Microsoft, you might have noticed, has begun to include logos for rival platforms like PlayStation 5 in its Xbox showcases. This reflects the company's recent push towards multiplatform gaming. For instance, during the Xbox Developer Direct, games like Ninja Gaiden 4, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were shown with PlayStation 5 logos alongside Xbox Series X and S, PC, and Game Pass.
However, this wasn't the case at Microsoft's June 2024 showcase. Doom: The Dark Ages was announced for PlayStation 5 only after the Xbox event, with subsequent trailers featuring the PS5 logo. In contrast, titles like BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the Diablo 4 expansion Vessel of Hatred, and Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows were listed for Xbox Series X and S and PC, omitting the PS5 version.
PS5 logos were not featured during Microsoft's June 2024 showcase. Image credit: Microsoft.
Sony and Nintendo, on the other hand, maintain a different strategy. Their recent State of Play showcase did not mention Xbox, even for multiplatform games like Monster Hunter Wilds, which concluded with only a PS5 logo and release date. Similarly, Sega’s Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword were announced for PS4 and PS5, despite also being available on other platforms.
Sony continues to emphasize its consoles as the primary focus of its gaming business, a strategy that has proven successful over decades. Microsoft, however, has shifted its approach, and this is reflected in its marketing.
PS5 logos showed up during Microsoft's January 2025 showcase. Image credit: Microsoft.
In an interview with XboxEra, Microsoft's gaming boss Phil Spencer addressed the inclusion of PlayStation logos in Xbox showcases:
Is this just hey, this is the band-aid off guys, there’s still going to be different decisions but this is the new era. Get used to the way things are going to be. How would you frame that to the community?
Spencer's response was:
I think it’s just being honest and transparent about where the games are showing, and we actually even had this discussion last year for the June showcase, and by the time we kind of made our decision, we couldn’t get all of the assets done and it felt weird to have some of them in and some of them out.
But I just want to be transparent with people — for shipping on Nintendo Switch, we’re gonna put that. For shipping on PlayStation, on Steam... People should know the storefronts where they can get our games, but I want people to be able to experience our Xbox community in our games and everything we have to offer, on every screen we can.
And obviously not every screen is equal. Yeah, like there’s certain things we can’t do on the other closed platforms that we can do on open platforms, cloud — it’s different. But games should be the thing that we’re focused on. And the strategy that we have allows us to do big games, while also supporting our native platform from hardware to the platform and services that we have and that’s going to be our approach.
And I know it’s not what everybody else is doing, but I just believe games should be the thing that’s at the forefront. Maybe it’s because of how I’ve grown up in this industry. I came from building games. But I think the games are the things that I see growing in their strength in what we’re doing and it’s because more people can play. So yeah, I’m just trying to be open and transparent with people.
Given this, expect to see more logos for PS5 and, in the future, Nintendo Switch 2 in Xbox showcases. At Microsoft's anticipated June 2025 showcase, games like Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Perfect Dark, State of Decay 3, and the latest Call of Duty might feature PS5 logos alongside Xbox.
However, don't expect Nintendo and Sony to adopt a similar approach anytime soon.
