During Microsoft's Gamescom press event there was plenty of talk about exclusivity deals, with several games heading to Xbox One first. It's likely a reaction to the solid showing of the PS4, which seems to be picking up exclusivity deals left, right and centre.
However, all is not what it seems according to Microsoft's Phil Spencer, and speculation that Sony is being chased by third-parties that are throwing exclusivity deals at the company is, apparently, inaccurate.
"So, they [Sony] don't ‘gobble' the deals up. They buy them," Spencer told Gamespot when asked whether it's getting hard for MS to tie up deals for third-party content.
"You know, I read the same things you do, and I know some people think it's somehow less expensive to sign third-party exclusives if you have a bigger market-share. I can tell you, it has nothing to do with market share."
He then added: "When you go in to do a deal, with a third party, that third party has its own view of the global market and the value of it. And they should, they should think about their assets and how valuable they are, just like anyone would when they are selling their goods."
During the same interview Spencer reiterated that Microsoft would be focussing more on first-party titles in the future, saying that "that building up first-party exclusives is creatively more difficult than signing a deal."