PlayStation Could Kill Xbox off with a Single Move

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Picture this: You turn on your PlayStation 5, navigate to the PlayStation Store, and what catches your eye among Spider-Man and The Last of Us is none other than Xbox Game Pass.

No, this isn’t a multiverse glitch.

This move could end the console wars for good and send shockwaves through the gaming industry.

And the crazy part? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.

Xbox Game Pass – Microsoft’s Greatest Strength… and Weakness?

To put it straightforwardly, there’s no denying that Xbox Game Pass is one of Microsoft’s most impressive offerings at the moment. It can be thought of as a gaming version of Netflix, but with even more benefits. The service boasts day-one releases of first-party games, an expanding collection, and accessibility across console, PC, and cloud platforms. These features make it a dream come true for gamers.

However, there’s an important point to consider: The Xbox hardware itself isn’t experiencing strong sales, with the Series X|S trailing behind the PS5 on a global scale. Although the Game Pass subscription service is expanding, it seems to be carrying the majority of the brand’s weight. In essence, Xbox has evolved into a software-centric ecosystem, and this could potentially provide an opportunity for Sony to capitalize.

One App to End Them All

If Sony’s PlayStation were to announce, “Why not include Game Pass on the PS5?” it wouldn’t just be generosity. Instead, it would be a well-calculated, strategic move.

By incorporating Game Pass on PlayStation, the PS5 could be transformed into the definitive gaming platform, offering both Sony exclusives and entry to Microsoft’s extensive game library. With such a diverse selection at your fingertips, one might wonder why purchasing an Xbox would be necessary again.

As a gamer, I find myself anticipating that Microsoft will take the next logical step in their evolution: shifting more towards software services, content publication, and cloud infrastructure. It’s like what they did with Windows and Office way back when – they’re aiming to dominate those digital realms. They don’t need to fight for the hardware crown if they can be present on every platform instead.

Microsoft Goes Handheld?

But Microsoft wouldn’t just disappear, far from it.

Should Xbox home gaming consoles lose their relevance, a realm they haven’t conquered thus far is the handheld market. Devices like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and even the Nintendo Switch have managed to establish a niche that Microsoft has yet to enter directly.

Instead of the Xbox-branded ROG Ally 2, visualize this: a specialized, portable device dedicated to Xbox Game Pass that is optimized for both cloud and local gaming, and seamlessly integrated with xCloud and its environment. Carrying Halo, Starfield, and Call of Duty in your hands could revolutionize gaming.

It’s possible that they are already considering it. Given that the ROG Ally 2 is designed to align with Xbox, this could serve as a trial run for fully committing to an Xbox-dedicated portable console in the upcoming generation.

The Power Is In Sony’s Hands

For several years, Sony and Microsoft have been competing in terms of exclusives, hardware specifications, and services. However, if Sony were to allow Game Pass on its platform, it wouldn’t merely win over Xbox; instead, it would effectively incorporate or swallow up Xbox.

It’s the Thanos snap of gaming—half the competition—gone.

But the real question is: would Sony do it? Or are they too proud to play with fire?

Let’s be clear about this—Game Pass is exceptional. If Sony allows it to thrive across PlayStation and Xbox platforms, the existing structure of Xbox may struggle to persist.

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2025-05-15 15:12