Completely agree with you Rithvik! This aspect is sometimes missed in conversations where consoles are compared. But exclusive games have been a key differentiator for the average consumer.

Back when the Xbox 360 came out, I recall a few friends of mine chose it over the PS3 not only for the price but for its strong selection of exclusives. Though over this past generation, the list of exclusives have shrunk considerably.

Most third party games are now only timed exclusives. So while helpful, I don’t think consumers will mind waiting a bit longer. Gamers are used to waiting and casuals won’t really be hurt, in my opinion.

Like you pointed out, that makes first party exclusives incredibly important. Though I personally feel Microsoft still needs to develop its line of first party exclusives to compete against Sony and Nintendo.

Give third party publishers no longer opting for exclusive deals, first party exclusives could indeed make or break the upcoming consoles. Bit worried for Microsoft there but excited for Sony.