Xbox's Phil Spencer Defies Trends, Continues to Feature PlayStation, Nintendo Logos at Microsoft Events

Microsoft's recent approach to showcasing its games has marked a notable shift in the gaming industry, particularly in how it presents its titles across various platforms. During recent Xbox showcases, Microsoft has begun to prominently feature logos for rival platforms, such as the PlayStation 5, alongside its own Xbox Series X and S, PC, and Game Pass. This change became evident in the Xbox Developer Direct, where games like Ninja Gaiden 4, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were displayed with multiplatform availability.

However, this wasn't always the case. In Microsoft's June 2024 showcase, the announcement of Doom: The Dark Ages for PlayStation 5 came separately from the Xbox event, and individual trailers later included the PS5 logo. Games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Diablo 4 expansion Vessel of Hatred, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows were listed for Xbox Series X and S and PC, omitting the PS5.

In contrast, Sony and Nintendo maintain a different strategy. Sony's State of Play showcase, for instance, did not mention Xbox, even for multiplatform titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, which concluded with only the PS5 logo and release date. Similarly, Sega’s Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword were shown for PlayStation without acknowledging their availability on PC, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.

Phil Spencer, Microsoft's gaming boss, addressed this shift in strategy during an interview with XboxEra. When asked about the inclusion of the PlayStation logo in Xbox showcases, Spencer emphasized transparency and honesty. He explained that the decision to include rival platform logos was considered even for the June 2024 showcase, but logistical issues prevented it from being fully implemented at the time.

Spencer's full response was:

I think it’s just being honest and transparent about where the games are showing, and we actually even had this discussion last year for the June showcase, and by the time we kind of made our decision, we couldn’t get all of the assets done and it felt weird to have some of them in and some of them out.

But I just want to be transparent with people — for shipping on Nintendo Switch, we’re gonna put that. For shipping on PlayStation, on Steam... People should know the storefronts where they can get our games, but I want people to be able to experience our Xbox community in our games and everything we have to offer, on every screen we can.

And obviously not every screen is equal. Yeah, like there’s certain things we can’t do on the other closed platforms that we can do on open platforms, cloud — it’s different. But games should be the thing that we’re focused on. And the strategy that we have allows us to do big games, while also supporting our native platform from hardware to the platform and services that we have and that’s going to be our approach.

And I know it’s not what everybody else is doing, but I just believe games should be the thing that’s at the forefront. Maybe it’s because of how I’ve grown up in this industry. I came from building games. But I think the games are the things that I see growing in their strength in what we’re doing and it’s because more people can play. So yeah, I’m just trying to be open and transparent with people.

Given this new direction, future Xbox showcases, such as the anticipated June 2025 event, are likely to include logos for PS5 and possibly the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. This could mean seeing games like Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Perfect Dark, State of Decay 3, and the next Call of Duty title with a PS5 logo alongside Xbox.

However, it's important to note that Sony and Nintendo are unlikely to adopt a similar approach. Their focus remains on reinforcing their respective consoles as the primary gaming platforms, continuing their traditional marketing strategies.