Microsoft bringing four games to rival platforms; Diablo IV coming to Xbox Game Pass on March 28; and future Xbox hardware teased

gematsu.com:

Microsoft will release four games for rival platforms, two of which are service-based and the other two “smaller games that were never really meant to be built as kind of platform exclusives,” Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said in a business updated-focused edition of the Official Xbox Podcast.

While Spencer did not name the titles outright, both Hi-Fi RUSH and Sea of Thieves were previously rumored to be coming to rival platforms, which fit the bill of a smaller game and a service-based game.

The Verge is also reporting, citing sources, that the first two titles will be Hi-Fi RUSH and Pentiment, followed by Sea of Thieves and Grounded. The company has reportedly also been weighing the idea of bringing Gears of War, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and even the next DOOM game to rival platforms, but final decisions have yet to be made.

Spencer also denied rumors that titles such as Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would be released for rival platforms. However, when asked by The Verge if he would rule out those titles ever coming to other platforms, Spencer said, “I don’t think we should as an industry ever rule out a game going to any other platform. We’re focused on these four games and learning from the experience. But I don’t want to create a false expectation on those other platforms that this is somehow the first four to get over the dam and then the dam’s going to open and that everything else is coming, that’s not the plan today. I also don’t want to mislead customers on those other platforms. We’re launching these four games, and we’re excited about it. We’re excited about the announce and everything else, but we’ll see what happens for our business.”

Microsoft also announced that, with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard King now complete, Diablo IV will be coming to Xbox Game Pass on March 28. Microsoft Gaming president Sarah Bond revealed that Xbox Game Pass currently has 34 million subscribers, a boost from the 25 million subscribers