Xbox Exec Matt Booty on Exclusivity Shift, ‘Blade’ and ‘Elder Scrolls 6’ Absent From Showcase

Xbox has pivoted its exclusivity strategy in a significant way. During this week’s Xbox Games Showcase, the company confirmed that both “Gears of War: E-Day” and “Clockwork Revolution” will be exclusive to Xbox consoles and PCs. This marks a departure from the recent trend under former CEO Phil Spencer, where Xbox increasingly released first-party titles on rival platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo.

The shift was officially announced by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, and in a follow-up interview with Variety, Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty explained the reasoning. “We want to give Xbox players a reason to believe in Xbox, a reason to buy an Xbox, be an Xbox fan,” Booty said. “We also want to reward the people who’ve been with us and have been loyal. So we’re doing one this year in 2026, going to do one next year in 2027, and then we’re going to continue to think about it going forward.”

Booty emphasized that the company is taking a cautious, case-by-case approach. “I think you’ve heard Asha say before, we want to make the right decision, not a fast decision,” he noted. “Our big multiplayer games, our big live service games are going to continue to be multiplatform. The games that we’ve already announced coming to fans, and we’ve already announced for other platforms, of course, we’re going to honor that. We don’t want to ever take something away from players, but those are the two that we’re doing.”

When pressed on whether the 2027 exclusive slate is set in stone, Booty remained flexible. He explained that his planning horizon is about 12 months and that the team will continue evaluating future releases. He also reiterated that platform decisions will only be shared when a release date is announced.

One point of fan discussion leading up to the showcase was Xbox’s decision to display competitors’ logos during its own presentations. Booty acknowledged the feedback, stating that the goal is clarity. “Players want to know, where are you going to play the game? What platforms? And that includes our own,” he said. “We also know that this is an Xbox show, and Xbox fans want to feel like it’s their show. I think we’ll be able to, going forward, find that right balance.”

Fans hoping for a glimpse of “Blade” were left disappointed, as the title was absent from the showcase. Booty explained that the show was already packed, but hinted that more news could come later this year. “It’s a big show, I can’t fit everything in,” he said. “There’s always potential to hear more about things that didn’t show up today.”

The 25th anniversary of Xbox is approaching this fall, and Booty teased that there are plans in motion, though he declined to share specifics. He highlighted the significance of the milestone, noting that Xbox is also celebrating 35 years for Blizzard and 40 years for Bethesda. “It’s just so great to have that iconic IP anchored so heavily with the brand,” he said.

The crowded release calendar for September, driven by publishers moving titles away from “Grand Theft Auto 6” in November, is something Booty views positively. “I just will take that as a reflection of good for the industry and good for players,” he said. He expressed confidence in “Gears of War: E-Day” for this fall and explained that moving “Fable” to early next year gives it room to breathe.

Booty also addressed how much of the showcase was shaped before Sharma took over. Planning for trailers and timing began in December, with Sharma joining the process in February. “She’s been with it for the last four months,” Booty said, praising her collaborative style and willingness to revisit established practices.

On the topic of cross-media synergy, Booty noted that coordinating game and film releases is challenging. He pointed to “Call of Duty” as an exception due to its annual release cycle, but said the goal is more about complementarity than precise alignment. “It’s more about making sure that there is an active part of that world and that universe for fans to go enjoy,” he explained.

Finally, Booty addressed the ongoing anticipation for “Elder Scrolls 6.” He acknowledged the difficulty of managing fan expectations while waiting for the right moment to reveal the game. “I can tell you, having visited Bethesda and sat with Todd and seen ‘Elder Scrolls’ playing, it looks amazing, and it’s coming along well,” he said. “We’ll make sure to announce it and really reveal it at the right time.”