Xbox wants to team up with PlayStation in the future

Meg Bethany Koepp

Gaming giant Microsoft has expressed its interest in teaming up with competitors like Sony and Nintendo to bring Xbox Game Pass to their consoles – whether that’s on the Switch, PlayStation 4, or future systems.

Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s answer to a Netflix-inspired subscription service, where users can access a catalogue of games for a set monthly fee, and is similar to that of Sony’s PlayStation Now.

The feature was brought over to PC in June, and now the gaming giant wants to bring it to new systems – competitors’ ones specifically.

Xbox Game Pass is basically Netflix but for video games.

Game Pass on “all” systems

In a short but sweet interview with video games outlet Gamereactor during Gamescom 2019, Xbox Head of Gaming Services Ben Decker revealed the company’s future plans for its subscription service.

“You know, we would like to see Game Pass on all platforms ultimately and I think that is a long term goal. We don’t have any specific plans today, but we would love to see Game Pass really go everywhere,” Decker said.

MicrosoftXbox wants Game Pass on “all platforms”.

While a specific system wasn’t revealed, “all platforms” could mean that the gaming giant would like to see its service on its rivals’ consoles – ie. the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

Rumors of Game Pass making its way to the Switch swirled back in March of this year, however nothing concrete was ever confirmed. 

Xbox has worked with the child-friendly developer since though, bringing previously exclusive titles such as Cuphead and Ori and the Blind Forest to the handheld.

Xbox and PlayStation teaming up seems like a no-go, but Microsoft wants it.

This isn’t the only time that the company has echoed its wants for its subscription service to be available on other consoles. 

Back in June, Xbox head Phil Spencer talked to Giant Bomb about the rumored collaboration with Nintendo, and stated that he would like to see Game Pass on as many systems as possible. “I have said over time I’d like to take Game Pass everywhere. I saw somebody joke I’d put Game Pass on the toaster if I could – I don’t know about that.”

“I want to have the best console experience because of what it gives you,” he continued. “I want you to be sitting on the couch with an amazing experience – it sounds great, I have access to any game that I want to play, and if I want to take that while I’m on the go, I think the Switch is a really cool platform for that. It’s just that in the near-term, it’s kind of hard for us to prioritize different than we are today.”

(Timestamp of 28:16 for mobile viewers.)

The idea of Microsoft and Sony striking a deal to bring the Pass over to PlayStation might seem like a long shot to some, but the claim of “all platforms” could mean that Xbox is seriously considering trying.

About The Author

Meg Bethany Koepp was a Weekend Editor on Dexerto's US team, specializing in Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Overwatch, and other Nintendo games. She has held editor roles at IGN & Prima Games, with bylines at The Daily Star and The Escapist.