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Can a company launch a new gaming console without a mainstream first- party exclusive game? Microsoft is about to try it. Moments ago, they announced the delay of Halo: Infinite into 2021. It was originally meant to be the marquee title in this fall’s Xbox Series X lineup.
Microsoft previously mentioned that Forza will be missing its usual release window this fall as well in favor of a hi-res update patch for Forza Horizon 4, and although Microsoft beefed up their first- party studio lineup in a recent buying spree, none of their output will make the new system’s launch window. Psychonauts 2, Fable, and Avowed aren’t expected to launch till 2021 or later.
So, that leaves an upscaled Forza, the apparent value of Game Pass, and the prospect of a large backwards compatibility library as the main selling points of the Xbox Series X at launch this fall. I’m sure that the new Flight Simulator will also look great on the platform, but it was never destined to be a system seller and will also run on the older Xbox machines.
In contrast, Sony has two major first- party exclusive confirmed to be out before the end of the year in Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the new Demons’ Souls. While it’s…
