By Zach Thomas

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!

Today, Microsoft showed off what is to come from their various studios including the recently acquired in an official sense, Bethesda Game Studios during their XBOX & Bethesda Games Showcase. Both Microsoft and Sony are still vying for the advantage as we move forward during the first year of the new console generation. Console sales are going great for both companies with hardware selling out within minutes of becoming available online from any retailer, in any version of the hardware. XBOX Series X or Series S consoles are still an elusive buy for many eager gamers around the world. And while Sony has not had many true PlayStation 5 exclusives just yet aside from the just released Rachet & Clank: Rift Apart, they have delivered a decent amount of PlayStation exclusives cross generationally, such as Spiderman: Miles Morales. Microsoft however have really yet to release much in the way of next gen or cross generational exclusives to their consoles. With what should seem to be a distinct disadvantage however, there seems to be a shift in the gaming power struggle, one that has even started to get a PlayStation diehard since since their original console considering picking up my first XBOX console.

There are three key factors that Microsoft seem to be have going in their favor and could potentially lead to the upper hand early in this generation. Continue to play on their online and now even more so streaming advantages. Strengthening and promoting Gamepass even further. And when it comes down to it the biggest factor in most console generations, exclusives, what can your console give the gamer that no one else can. Let us dive deeper into these three factors and see just how strong of a position Microsoft is starting to find themselves in.

Streaming

Both Microsoft and Sony brought digital versions of their newest consoles to market last fall, but Microsoft did so at a far more competitive rate and seem to have intentions of pushing this even further moving forward. The XBOX Series S gets you into the new gen for only $299.99 and while it lacks some qualities of the XBOX Series X, it gets the basics of the job done at a great price. And while they did not cover this during the showcase today, working towards the realm of console free next gen streaming as a possibility from one of the two major brands is a huge win if they can pull it off effectively.

Gamepass

There have been no shortage of bold moves when it comes to Gamepass for Microsoft. Pushing out many first party titles day and date on Gamepass to getting a deal to release former PlayStation exclusive MLB The Show not only on to XBOX consoles, but including it with Gamepass. Microsoft certainly seems to know the advantage in not only maintaining the advantage their players get when they buy into Gamepass, but continually trying to expand on the value of the offering. And today twenty-seven of the thirty games shown off during the showcase today will release day one with Gamepass.

Exclusives

When push comes to shove, we all know what makes a generation and/or what generally wins a console war, exclusives. And while Nintendo has some amazing strengths with all their first party characters and titles, they are not really considered on the same battlefield as Microsoft and Sony. And to be honest over the past few generations, Sony has truly been on a level unto themselves when it comes to quality exclusive games. However in recent years Microsoft has been aggressive in adding quality studios to their lineup and ultimately with their financial advantage over Sony this is how Microsoft can most greatly impact the next gen console war. With the official announcements today bookending their showcase that Starfield and newly announced Redfall will be XBOX console exclusives, Microsoft delivers a massive blow to Sony for this generation.

Microsoft has a bevy of titles now at their disposal from their twenty-three studios for either cross platform to generate revenue like they do with Minecraft and presumably will do with established titles like DOOM, Elders Scroll, Fallout, etc or to release as a console exclusive to boost hardware/platform sales like they are with their two new IP shown off today Starfield and Redfall along with lesser known titles like Outer Worlds 2.

Recap

In his closing monologue, Head of XBOX Phil Spencer said it best, “You, the gamer, are at the center of everything we do”. Microsoft has learned a great deal from the previous generations and seem as well placed as they ever have been to compete on a high level. While PlayStation continues to revamp what they are doing and representing, XBOX is making it clear, they are games first and games focused, this generation dropped all the extra gimmicks, positioning the Series X/S perfectly. And there are always more studios to purchase or deals to make, which only stand to strengthen this positioning. Sony most assuredly have plans in place that we are not fully aware of, studios working on titles we can assume such as Insomniac with a true Spiderman sequel, along with ones we have no idea about such as whatever the new IP Bend is working on. PlayStation for the first time in years seem to be in need of some reassurance to their faithful, can they compete with for the first time a games focused Microsoft.

What are your thoughts on what you have seen during this virtual E3 this year? What you hope to see still announced and what are you looking forward to playing in the coming months. Comment here and please follow @GameWrote on Twitter and Instagram to interact more with me.