Key Takeaways
1. Xbox Series X|S has seen a decline in focus from publishers, with fewer titles being developed for the platform.
2. The release of 1348 Ex Voto has been cancelled for Xbox, with the publisher focusing on PC and PlayStation for the best experience.
3. Nickelodeon Splat Pack will only be available on Steam, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, disappointing retro gaming fans.
4. Xbox console sales have significantly dropped, with a 70% decline in the U.S. and a 39% decline in the U.K. in November 2025.
5. Microsoft is shifting focus from hardware to software, emphasizing PC and cloud gaming, leading to fewer incentives for developers to support Xbox consoles.
Despite a drop in console sales, numerous publishers for multiple platforms still support Microsoft’s gaming systems. However, it seems like the Xbox Series X|S has become less of a focus lately. Titles like 1348 Ex Voto and Nickelodeon Splat Pack, while not major AAA releases, will only be available on PC, PS5, or Switch.
1348 Ex Voto Release Details
Set in medieval Italy, 1348 Ex Voto is a third-person action-adventure game. As reported by Gematsu, Dear Villagers has set a release date of March 12th for this cinematic-driven title. Unfortunately, the planned Xbox version for Series X|S has been cancelled. The publisher stated that the decision was made “to concentrate the studio’s efforts on providing the best experience possible for PC and PlayStation.”
Nickelodeon Splat Pack Update
Retro gaming enthusiasts stuck in the 1990s also received disappointing news. Nickelodeon Splat Pack features games like Rocko’s Modern Life: Spunky’s Dangerous Day, Nickelodeon G.U.T.S, and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. This collection will now only release on Steam, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on January 30th. Neither Limited Run Games, the publisher, nor Mighty Rabbit Studios, the developer, offered any explanation for this change.
The cancellation of the Splat Pack is frustrating since confirmation appeared just days before the release date. However, with the shifting landscape of consoles, it may not be surprising that fewer companies are committing resources to these ports.
The Struggles of Xbox Sales
Circana U.S. data indicates that November 2025 was an exceptionally bad month for Xbox systems. Typically a profitable period for console sales, the Series X|S saw a staggering 70% decline compared to the previous year. The situation was similarly bleak in the U.K., where Christopher Dring from The Game Business reported a 39% drop in Series X|S sales in 2025.
Microsoft is no longer focusing on the hardware that was intended to rival the PS5. Instead, the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative is now centered around PCs, Windows handhelds, and cloud gaming devices. The next Xbox console is also expected to depend on its well-known operating system.
Consumers and smaller publishers are discovering fewer incentives to back Microsoft’s consoles. Rising prices and a scarcity of Xbox exclusive titles are pushing more people away from the systems. Thankfully, major anticipated projects like GTA 6 are unlikely to face the same cancellations.
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