Microsoft Ceases Production of Games for Xbox One
Microsoft has announced that it will no longer develop games for the Xbox One, almost three years after the launch of the Xbox Series X/S. Although the company will continue to provide support for existing titles such as Minecraft and Halo Infinite, no new games will be created for the older console by Xbox Game Studios. According to Matt Booty, the head of Xbox Game Studios, the company has shifted its focus to the latest generation of consoles, known as gen 9. Microsoft also produces games for PC.
This move had to happen at some point to prevent newer and more complex games from being hampered by the hardware limitations of the decade-old Xbox One. Still, it’s possible for those sticking with Xbox One to play Series X/S games like Starfield and Forza Motorsport via Xbox Cloud Gaming. “That’s how we’re going to maintain support,” Booty said.
The news comes after a strong showing for Xbox at its big annual unveiling last weekend. It announced new titles like Compulsion’s South of Midnight and InXile’s Clockwork Revolution, while offering new looks for Fable, Avowed and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.
Moving away from the Xbox One frees Microsoft’s teams from the shackles of the previous generation. However, some third-party developers have expressed concern that the Xbox Series S, which is less powerful than the Series X, will hinder them as well.
Booty admitted that it will take “more work” to ensure games work on the Series S. However, he noted that Microsoft studios (especially those working on their other games for this generation of consoles) are now better able to optimize their projects for the Series S.
