Xbox has clarified that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are now full console exclusives — and won’t arrive on PlayStation, even at a later date.
Perhaps the biggest surprise during today’s Xbox Showcase livestream was confirmation that several upcoming blockbuster games were now being kept back as Xbox console exclusives — so while they will also arrive on PC, they won’t appear on PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch 2.
Debate around Xbox exclusivity has been rife over the past few months, as newly-installed Xbox boss Asha Sharma has made other changes to the brand’s offering — cutting the price of Game Pass, and making a fresh push for new console features.
When questioned on whether Xbox exclusivity might also return, Sharma has previously been coy — but now, it’s clear that the company is reviving the idea, even if its still unclear exactly what the rules will be going forward.
“As part of our focus on the return of Xbox, we also announced that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be Xbox console exclusives,” Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief wrote in a blog post. “These are not timed exclusives. Games already announced for multiplatform releases will stick to that plan – we’re committed to investing in and growing Xbox both on console and beyond.”
Will every Xbox game be an exclusive going forward? No — as today we saw Hellblade threequel Senua announced with a PS5 version confirmed, and State of Decay 3 given a 2027 launch window plus confirmation of a PS5 version.
Could Microsoft make Elder Scrolls 6 a console exclusive? It seems unlikely. What about future entries in the Forza series, that has sold well on Sony’s console? And of course, numerous Microsoft-owned franchises will obviously also remain multiplatform, such as new launches in the Minecraft and Call of Duty series.
“We want people to choose Xbox because of great games and experiences. That also means giving you something that was made for Xbox,” Sharma wrote on X/Twitter, shedding no more light on the situation. “Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be Xbox console exclusives!”
For more, be sure to check out IGN’s roundup of everything announced at Xbox Showcase 2026.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
