Each gaming system is different in various ways, from specs to features. However, the main thing people focus on when deciding which console brand to commit to is its exclusive games. Xbox is known for Halo, PlayStation has God of War, and Nintendo has Killed.
They each also have a bunch of other special titles that help set them apart from the others. However, exclusives are not always exclusive, especially in recent times. Some games that seem synonymous with certain systems appear on rival consoles. Here are some notable examples.
Like most early Metal Gear Solid games, the original MGS was a PlayStation exclusive for a while. A few years after its release, it was ported to PC, but it still had a reputation as a PS1 game.
However, 25 years after the game's release, it finally landed on an Xbox system, the Xbox Series X|S. It was included in the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Volume 1 package along with a few other MGS titles. It wasn't the first MGS game on the Xbox, but it still feels strange to see it on a Microsoft system, since the Xbox brand didn't even exist when the game originally came out.
Mass Effect 2 on PlayStation 3
At this point, people are probably used to Mass Effect on PlayStation consoles, but it felt weird when it first happened. The first two games were released on Xbox 360 and PC, which wasn't too strange since those systems often shared exclusives at the time.
A year after Mass Effect 2's 2010 launch, the game was ported to the PS3. This was very unexpected as the first Mass Effect game had not yet been released on the PlayStation system. So, before ME2's PS3 port, it pretty much felt like Mass Effect would always stick with Xbox and PC. Sony eventually got its hands on all the main Mass Effect games, though.
Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex on GameCube and Xbox
In the late 90s, PlayStation seems to be trying to establish Crash Bandicoot as its mascot, as Mario is for Nintendo. And the first three main Crash games, along with the two spin-offs, were PlayStation exclusives. By 2001, Universal had acquired the rights to Crash Bandicoot, meaning that Sony would no longer publish the games.
Therefore, a new game, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, was also released on the Gamecube and Xbox, so Sony now shared the series with its two biggest rivals. It felt impossible when Crash was becoming the face of PlayStation a few years ago.
Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5
For a long time, both Xbox and PlayStation had their own racing series. Xbox had Forza, while PlayStation had Gran Turismo. The two brands have shared Forza since the release of Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 in 2025.
This means that if you love simulation racing, PlayStation consoles are the best because they offer both Forza and Gran Turismo. Xbox only has Forza. Because of this, it's surprising that Xbox allowed this to happen for a series they published.
Final Fantasy 11: Online on Xbox 360
Final Fantasy was already a very well-established series before the Xbox even existed. In fact, the series revolutionized RPG games. When the Xbox arrived on the scene, it didn't get the FF games straight away. Instead, it was still known as the PlayStation series at that point, with some games also coming to PC.
However, four years after the launch of Final Fantasy 11: Online, it was also released on Xbox, making it the first Final Fantasy on Microsoft consoles. Since the Xbox and PlayStation console war was in full swing at the time, it was a bit surprising to see an FF game on the Xbox 360. The series has been regularly released on Xbox consoles since then, but the games usually launch on PlayStation.
Horizon Zero Dawn on PC
While Xbox and PC often shared games, PlayStation was once known for being more greedy with its first-party exclusives. So, it was a big surprise when Sony-published Horizon Zero Dawn was ported to PC in 2020.
This has since sparked a trend, with titles like God of War, The Last of Us Part 1, and Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered being released on PC. And Helldivers 2 has been ported to PC and Xbox. So, it's a change in attitude for PlayStation, and it all started with Horizon Zero Dawn.
Resident Evil 4 in everything
Nowadays, Resident Evil 4 is available on almost every modern console. That wasn't always the case, though. It was originally released as a Gamecube exclusive, and Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami was adamant that it would remain so.
He said it was because of a lack of trust that Sony and Microsoft would stay in the gaming business. He thought Nintendo might be his only chance for a future in gaming, so he signed an exclusive contract with the company. Therefore, it was a huge shock when it was released on the PS2 before being ported to all sorts of systems. Now, people barely remember that it was a GameCube exclusive.
Gears of War: Reloaded on PlayStation 5
When you think of an Xbox-exclusive series, Gears of War is probably one of the first names that comes to mind. Outside of a few PC releases, the series has become synonymous with Xbox.
That is until Gears of War: Reloaded is released on PlayStation 5 in 2025. It's a remaster of the original Gears of War, so it's very classic Gears. Watching a game running on a PlayStation console will always feel weird.
Sonic Adventure 2: Battle On GameCube
Long before the PlayStation and Xbox rivalry, Nintendo and Sega had their own console wars in the '80s and '90s. At the time, they were two major console brands, each with their own mascot. Nintendo had Mario, and Sega had Sonic.
However, by the end of 2001, Sega had stopped making consoles. Therefore, the company ported Sonic Adventure 2 (as Sonic Adventure 2: Battle) to Nintendo's GameCube. It was wild to see a Sonic game on a Nintendo system back then. Now, you can play many Sonic titles on Nintendo consoles.
Halo: The Campaign developed on the PlayStation 5
To say that Halo is Xbox's greatest series would be an understatement. These games really put the Xbox brand on the map, especially Halo 2 and Halo 3. A few games have also been on PC, but the FPS series has always been synonymous with Xbox.
This is why the revelation that a remake of the original Halo game will be released on the PS5 is such a shock. The Master Chief seems odd to appear on a system made by Xbox's biggest rival. It's like a main Mario game ported to the Xbox Series X|S or PS5.
