Minecraft considers ditching PlayStation and Nintendo as Xbox goes all-in on exclusives

Microsoft is reportedly considering a major shift towards Xbox exclusives, with a new survey asking gamers how they'd feel about Minecraft dropping support for PlayStation and Nintendo. The move could also raise questions about the future of Call of Duty, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.

As Windows Central reports, Microsoft is asking Xbox gamers how they'd feel if “all future” Xbox titles became exclusives, including Minecraft potentially losing support for PlayStation and Nintendo.

It's worth remembering that Microsoft hasn't announced any plans to make this happen. However, the possibility could be concerning for millions of Minecraft players on other platforms who have spent years playing the series and investing money.

How would Minecraft becoming an Xbox exclusive affect players?

For starters, Minecraft has been one of the most-popular video games in the world since its official launch in 2011, following its beta release in 2009.

It has appeared on every console generation since then, spawned multiple spin-offs, an interactive Netflix series, a live-action movie and more. So if the next Minecraft release became an Xbox exclusive, millions of fans would undoubtedly be very disappointed.

Not to mention that, being cross-platform, it would make it increasingly more difficult for gamers to play with their friends, especially for the younger generation. Of course, they could be forced to buy an Xbox, which is probably Microsoft’s intention, but that’s not a financially viable option for everyone.

Could Call of Duty, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout become Xbox exclusives?

The Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda Softworks

In theory, yes. The survey does specifically exclude Call of Duty, but that doesn't mean Microsoft couldn't change its mind in the future. Much like Minecraft, making the series an Xbox exclusive would impact millions of gamers, particularly those who play across different platforms. It could also mean a significant financial hit for Microsoft, but nothing would surprise me these days.

As for Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, this is where things get a little more interesting. When The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5 eventually release, they won't have the same cross-platform implications as Minecraft and Call of Duty.

READ MORE: Ranking the top 13 games of all time on Xbox

Furthermore, as we've seen with Gears of War: E-Day, Microsoft has already made the decision to keep one of its major franchises an Xbox console exclusive. However, Gears of War hasn't reached the same level of popularity as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. If there are two upcoming games that could help sell Xbox consoles, it would be The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5.

That being said, the survey is based on hypothetical questions and doesn't confirm an immediate shift in strategy for Minecraft, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout or Call of Duty. However, the fact that these questions are being asked suggests Microsoft is at least exploring how players would feel about the possibility.

Hopefully, future Minecraft releases won't leave PlayStation and Nintendo players behind. But if Microsoft sees a more financially lucrative future in Xbox exclusivity, it's worth keeping that possibility in mind, just in case. We’ll keep you updated if we learn more.