Exclusive games are still the top reason for playing on console, survey suggests

Circana’s Q1 survey says exclusive games remain the top reason players pick a console, even though that influence has declined year over year.

Friends and family on the same system, easier multiplayer, and a more casual play experience were the next biggest factors.

The findings matter as Sony and Xbox continue to rethink whether first-party games should stay exclusive or launch on PC and other platforms.

So far, those broader release strategies have produced mixed results, while exclusives still appear to help drive console sales.