This is almost a perfect encapsulation of the problem with the old XBOX mentality.
A former senior Microsoft executive is openly explaining why he has no reason to buy an XBOX: he can simply play its games on Steam. Then, in the very same breath, he explains why he owns a PS5 Pro: because PlayStation has games he can’t get elsewhere.
You couldn’t manufacture a better demonstration of why platform differentiation matters.
And this is exactly why I think the direction @asha_shar and the current leadership are pursuing is so important. XBOX cannot expect people to invest in its ecosystem if it continually gives them fewer reasons to actually choose the platform.
What’s particularly ironic is that Mike has made the case himself. He understands perfectly well why PlayStation exclusives create value. He understands that good exclusive content can make someone invest in a platform and, ultimately, buy its hardware. Yet when that same principle is applied to XBOX, suddenly there’s less reason to invest in the ecosystem in the first place.
That’s not an argument against exclusives. It’s an argument for them.
I don’t hate Xbox. Why would I buy a Xbox console when I can play everything Xbox releases on my preferred platform: Steam. And on my 5090 with performance no console will see for years and years. I have a PS Pro because I can’t play their exclusives anywhere but on PS. I just need a second one now. Funny how that works. Exclusives, good ones, matter.