The arrival ofDeath Stranding: Director’s Cuton Xbox could be great news for the future of Game Pass. It’s no surprise that the addition ofDeath Strandingon Xbox would have come as a huge shock, not just because of its arrival on the Xbox store without any prior warning. Seeing such a huge PlayStation exclusive make its way over to Xbox is a rarity, makingDeath Stranding’s arrival on Xbox a momentous occasion and a huge win for both dedicated Xbox fans and Microsoft itself.
However, it’s possible thatDeath Strandingis only the beginning. Of course, adding the title to Game Pass would be a no-brainer, asDeath Stranding’s popularity could be a great boost to Microsoft’s goal of making the service the ultimate home for gaming’s biggest titles. Moreover,it could show the potential for more PlayStation exclusives to start making their way to Microsoft, providing the opportunity to make Game Pass even bigger than what was thought possible.
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut Is On Xbox Now
October 7 saw the arrival ofDeath Stranding: Director’s Cuton Xbox Series X/S. Despite its sudden release, the addition ofDeath Strandingis great news for a multitude of reasons. Most important of these reasons is how the addition increases the title’s outreach, allowing for many more players to experience everythingDeath Strandinghas to offer, which simply wouldn’t have been possible if it had remained as a PlayStation console exclusive.
Despite this, there’s a chance this release could go even further. At this time,Death Strandingis yet to see a release on Xbox Game Pass. It’s a shame, since there’s a clear interest from both Microsoft and Kojima Productions to increase the title’s outreach.Death Strandingis currently 50% off on the Xbox store, bringing the total price to $19.99 for the first two weeks of release. This initial price drop makes it clear both parties want players to hop on the game as soon as possible and increase the success ofDeath Strandingon Xbox.
Not havingDeath Strandingon Game Pass would be a missed opportunity. Microsoft has made a huge push to advertise Game Pass as the most convenient way for players to gain access to the biggest titles. Day-one releases of Microsoft’s biggest titles, like thewell-receivedCall of Duty: Black Ops 6, is proof of the company’s mission to make Game Pass a player’s first point of access for the latest in gaming.Death Stranding’s addition would not only increase accessibility for the title, butit would make Game Pass more appealing with a greater range of AAA titlesfor players to enjoy.
More PlayStation Exclusives On Xbox Would Be Great
It Would Make Xbox’s Library Far More Appealing
Death Strandingshould only be the beginning of a larger goal for more PlayStation exclusives to be added to Xbox. PlayStation is currently home to an incredibly impressive first-party lineup, boasting some of the most critically-acclaimed titles of this generation. From theexcellentMarvel’s Spider-Man 2andGod of War: Ragnarök, to thebest-in-class platformerAstro Bot,there is a huge selection of titles that Xbox players will surely want to experience without the hassle that comes with buying an entirely new consolejust to be able to play a certain game.
Forming a better relationship with Sony and gaining access to more PlayStation exclusives would cause Xbox’s appeal to grow at a huge rate. Combining Sony’s biggest hits with Microsoft’s would turn Xbox from a more typical home console to the ultimate gaming system. Xbox would easily boast the most impressive game library of this current generation simply by combining the best of both worlds.
The idea of making PlayStation games on Xbox isn’t even that far-fetched, since Sony has expressed interest in expanding its audience. The last few years have seen the biggest PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 releases receive ports on PC. Some of these include the likes ofHorizon: Zero Dawn,Ghost of TsushimaandThe Last Of Us Part 1.There’s a clear desire from Sony to push for more players to experience PlayStation’s best offerings, which Microsoft can take advantage of, especially considering the benefits it will add to Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass Could Benefit From PS Exclusives
The Service Could See Even Greater Success
The addition of PlayStation exclusives would also make Game Pass a more viable option for players.The problem that comes with console exclusivity can prove to be detrimental for players who don’t have the funds to support both sides, instead choosing one console and missing out on some stellar games as a result. An expansive Game Pass library including both Xbox and Sony titles would remove that worry, giving players easy access to the best that both sides have to offer.
That’s not even mentioning the added benefits that come from Xbox Cloud Gaming. The ability to play the Game Pass library from multiple devices would only add to the accessibility and ease with which players can pick up a controller and play. The feature far exceeds the capabilities of PlayStation Plus, which’s own cloud streaming remains limited to PlayStation consoles, making the idea of moving PlayStation titles to Xbox Game Pass even more appealing thanks to the greater access.
It’s ultimately uncertain whetherDeath Strandingis the start of a bigger push for more PlayStation exclusives to make their way to Xbox. However, there’s no doubting that this move would be a huge benefit in making Game Pass the best means of access to the biggest and best titles on offer in gaming. Even if there isn’t a huge influx coming in soon, at the very least, addingDeath Strandingto Game Pass would serve as a great start.
Sources:Kojima Productions/Twitter,PlayStation/YouTube
Death Stranding
Death Stranding marks the first release for Kojima Productions after Hideo Kojima exited his position at Konami. The release sees the player controlling Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus. Sam will need to do his best to avoid detection and stay alive, protecting his cargo as he transports it to various locations.
