Sony’s Latest Switch Announcements Spell Trouble for Xbox Enthusiasts

During Nintendo’s recent Direct presentation, while there might not have been as much news on their own titles, third-party developers stepped in to fill those gaps. Atlus returned to the scene to introduce a revamped edition of Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army. Meanwhile, Square Enix treated us to a fresh glimpse of the Dragon Quest 1+2 HD Remake. Spike Chunsoft also joined the line-up, announcing a new installment in the AI: The Somnium Files series. These appearances were somewhat expected, given these developers’ history with Nintendo Directs. However, what truly caught everyone off guard was Sony’s involvement in the show.

Unexpectedly, the Nintendo Direct shone a spotlight on two games from PlayStation’s exclusive stable: Patapon 1+2 Replay and Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots. Patapon, a remaster of the beloved PSP rhythm games, joins a new entry in the Everybody’s Golf series, previously known stateside as Hot Shots Golf. Traditionally published by Sony, these titles will now see Bandai Namco handling their release. Expected to launch later this year on PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC, these games notably bypass the Xbox platform. This absence suggests a deliberate choice, which might disappoint fans who use Microsoft’s consoles.

Sony releasing their titles on Nintendo platforms is quite a departure from their historical strategy, where cross-platform moves were rare occurrences. Instances like 1998’s Wipeout 64 and the more recent 2015’s Return to PopoloCrois represent exceptions in a vast timeline of exclusivity. However, a shift seems to be occurring. Last year, Sony ventured to bring LEGO Horizon Adventures, a family-friendly take on Horizon, to both Nintendo and PC alongside the PS5. Likewise, the remastered cult classic Freedom Wars is set to hit the Switch, again, thanks to Bandai Namco.

These strategic partnerships might suggest Sony’s increasing comfort with sharing its less-popular IPs with selected partners, though Xbox appears excluded from this newfound flexibility. While Sony might be empowering some of its classic franchises by expanding their reach, the door still seems locked tight against an Xbox collaboration.

Looking at Bandai Namco’s close ties with Xbox, the absence of these titles on Microsoft’s consoles implies Sony’s hand in deciding their destinations. Historically, Sony hasn’t released its proprietary franchises on Xbox, often securing third-party agreements to keep games exclusive to other consoles. Meanwhile, Microsoft is embracing a different approach, recently announcing plans to bring several Xbox exclusives to other platforms, including titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5.

Despite Microsoft’s openness, it appears that Sony sees no advantage in reciprocating. Considering the PS5’s sales hulk worldwide compared to the Xbox Series X/S, Sony probably feels content keeping its big names out of Microsoft’s reach. While it seems open to reviving older IPs on the Nintendo Switch, Sony’s reluctance to bring even lesser-known titles, like Patapon, to Xbox implies that such ports remain unlikely for the foreseeable future.