In a recent announcement that divided some of its fanbase and had many questioning Phil Spencer’s long-term benefit to the company, Microsoft revealed it would send four Xbox-exclusive titles into multi-platform territory. With Spencer taking a mixed stance on exclusive launches, specifically gently criticizing Sony’s decision to keep the wildly popular breakout multiplayer shooter Helldivers 2 on PS5 and PC only, it’s inevitable that more Xbox titles will migrate off-platform to reach a broader audience.
The question remains: which titles will be appointed to represent the end of Microsoft’s strict exclusivity? While there’s likely already a list behind closed doors, one can still speculate and offer logical suggestions for titles new and old that should find their way into the PlayStation and Switch libraries.
1. Sunset Overdrive
Insomniac Games has had a good relationship with Sony since its acquisition in 2019, leaving many to question why Sunset Overdrive has yet to appear on a PlayStation console. It’s a great question to ask. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been an answer. The publishing rights weren’t retained by Microsoft, so Insomniac can fully port the frantic shooter to PlayStation’s ecosystem. It just hasn’t.
Not to discredit Insomniac’s work as of late, as the Marvel Spider-Man series, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and the upcoming Wolverine game are impressive additions to its resume. There is the fear, though, that it will fall into the trap of releasing the same types of games repeatedly, a la Naughty Dog’s current business model. Also, the renewed interest could inspire a long-awaited sequel, giving Insomniac another flagship series to build on.
2. State of Decay
When you think of zombie games on the PlayStation ecosystem, you probably think of titles like Resident Evil, The Last of Us, and Day’s Gone. They’re significantly important titles for the console, though Resident Evil has long since made the multi-platform jump. However, they’re all very heavy, story-rich, or emotionally exhausting. The Last of Us is dreary and depressing, Day’s Gone gets bogged down by its story, and Resident Evil is an oft-relentless survival horror experience.
PlayStation (and even the Switch) needs something like State of Decay to lighten the tone. Though you manage an encampment of survivors, all of whom can die at any moment, State of Decay never makes you feel guilty if you slip up. You grab the next survivor and head back into the zombie-infested wilds. It’s a great blend of fun survival elements, zombie slaying, and exploration without being morose and uncomfortable. Plus, with two titles already released and a third on the way, it would offer other platforms plenty of content.
3. Quantum Break
Remedy Entertainment is hard at work developing an interactive universe of video games with Control and Alan Wake. The release of Control on the PS4 and Alan Wake 2 on the PS5 made Sam Lake’s vision more accessible, but there’s still a game missing — Quantum Break. Though more loosely tied to the aforementioned titles, Quantum Break still nestles itself within the same universe through Sheriff Tim Breaker (who happens to be played by Quantum’s lead, Shawn Ashmore) and the mysterious Mr. Door, who was heavily featured in Alan Wake 2.
Bringing Quantum Break over to PlayStation gives all players access to the expanded universe. With Remedy working on Control 2, it’s the perfect time for Microsoft to relinquish exclusivity and let all players experience the cinematic time-bending wonkiness.
4. Valheim
Valheim is one of those games that’s so good that you want other players to experience it. Of course, that also means having other adventurers to join you on your quest across the vast and dangerous procedurally generated lands. There’s a lot to enjoy about Valheim, so much so that the Norse references are just more delicious icing on an already well-iced cake. From a robust building system to rewarding crafting, you’re encouraged to use everything at your disposal to fell beasts from distant mythologies and survive to the next day.
Valheim looks and plays wonderfully on the Xbox ecosystem. It’s a shame not to have it branch off onto PlayStation. That could enable cross-platform play, allowing up to 10 players to come together on this epic quest for survival. Games like The Forest and Ark have already proven that survival games work on all consoles, so there’s no argument to be had that it wouldn’t feel right on the PS5. Heck, it would even work on the Switch, even if the multiplayer was relegated to just those playing on the hybrid console.
5. Gears Tactics
Microsoft will want to entice PlayStation owners to get involved in some of their biggest franchises but not completely give up that exclusivity. You’ll likely never see a mainstream Gears of War game migrate to Sony or Nintendo’s ecosystem, but what about the oft-overlooked Gears Tactics?
Taking a cue from titles like XCOM, Gears Tactics is a turn-based strategy game set in the Gears of War universe. While it’s nice to have a history with the series when going in, it’s not necessary. This means even PlayStation or Nintendo console owners could dive right in and start battling the Locust threat. Gears Tactics would actually be an excellent title for the portability of the Switch or PlayStation Portal. It doesn’t require the precision aim of a shooter and is the perfect type of game to jump in and out of as time allows.
6. Palworld
Palworld being exclusive to just Xbox is actually surprising. There’s nothing about it that feels like it should be native to Xbox, and being an adult take on Pokemon, it seems logical that it should be migrated to the Switch library. Alas, that’s not quite the case for the surprise indie hit. At least, not yet.
Developer Pocket Pair has been devoted to ensuring Palworld remains an entertaining experience. What could help elevate the fun factor? You guessed it: cross-platform play. For now, players can only engage those on their platform, but imagine if Pocket Pair opened the floodgates with PS4, PS5, and Switch versions and unlocked cross-platform.
It’s not like survival games haven’t worked on any of those systems before, so it’s just a matter of whether Pocket Pair wants to put the effort in. Unfortunately, in the official FAQ on Pocket Pair’s Discord, the developer noted that it has no plans for a multi-platform release.
7. The Lamplighters League and the Tower At the End of the World
The Lamplighters League was one of 2023’s most overlooked gems. A multi-platform release could invigorate interest, finally giving the quirky turn-based tactical adventure the attention it deserves. There’s a lot to admire about The Lamplighters League, from its 1930s aesthetic to its rich characters. Still, the ambitions of developer Harebrained Schemes shouldn’t be overlooked.
Rather than dish out the standard turn-based strategy game, Harebrained integrated stealth, exploration, discovery, and character recruitment elements. Sure, you can scream “XCOM clone” all you want. However, The Lamplighters League veers far enough away from Firaxis territory to feel unique, more grounded, and narratively tighter. It’s definitely an excellent candidate for portable play, so Switch and PS5 would be a brilliant leap for publisher Paradox to make.
8. Age of Empires IV
The Age of Empires series has always been one that should be available to everyone. Its finely tuned strategic gameplay aside, each entry is rich with historical nuggets presented in an entertaining fashion. Any chance players have to learn something new should be taken. Age of Empires IV just so happens to be the latest entry in the series and the most well-rounded console experience, making it the better candidate. While Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition felt fine on the Xbox controller, the fourth installment is a more natural fit.
Real-time strategy games aren’t big on consoles because the interface rarely ports well. Attempts like Alien Versus Predator: Extinction and Halo Wars were acceptable at best, and the Civilization series has gotten progressively better on a controller, but Age of Empires IV really makes overseeing individual units, smaller armies, and an entire village of buildings and workers feel more intuitive. It’s an experience that PlayStation and Switch players really should get a chance to enjoy since their real-time offerings are few and far between.
9. Grim Dawn
Uh oh. Is this a Diablo “clone” that gamers should be playing instead of Diablo IV? Well, kind of. Yes, gamers should be playing Grim Dawn over Diablo IV. No, the game is not a Diablo clone. Grim Dawn separates itself from such a rudimentary label with less focus on progressing through the story and more on elaborating its deeply rich lore and encouraging players to go hog-wild with many different hero builds.
Whereas some action RPGs like Diablo and Pillars of Eternity guide you through chapter after chapter until you’ve unraveled the overarching tale, Grim Dawn wants the focus to be on exploration, uncovering secrets, unraveling complex lore, and facing the consequences of every decision. All without having to wait for new seasons to drop, of course. Crate Entertainment developed a content-rich game and then isolated it on the Xbox One five years after its PC launch. There is so much opportunity for a broader audience if only a port were in the works. More so than some first-party releases, having a game like this remain on only one platform stings and almost feels personal.
10. Rare Replay
This list was first put together before the February 2024 Nintendo Direct. So, one could say we predicted the future or maybe psychically influenced Xbox into bringing Rare games to the Nintendo Switch, right? Well, that still leaves one more destination for an iconic collection of classics. Rare Replay is ripe for the PS5, a console that’s itching for even more backward compatibility.
While the games included in the Rare Replay compilation from 2015 aren’t all Xbox games, so to speak, they are icons of various systems, from the largely forgotten ZX Spectrum to the N64. Of course, a few original Xbox and Xbox 360 exclusives were tossed in there, too. The key, though, is that none of them were PlayStation focused, and they really should be at this point.
The discussion over video game preservation is more heated now than ever, and unlocking the exclusivity on Rare Replay to the PS5 (and even the PS4) would be a good-faith move on Microsoft’s part. While it may be nearing a decade since its release, players still pine for the silly fun of Battletoads or the nostalgia of Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll. It would also be a clever way to entice PlayStation owners into making a leap to the Xbox ecosystem for the Perfect Dark reboot by allowing them to try Perfect Dark and Perfect Dark Zero.
11. Killer Instinct
Killer Instinct has been around since 1994, initially living as an arcade cabinet before being ported to the SNES and Game Boy. So, technically, Nintendo could have a stronger claim on the series than Xbox, especially since Rare and Nintendo used to be bedfellows for much of the ’80s and ’90s.
The Xbox One release of Killer Instinct was a little underwhelming, particularly for a console launch title. Player count on the free-to-play fighter has been low for quite a while, and there’s no reason to believe it wouldn’t see a much-needed boost after landing on the PS5 and Switch. If anything, there’d at least be a hefty increase from all those nostalgia hounds that remember sinking quarter after quarter in the cabinet.
12. Left 4 Dead 2
Back 4 Blood is a poor substitute for a Left 4 Dead 3, so there’s no need to pretend that Left 4 Dead 2 isn’t going to be the last entry in this legacy multiplayer FPS. Still wildly popular on both PC and console, Left 4 Dead 2 is a party game unlike any other as you team up with three other players to battle through an unending horde of the undead to reach a safe house.
PlayStation may have some great zombie games, but we may be looking at the best with Left 4 Dead 2, and it really should join its flesh-craving brethren. With no hope for a future for the series, the next best thing to a sequel is opening it up for other console owners to enjoy. Left 4 Dead 2 could work on the Switch without taxing the system, as it is both old enough and visually middling, so it would not require too many resources to run smoothly.
Often cited as one of the best games ever made, it would be a shame if PlayStation fans never got to experience the awe, wonder, and thrills of the fast-paced zombie romp.
13. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Believe it or not, the first Hellblade, Senua’s Sacrifice, was a PS4 exclusive for a spell. Initially released in 2017, Hellblade didn’t move to the Xbox One until a little less than a year later. The game’s developer, Ninja Theory, was a free agent at the time. Since then, it’s been picked up and absorbed into the Xbox Game Studios brand, so Hellblade’s long-awaited sequel, Senua’s Saga, is an Xbox exclusive.
That doesn’t seem right, no? It’s all business, of course, but Senua’s Saga should be offered to PlayStation owners who were enamored by the heavy tones of the first. No one’s saying it has to be a day-one release on the PS5. However, it should find its way at some point. The hype train for it is already huge. Imagine how much bigger it could be if marketing suddenly started calling it a “timed exclusive.”
14. Redfall
Yes, Redfall had a pretty abysmal release on Xbox and PC, but what if it made its way over to PlayStation and Switch, polished and ready for a new audience? Don’t some games deserve a second chance? At the very least, Arkane should have the opportunity to win back the trust of its fanbase before its next big release.
There’s no doubt that the studio’s next title, Blade, is going to be marred by the stench of Redfall. Heck, it’s already happening. If Arkane seizes the opportunity, there’s still plenty of time left to right the wrong that is Redfall and maybe draw praise from across the console aisle. It would require work, but getting an improved version into hands that haven’t played the original build could be worth it. It’s just good PR, too.
15. Tell Me Why
Dontnod Entertainment has a weird track record for releases. Every single one of its games has been a multi-platform release, available also on the PS4 or PS5. Everyone except for the 2020 episodic adventure Tell Me Why, which was published by Xbox Game Studios. It’s not as if future Dontnod games were then also published by Xbox, as Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden fell into Focus Entertainment’s hands, so the one-off is both intriguing and detrimental to the game’s reach.
As part of the ranks of really good games that tend to get overlooked, Tell Me Why follows Dontnod’s typical focus on engaging, thought-provoking narratives. One could say that’s a PlayStation staple, especially if you toss in some depressing or dark elements, which Tell Me Why does with themes surrounding mental health and addiction.
When it comes to Tell Me Why, there’s a pretty significant reason why it should go multi-platform. It’s the first non-indie game to have a transgender lead. It’s not pandering to let the game exist on multiple consoles, but a fantastic way to boost an equal footing in the industry for more marginalized groups.
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