Microsoft won't be too happy with its former Xbox corporate vice president Mike Ybarra this week after he admitted he won't be buying an Xbox Series X, but will invest in a PlayStation 5.
As GameRant reports, Ybarra (who now works for Blizzard) was responding to a question of Twitter when he stated the Xbox Series X won't be finding a place under his television. The reason is one of economics, and unfortunately for Microsoft, Ybarra's explanation makes a lot of sense.
PS5. Will play Xbox exclusives on PC. Wish they were all on PC! — Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) January 7, 2020
In a follow-up tweet Ybarra explains that it doesn't make sense to purchase an Xbox Series X if you already have a PC for gaming. Microsoft's Game Pass subscription allows you to play the Xbox exclusive titles without needing an Xbox, so why own both? At the same time, the PS5 will have many exclusives you can't play any other way, so purchasing Sony's next console as a priority is the obvious move if you want access to all exclusives released over the next generation of hardware.
Microsoft can argue that Xbox Series X makes for a better platform than PC to play exclusives because it's (hopefully) cheaper than buying a gaming rig, includes an Xbox controller with the console, and is hooked up to the massive TV you already own, which probably includes HDR as a feature. But beyond that, you can't argue against Ybarra's reasoning.
It doesn't help Microsoft's case just how many exclusives Sony can boast for PS5. We don't know what new games we'll get yet, but Sony is spoiled for choice. God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Killzone, Ratchet & Clank, inFamous, Gran Turismo, Everybody's Golf, Uncharted, and Wipeout are just a few of the games we could see new PS5-exclusive entries for.
Microsoft can fire back with exclusives, too, such as new Forza, Halo, and Gears of War titles. There were key games studio acquisitions as well in 2018, including Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, Playground Games, and Undead Labs. However, Ybarra's reasoning still holds true: whatever exclusive games they produce will be playable without the need to own an Xbox.