Exclusives used to decide the console war. In 2026 the picture is different: Microsoft now releases many of its own games on PlayStation, while Sony keeps its biggest games on PS5 and PC. This guide lists the PlayStation exclusives and Xbox exclusive games that still matter, explains what “exclusive” means today, and shows which formerly exclusive games you can now play on both.
What counts as an exclusive in 2026?
- Console exclusive: only on one console brand, but often also on PC. Most Sony and Microsoft games are now this kind.
- Timed exclusive: launches first on one console, then comes to others months or a year later (for example Black Myth: Wukong reached Xbox a year after PS5).
- Full exclusive: only on one platform, with no PC version. Very rare today.
PlayStation exclusives worth playing
These PlayStation exclusive games are only on PS5 among consoles (many also come to PC later):
- Ghost of Yotei (2025): Sucker Punch’s open-world samurai sequel.
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023): Insomniac’s superhero hit.
- Marvel’s Wolverine (2026): Insomniac’s mature Wolverine game.
- God of War Ragnarok (2022) and God of War: Sons of Sparta (2026).
- Astro Bot (2024): Game of the Year 2024 and the best platformer on PS5.
- Gran Turismo 7 (2022): the definitive racing sim, with PS VR2 support.
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (2025): Kojima’s sequel, on PS5 and PC.
- Saros (2026): Housemarque’s follow-up to Returnal.
- The Last of Us Part I and II, Horizon Forbidden West and Returnal.
- Stellar Blade (2024) and Rise of the Ronin: published by Sony on PS5 first.
Xbox exclusive games
Microsoft has moved away from console exclusivity: many Xbox Game Studios releases launch on Xbox, PC and PS5, sometimes on the same day. Xbox exclusives today are mostly timed, or games that have not yet reached PlayStation:
- Forza Horizon 6 (May 19, 2026): Xbox and PC first; the PS5 version follows on January 26, 2027.
- Fable (2026): Playground’s reboot, Xbox and PC first.
- Halo Infinite and the Halo: Master Chief Collection; Halo: Campaign Evolved is coming to PS5 as well.
- Starfield: Xbox exclusive until its April 7, 2026 PS5 release.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: also on PS5 since December 2025.
- Avowed, South of Midnight and Clockwork Revolution: Xbox first, with PS5 versions following for some.
So are there still Xbox exclusives? Yes, but fewer every year, and most become available on PS5 within a year. The real advantage of Xbox is that these games arrive on day one in Game Pass. See Xbox Game Pass.
Former Xbox exclusives now on PS5
Since 2024 Microsoft has brought a long list of its games to PlayStation. If you own a PS5, you can now play:
- Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush (2024).
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2025).
- Forza Horizon 5 (2025), with Forza Horizon 6 following in January 2027.
- Doom: The Dark Ages and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (2025, launched on both).
- Gears of War: Reloaded (August 26, 2025).
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (December 2025).
- Starfield (April 7, 2026).
- Call of Duty games, which have always been multi-platform and still are under Microsoft.
Former PlayStation exclusives now on other platforms
Sony does not release its first-party games on Xbox, with one major exception: Helldivers 2 came to Xbox Series X|S on August 26, 2025, published by Sony. Most other Sony games go to PC instead, usually one to two years after the PS5 release: God of War Ragnarok, Spider-Man 2, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part I and II, Horizon Forbidden West, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Death Stranding 2 are all on Windows. So if you have a gaming PC, you can play nearly everything eventually. Use our is it on Xbox list to check specific games.
Third-party timed exclusives in 2025-2026
- Black Myth: Wukong: PS5 and PC in August 2024, Xbox in August 2025.
- Silent Hill 2 Remake: PS5 in October 2024, Xbox in November 2025.
- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade: PlayStation for years, Xbox in January 2026.
- Phasmophobia, Ready or Not and Satisfactory: PC first, consoles later.
Which console has the better exclusives?
PlayStation, by a clear margin, if you count games you cannot play on the other console. Almost every Xbox game can now be played on PS5 within a year, while Sony’s first-party games skip Xbox. That makes the PS5 the console with the widest library in 2026. Xbox’s advantage is value rather than exclusives: Game Pass gives you its new games on day one for a monthly fee. Our Xbox vs PlayStation guide weighs both.
Upcoming exclusives to watch
- PlayStation: Marvel’s Wolverine, the God of War Greek trilogy remake, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet from Naughty Dog, and Fairgame$.
- Xbox: Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, Clockwork Revolution, State of Decay 3 and the next Halo.
Many of the Xbox titles are expected to reach PS5 eventually; Sony’s are expected to remain PlayStation and PC only.
Exclusives FAQ
Does Xbox still have exclusives?
Some, usually for a limited time, and many first appear on Xbox and PC with a PS5 version later.
Will PlayStation exclusives come to Xbox?
Rarely. Helldivers 2 is the main example so far.
What is the best PS5 exclusive?
Astro Bot, God of War Ragnarok and Ghost of Yotei are the most praised.
The best PlayStation exclusives right now
| Game | Genre | Why play it |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost of Yotei | Open-world action | A new samurai story in Hokkaido from Sucker Punch |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | Action | Two Spider-Men and a huge New York |
| Astro Bot | Platformer | The best showcase of the DualSense controller |
| Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | Action adventure | Kojima’s sequel, PS5 first |
| Saros | Action | Housemarque’s follow-up to Returnal |
| Gran Turismo 7 | Racing sim | The PlayStation racing benchmark |
The best Xbox exclusives right now
| Game | Genre | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 6 | Open-world racing | Xbox and PC first; PS5 in January 2027 |
| Halo: Campaign Evolved | Shooter | Modern remake of the original Halo campaign |
| Fable | Action RPG | Playground’s reboot of the series |
| Starfield | RPG | No longer exclusive; on PS5 since April 2026 |
Xbox exclusives in 2026 are usually console exclusives that are also on Windows PC, because Microsoft releases its games on PC on day one. Some, such as the next Gears of War, are planned as Xbox-first again.
Timed exclusives explained
A timed exclusive launches on one console first and comes to the other later. Black Myth: Wukong reached Xbox a year after PS5, Helldivers 2 arrived on Xbox in August 2025, and Forza Horizon 6 will reach PS5 about eight months after Xbox. When you see a game marked exclusive, check whether the deal is permanent or timed; our game availability list tracks the dates.
Should exclusives decide which console you buy?
They matter less than they used to. If you mainly play big multiplatform games like Call of Duty, EA Sports FC, Fortnite or GTA 6, both consoles are fine. If a particular series is your favorite, such as God of War or Halo, that is the deciding factor. Read the full Xbox vs PlayStation comparison.
Exclusives on PC
PC players get most exclusives eventually. Xbox games come to Windows on day one through the Xbox app and often Steam. Sony brings many of its single-player games to PC a year or two after the PS5 launch, as it did with Death Stranding 2 in March 2026, although Sony has said it will be more selective about PC ports. If you game on PC and own one console, you can cover almost every major release across both ecosystems.
Where exclusives are heading
Expect fewer permanent exclusives and more timed ones. Development costs are high, and selling games on every platform recovers them faster. The next console generation, Project Helix and the PlayStation 6, will likely use exclusives as launch-window hooks rather than lifelong locks.
For players, that is mostly good news: fewer reasons to own two consoles, and more chances to play everything eventually.
Exclusives FAQ: quick extra answers
Is Starfield still an Xbox exclusive?
No. Starfield launched on PS5 on April 7, 2026.
Is Helldivers 2 a PlayStation exclusive?
Not anymore. It has been on Xbox Series X|S since August 26, 2025, with crossplay.