Microsoft Shares List of Exclusive Games Coming to Xbox in 2021

In a bid to steal the PS5’s thunder, Microsoft today shared a list of the games launching exclusively on the Xbox this year. Of course, with Sony eating Microsoft’s lunch this console generation — much like the last — on the backs of a strong lineup of launch titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the Demon’s Souls remake, Microsoft will have to offer something really compelling to turn gamers’ attention to its console. And so far, it’s been pretty disappointing in this regard.

Of course, more games will probably be announced as the year progresses, but Microsoft is currently touting the following 28 exclusives (and Psychonauts 2) as the reason why you should buy its console over Sony’s:

• Adios
• The Artful Escape
• The Ascent
• The Big Con
• CrossfireX
• Dead Static Drive
• Echo Generation
• ExoMecha
• Exo One
• The Gunk
• Halo Infinite
• The Last Stop
• Lake
• Little Witch in the Woods
• The Medium
• Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Psychonauts 2 (not an Xbox exclusive,
• RPG Time
• Sable
• Scorn
• She Dreams Elsewhere
• Shredders
• Song of Iron
• Tunic
• Twelve Minutes
• Unexplored 2: The Wayfarers Legacy
• Warhammer 40K: Darktide
• Way to the Woods
• The Wild at Heart

Of these, only a few can be considered truly AAA titles: Halo Infinite, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Psychonauts 2, and perhaps Warhammer 40K: Darktide. And Psychonauts 2 is not even an Xbox exclusive; it’s only on the list because it’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass.

Compared to Sony’s lineup, that’s still just not good enough. And while Microsoft may now have a litany of world-class studios under its umbrella thanks to its seemingly endless cash reserves, it’ll likely be a couple of years at least before Microsoft can boast the back-to-back lineup of great first-party titles it needs to compete effectively.

Till then, the PS5 will continue to be the console to be on if you want the best games, and Microsoft only has itself to blame for that.