Xbox Games Coming to Nintendo Switch and PS5
Four Xbox games, including Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves, will be available on Sony's PS5. Pentiment and Grounded will be released on both PS5 and Nintendo Switch. The move is part of Microsoft's plan to bring Xbox exclusives to other platforms.
In a surprising move, Microsoft has announced that four of its previously exclusive Xbox games will soon be available on rival consoles. The games in question are Hi-Fi Rush and pirate adventure Sea of Thieves, which will be coming to Sony's PS5. Additionally, narrative adventure game Pentiment and co-op game Grounded will be available on both PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
This announcement follows Microsoft's earlier statement in February, where they revealed their plans to bring Xbox exclusives to other platforms. The decision was seen by many as a significant shift in the industry. Until now, the specific titles were unknown, but two of them were recently unveiled during a Nintendo Direct online showcase.
Matt Booty, the head of Xbox game studios, expressed his excitement about the multiplayer titles becoming available on rival consoles. He believes that this move will bring more players together and foster the growth of gaming communities.
Fans had been speculating about the possibility of these games appearing on other consoles for weeks, so the news didn't come as a complete surprise. Neil Watton, editor of TheXboxHub, mentioned that players of Grounded and Sea of Thieves will benefit from the cross-play feature, which will help expand the player base when the games launch in April.
Nintendo's event also revealed several other upcoming titles for the Nintendo Switch, including a new Endless Ocean game, Monster Hunter Stories, and a remake of the 2010 Disney hit Epic Mickey. The developers of the popular 2017 game Sonic Mania also surprised viewers by announcing their latest game, Penny's Big Breakaway, a platform game with a nostalgic 1990s look.
Christian Whitehead, the director of Evening Star, the studio behind Penny's Big Breakaway, expressed his enthusiasm for the 3D platformer genre, stating that it is currently experiencing a renaissance. He believes that there are many great options available on platforms like Steam and Nintendo Switch.
It's worth noting that Evening Star was formed by former contractors who worked on Sonic Mania. Although a sequel to Sonic Mania was highly anticipated, Sega released Sonic Superstars in 2023 instead. Sonic, once considered a rival to Nintendo's Mario, now appears on multiple consoles, including Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.
Argick, a popular Scottish Twitch streamer, shared his excitement about playing Penny's Big Breakaway on stream. He praised Sonic Mania and expressed his anticipation for the smooth, fast-paced, and fun gameplay of the new game.
In other gaming news, a trailer for the upcoming expansion to the 2022 Game of the Year, Elden Ring, was released. Shadow of the Erdtree is set to be released in June on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in the UK.
Four Xbox games, including Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves, will be available on Sony's PS5.
Pentiment and Grounded will be released on both PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
The move is part of Microsoft's plan to bring Xbox exclusives to other platforms.
Source: BBC