Ten years ago, none would have batted a lash. Five years ago, only some would have done so. But it's 2026, and for quite some time now, we've been inundated with messages from both Xbox and, to a lesser extent, even Sony: "The era of console exclusivity is over; embrace the new world." That usually means games coming to PC, as well. Nintendo does its own thing, of course—but the messaging from its competitors was loud and clear.
Things are changing behind the scenes. Sony seems far less keen on continuing to release all its games on PC. Xbox is touting a return to its classic style. One thing that endured this era of potential openness? The rationale for console purchasing. Indeed, the number one reason folks grab specific consoles remains exclusivity. If I can't get Mario on a PlayStation, then I'm sure as heck buying a Switch 2. But it extends beyond the Big N, and well into Sony and Xbox territory, as well.
Circana's Words Ring True
According to Chris Dring, the Circana Q1 2026 consumer survey found that the number one reason people buy consoles is for their 'EXCLUSIVES'. youtube.com/watch?v=nvVo... — Idle Sloth (@idlesloth.bsky.social) 2026-04-30T15:26:20.030Z
First, let me preface by pointing out that this is purely U.S.-based data. But I doubt very much that other major markets, at least, are going to see significant drift when it comes to something like why a person purchases a specific console over others, or over playing games primarily on PC instead.
Per industry analyst Christopher Dring, whose work for Circana (formerly NPD) includes vast quantities of monthly deep dives into raw statistical data, 41 percent of poll respondents for Q1 2026 cited exclusivity as the primary reason why they've purchased particular hardware. Interestingly, this is an 8-point drop from Q1 2025, which shows a possible trend shift, however minor. Or it might be statistical noise.
Yoshi-P Wants To Final Fantasy 14 To "Continue On" When He Retires Or Dies
It feels Final Fantasy 14 couldn't exist without Yoshi-P, but he's already thinking about preparing the game for his eventual departure.
Either way, the second-biggest reason is that "friends and family use the same console," says Dring. As someone who is almost entirely focused on single-player RPGs and adventure games, this doesn't really have any bearing on me, except in Nintendo's case (as I'm quite keen on Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., and such, but usually with friends coming over to my house on a hectic Saturday night). For me, it's probably exclusivity, yep. Not just for Nintendo, but for knowing that my PlayStation 5 Pro is situated to handle the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy's upcoming finale with relative aplomb.
One can easily be forgiven for treating news like this with a resounding "duh." Water is wet, I know. But consider it within the broader industry context; Microsoft spent years pushing Xbox away from an exclusivity-fueled mindset. Sony poured millions into bringing hit titles to Steam. Mixed results abound, and the bottom line is, people are still highly likely to contemplate PlayStation 6 and Project Helix first and foremost with regard to what they can't play elsewhere. (Even if, yes, Helix is poised to play PC games as well.)
Project Helix Might Not Support Other Storefronts
The upcoming Xbox console will play PC games, but it's unclear if that also includes having other storefronts, like Epic or Steam.