Xbox Calls Exclusives Antiquated—Nintendo’s Success Says Otherwise

Mike Ybarra, who spent nearly two decades at Microsoft before leading Blizzard, fired back on X (formerly Twitter), following up with a pointed defense of Nintendo’s strategy:

“Nintendo has continually dominated with outstanding games. Sure some platforms flopped, but they always took risks and came back very strong. It is the opposite of antiquated. It is risk and return.”

Ybarra’s argument is simple: exclusives still work—if the games are good. Nintendo’s success with titles like Zelda, Mario, and Animal Crossing proves that a strong first-party lineup can define a console. And more importantly, it can sell one.

Xbox Is Riding the Middle

Ybarra didn’t stop at Nintendo. He criticized Xbox’s broader strategy, saying the company is stuck between being a hardware manufacturer and a third-party publisher:

“Only a moron would continue to make hardware when the games all go (or will go) third party.”

He argues that Xbox needs to pick a lane—either double down on exclusives and hardware, or go full publisher. Right now, he says, they’re doing “more harm for no reason.”

“Get a clear strategy and rip the band-aid off and focus on execution. Otherwise, death by a thousand needles.”

What Is Xbox Now?

Bond’s comments reflect a broader shift in how Microsoft sees gaming. They’ve decided that the future isn’t  about selling consoles—it’s about selling access. Game Pass, cloud gaming, and cross-platform releases are all part of that vision. But Ybarra’s critique hits at the heart of the identity crisis: if Xbox games are everywhere, why buy an Xbox?

Nintendo doesn’t have that problem. Its hardware is built around its exclusives. And its exclusives are built around its hardware (like a boss). That synergy is what Ybarra sees as missing from Xbox’s current approach.

The Debate Isn’t Over

Bond says exclusives are outdated. Ybarra says they’re essential. And Nintendo? Nintendo just keeps releasing bangers that you can’t play anywhere else.

This isn’t a philosophical debate, nope, this one is geared around which strategy gaming companies are going to pursue in the future. And as Xbox leads the charge with blurring the lines between platform and publisher, the question remains: what makes a console worth owning?