How do Gaming Developers Create a Sense of Exclusivity in the Gaming World?
Suppose you are an avid gamer like me who likes to play a broad range of digital content across various consoles, PCs, handheld devices, and mobile devices. In that case, you may have also noticed how much content nowadays is only available exclusively on certain platforms.
There’s a term for this called ‘console exclusivity’ or platform exclusivity,’ I’m not alone in saying that it can sometimes be quite annoying.
Fortunately, most blockbuster titles I play online today are cross-platform, meaning they aren’t exclusive to certain websites or can only be accessed exclusively on certain consoles/devices.
However, there are a few titles I’ve seen my friends play on their Xbox, which are only available on this console. I’m a PlayStation fan, and I wish those Xbox games could be made for playing on my PlayStation instead of only being available on the Xbox.
Let’s dive straight in to learn more about this technique and how the major studios use this tactic to create a sense of exclusivity.
What are Exclusivity Deals?
Exclusivity deals are when developers only craft digital entertainment titles for specific platforms. I’ve found that these deals can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few years or indefinitely.
In other words, if something is made exclusively for Xbox indefinitely, I would need to invest in an Xbox to play that particular title because it will never be made available on any other device/platform, which is fairly common practice today.
These exclusivity deals mean that I am missing out on being able to play certain epic titles unless I spend money on getting an Xbox, which I’m not willing to do.
However, my friends who prefer Xbox have also said something similar about how they wish certain exclusive PlayStation titles were available on Xbox, so it’s not just me who misses out. It all depends on which device you have.
Very few people have an Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Valve SteamDeck, Windows PC, macOS laptop, Android smartphone and iPhone. Most people have one or a maximum of two of these devices.
I consider anyone with more than one of these devices to be lucky, purely because they will have access to more content than people who only have one of these devices.
Let’s take a quick look at a few examples of content that can only be found exclusively on certain platforms:
- Xbox – Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, ARK 2, The Elder Scrolls VI, Fable, Starfield, and many others
- PlayStation – The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, U
- ncharted 4: A Thief’s End, The Last Guardian, and others
- Valve Steam Deck – Hades 2, Planet of Lana, Stray, Vampire Survivors, Signails, and others
A similar thing happens at many of the online casinos I’ve joined.
For example, some sites have unique welcome bonuses that can’t be found elsewhere, which is particularly common on many of the top-rated sites currently featured on this page: askgamblers.com/casino-bonuses/exclusive, or they will have exclusive bonuses available on online fruit machines from one or more market-leading software providers that no other sites can offer.
In other words, to play certain online fruit machines or claim attractive bonuses with low wagering requirements, you would have to sign up for specific websites. This is why millions of people like me have active accounts on multiple sites.
How do Developers Create a Sense of Exclusivity?
Despite sacrificing the opportunity to reach a much larger audience, developing platform-exclusive content helps foster a sense of exclusivity among specific communities.
More importantly, companies entering such lucrative exclusivity deals can gain huge funding from those platforms.
For example, the major platforms, such as Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo, may receive funds to develop exclusive content or might receive mega-money deals in exchange for exclusivity.
Companies have also found that it’s easier to create content for a specific platform, which means those developers can focus on optimising performance and improving graphics, animations, and sound effects, which enhances the overall experience.
These same major platforms will also heavily market exclusive content, which makes certain titles stand out from the crowd and helps increase early sales.
Developers who create successful exclusive content can forge stronger relationships with platforms, which strengthens their brands and makes them more valuable.
Final Thoughts
There are many other complex reasons and decisions why developers enter into exclusivity deals, and although it’s annoying sometimes for players like me, it can be beneficial, too.
Exclusivity deals are here to stay. Sometimes, they will work in your favour, but other times, they won’t. You will just have to take the rough with the smooth or save up your money to purchase several different devices/consoles to ensure you never miss out on exclusive content.