Episode 109 - Is Microsoft Bringing Xbox Exclusives To Sony's PlayStation?

Rumors have been in circulation for weeks that Microsoft might publish some of its exclusive games on competing consoles. Microsoft has neither publicly confirmed nor denied the report, but on Monday, Xbox boss Phil Spencer posted on X, “We're listening and we hear you. We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.” As the internet predictably freaks out, we're joined by Zach Hugethanks of "Absolutely the Best Podcast: A Work in Progress" to discuss the road ahead for Xbox and make predictions about next week's big event.

We'll also be talking about how the FTC has hit Microsoft with a federal complaint over the company's game division layoffs, how Disney is buying a $1.5 billion equity stake in Epic Games and kicking off a multiyear project with the studio that'll see a new "persistent universe" of familiar properties, and how Kurt Russell has opened up about why he didn’t voice Solid Snake in Hideo Kojima’s original Metal Gear Solid.

Finally, Donnie takes us all the way back to February 1994 in Retro Rewind.

Find more Zach Hugethanks at linktr.ee/absolutelythebest

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Hosts: wrytersview, donniegretro, Zach Hugethanks
Opening theme: "Gamers Week Theme" by Akseli Takanen
Patron theme: "Chiptune Boss" by donniegretro
Closing theme: "Gamers Week Full-Length Theme" by Akseli Takanen

Chapters

• 5:54 Reviews, Reactions, and Requests
• 7:37 Very Important Poll
• 15:59 Patron shout-outs
• 19:49 FTC hits Microsoft with federal complaint over game division layoffs
• 26:09 Fortnite is turning into Kingdom Hearts as Disney pumps $1.5 billion into Epic Games to make a ‘persistent universe’ with Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Avatar
• 33:53 Kurt Russell Explains Why He Didn't Voice Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid
• 39:33 Top 3 New Releases
• 43:58 Main Topic: End of console wars? Microsoft could set new precedent by bringing Xbox games to PlayStation
• 1:04:38 Retro Rewind: A Look Back at February 1994