After the success of Helldivers 2, speculation has swirled about whether Sony might eventually bring its biggest franchises to Xbox. But according to an industry insider, Microsoft doesn’t think God of War or The Last of Us will arrive on its rival’s platform anytime soon. Instead, future simultaneous releases and live-service titles seem like the more likely direction.

Helldivers 2’s remarkable success fueled speculation that Sony could begin launching its flagship titles on Xbox as well. However, one insider suggests that Microsoft doubts such moves are on the horizon for games like God of War or The Last of Us.

Microsoft itself treaded carefully when embracing multiplatform publishing. Forza Horizon 5, for example, didn’t immediately land on PlayStation 5, reflecting a measured approach to sharing key exclusives across platforms.

The company shifted its policy a while back, drawing plenty of criticism, but the numbers tell a different story: aside from its hardware division, nearly every branch of Microsoft’s gaming business has become more profitable since adopting this model. Sony now seems to be following a similar path. Helldivers 2 launched on Xbox and sold nearly one million copies in only six days, actually surpassing its initial PS5 performance.

That success sparked more chatter about PlayStation’s future on Xbox. Could iconic franchises make the leap? According to Jez Corden of Windows Central, who cited sources close to the matter, Microsoft believes Sony won’t be extending its crown jewels, such as God of War and The Last of Us, to Xbox in the near future.

It isn’t all that surprising. These two franchises are Sony’s most recognizable brands, and just as Xbox didn’t immediately port all its heavy hitters to PlayStation after adopting a multiplatform strategy, it makes sense that Sony wouldn’t rush to share its most valuable IP with a rival system.

Still, the success of Helldivers 2 on Xbox and PC keeps the discussion alive. Some speculate that Sony may eventually launch certain future games on multiple platforms simultaneously. That possibility remains, but how the company handles its most significant releases going forward is still very much an open question.

Source: tech4gamers