Microsoft's Xbox will release four games on other platforms

In an attempt to reach a larger audience of gamers after purchasing Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, Phil Spencer, the CEO of gaming at Microsoft, announced on a podcast on Thursday that the Xbox will be releasing four video games on other platforms.

While Spencer did not provide additional information about the titles the company plans to release, he did mention that Xbox players have had access to them for at least a year.

Additionally, he made it apparent that neither "Starfield" nor the next "Indiana Jones" game would be available on other platforms.

Over the next five to ten years, according to Spencer, games that are limited to a single piece of hardware will make up a smaller portion of the market.

In order to better compete with industry leader Sony, which recently lowered its forecast for its PlayStation 5 sales for the year ending in March, Microsoft increased its clout in the videogame market with the Activision acquisition.

A total of 1,900 employees at Activision Blizzard and Xbox will be let go by Microsoft, according to a statement the company made last month. This represents roughly 8% of the Microsoft Gaming division.

Spencer made his remarks regarding game exclusivity the day after Sony's CFO stated during a call following the company's earnings that first-party games should be released on other platforms in order to increase operating profit.

As per an Xbox blog, Xbox Game Pass customers will be able to access "Diablo IV," the first Activision Blizzard game since the acquisition, starting on March 28.

Research firm NewZoo predicts that this year will see a slowdown in the growth environment for multi-game subscription services, such as Xbox Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus.