All articles tagged with #first party games
Sony will stop producing new physical discs for games in January 2028, shifting to a digital-only PlayStation Store for new releases and first-party titles. The move has sparked backlash over consumer choice, ownership, and the used-game market, while Sony argues it will deepen loyalty to its ecosystem; the article also notes PC gaming as an alternative and raises questions about game preservation.
Microsoft is reportedly considering restructuring Xbox as a standalone, wholly-owned subsidiary or joint venture to accelerate development of first-party games such as Halo, Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls. New CEO Asha Sharma is said to push higher investment in top-tier titles, though officials say no imminent plans exist; budget and staff cuts are also being discussed as part of a broader Xbox reset.
Opinion piece argues Sony’s caution on day-one, all-you-can-play subscriptions was prescient. It cites Microsoft’s Game Pass price hikes and the COD inclusion as signs the model is financially fragile, while Sony’s PS Plus Extra is valuable without day-one exclusives—despite Horizon joining later. The author suggests the Netflix-for-games idea is fading, MS may pivot, and Sony’s approach appears more sustainable for long-term profitability.
Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass appears to be testing a low-cost, cloud-first tier named 'Starter Edition,' spotted in the service's code with references to cloud streaming capped by monthly limits and a lineup of first-party games (Doom Eternal, Halo 5, Gears 5, Halo Wars 2, Hellblade, and more). Pricing hasn't been announced, but reports suggest it would undercut Essentials and target TV cloud gaming; a late update notes the tier could be bundled with Discord Nitro. Official confirmation has not been provided.
In 2025, Xbox released numerous first-party titles, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leading the polls for Game of the Year, though other popular titles include Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, and DOOM: The Dark Ages. Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorites and share their opinions, with results to be announced on Christmas Day.
A recent Sony job ad caused concern among PS5 fans about the potential for first-party games to be released on Xbox, but Sony clarified that most first-party titles will remain exclusive to PlayStation, with some exceptions, and emphasized their commitment to the PlayStation ecosystem.
Xbox Game Pass remains profitable in 2025 even after accounting for lost sales and microtransactions related to first-party games, according to a clarification from reporter Chris Dring, indicating Microsoft's continued success with the service.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is nearing current-gen console capabilities, prompting responses from Sony and Microsoft, while a wave of new games and retro-inspired titles are challenging Nintendo's dominance in the gaming market, signaling a potential shift towards more competition in the industry.
Sony has decided not to release its first-party games on PlayStation Plus day one, instead opting to add older titles and a few indie games at launch, believing this strategy is effective and will continue. This approach contrasts with Xbox's practice of releasing big titles on Game Pass immediately. Sony's strategy involves timing releases to reach wider audiences later in a game's lifecycle, and while some live-service titles have been added early, the company prefers to wait for the right moment.
PlayStation will continue its policy of not releasing first-party games on PS Plus on launch day, instead adding older titles and select indie games, maintaining a strategy that differs from Xbox's Game Pass approach.
The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will support most original Switch games, with only one first-party title, Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit, being completely incompatible due to hardware size constraints. Most other titles, including third-party games, will work with some requiring updates or specific controllers, and a few streaming apps may not be supported at launch.
Upcoming PS5 first-party games Marathon and Fairgames are facing significant challenges, with Marathon potentially delayed due to art theft issues and lack of marketing, and Fairgames criticized for poor gameplay during testing, raising concerns about their release prospects.
Amazon is offering a selection of first-party Nintendo Switch games for $40 each, including newer titles like Splatoon 3 and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, as well as classics such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Other discounted games include Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Additionally, there are other Switch games on sale at Amazon and other retailers, providing a rare opportunity to grab brand-new boxed copies of popular Nintendo games at discounted prices.
Phil Spencer has completed 10 years as the Head of Xbox, overseeing significant changes and improvements in the Xbox brand, including unbundling the Kinect, introducing backwards compatibility, launching Xbox Game Pass, and acquiring multiple game studios. While facing challenges with first-party game releases, Spencer's focus on player-first initiatives and strategic acquisitions has set the stage for an exciting future for Xbox.
Xbox's Phil Spencer outlined the company's future plans in a memo, emphasizing a vision where gaming becomes more unified across devices and platforms. The memo discusses the challenges of fragmented gaming experiences and the opportunity to empower players and creators in a more cohesive gaming ecosystem. As a result, Xbox will be bringing four first-party games to rival consoles, starting with Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Pentiment, and Hi-Fi Rush, with potential for larger titles in the future.