matt Booty said the company won't back away from first-party development or hardware, reiterating Xbox's commitment to being a first-party publisher in partnership with its platform team. He cites ongoing work like getting games such as Gears of War running on new devices, the ROG Xbox Ally handheld, and an upcoming console potentially launching in 2027, and emphasizes that any return to a console-first strategy starts with hardware decisions.

via Pure Xbox|

#first-party #gaming #hardware

gaming4 months ago•12 min saved

Nintendo kicks off a big sale on first-party Switch titles

Nintendo is running a retailer-wide sale on several first-party Switch games, with discounts up to 50% on titles including Pikmin 4, Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Super Mario RPG, and Splatoon 3. Deals apply to both physical and digital versions and are available at GameStop and Amazon (with links provided in the roundup). Prices shown include Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker at $29.99, Pikmin 4 at $39.99, and Zelda: Link’s Awakening at $39.99, among others. The sale runs through February 21, 2026, but stock may run out sooner for physical copies.

via Nintendo Everything|

#first-party #gaming #nintendo-switch

gaming5 months ago•65 min saved

Xbox revenue dips as first‑party lineup falters

Xbox’s quarterly revenue declined due to weakness in its first‑party lineup and a slower release pipeline. While current games are solid, none have provided a standout performance to lift revenue, and Game Pass spending patterns may be contributing to the dip. Analysts suggest stronger, more frequent exclusives are needed to boost engagement and revenue, though this could simply be a temporary lull as the pipeline catches up.

via Windows Central|

#exclusives #first-party #game-pass

gaming3 years ago•3 min saved

Xbox Games Showcase 2023: Pressure on Microsoft Pays Off.

Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty admits that the Redfall team should have better prepared to be part of first-party after Xbox's acquisition of ZeniMax. Booty takes responsibility for not setting expectations appropriately and urges players not to blame individual developers for the game's middling reviews and performance. He also acknowledges that the team got "tunnel vision" around the game's release. Booty discusses why games are taking longer to make nowadays and Xbox's first-party strategy.

via IGN|

#first-party #game-development #gaming