Developer Suggests PlayStation Might Follow Xbox in Releasing Exclusives

Thomas Mahler, the creative mind behind the Ori series, recently expressed his thoughts on the future of platform exclusivity in the gaming industry. As the founder of Moon Studios, Mahler has had firsthand experience, having developed the beloved Ori games exclusively for Xbox and PC, while bypassing PlayStation entirely. However, he now questions the sustainability of such exclusives.

### Why PlayStation Might Shift Away From Exclusives

In a heartfelt post on X, Mahler shared his support for Xbox leader Phil Spencer’s strategy towards multiplatform game releases. He explained that Moon Studios chose to work with Take-Two for their upcoming project “No Rest for the Wicked” to ensure it could reach a wider audience rather than being limited to just one or two consoles.

Reflecting on past conversations with Spencer, Mahler made an interesting analogy. “Imagine if certain DVDs could only be watched on Sony players and others only on Samsung players,” he pointed out. “Consoles have been tapping into the same 100 to 150 million gamers for over 20 years. If we want to expand the gaming world, making content accessible to everyone is crucial.”

Mahler also mentioned that he’d be taken aback if Sony doesn’t eventually embrace this inclusive approach that Microsoft has adopted, especially since PlayStation and Xbox are quite similar in many aspects. Meanwhile, he anticipates that Nintendo will likely continue charting its own course.

In the midst of this discussion on Twitter, Mahler addressed the pressure to engage in the ongoing console wars. He firmly believes that Xbox’s approach is the right move forward. Years ago, Moon Studios made a conscious decision not to sign with Microsoft for “No Rest for the Wicked” because, at that time, they wanted the flexibility to launch on PlayStation and Switch as well.

So, what are your thoughts on Mahler’s perspective?