Xbox made a change to the dashboard and highlighted exclusive games on the platform. The recent change follows Xbox's shift in direction regarding game exclusivity.
A lot has changed at Xbox recently, from changes as small as the social media rebrand from Xbox to XBOX, to changes as significant as the overhaul of Microsoft's gaming division that led to layoffs. The console has struggled in recent years, and changes are being made in an attempt to address the issue and reassure loyal Xbox fans that things will improve. This included adjustments to the way the company handles exclusive products, which is even more apparent with this change.
A new “Buy Now, Pay Later” option is appearing on the Xbox website.
Gamers who have been eyeing the new Xbox console but didn't want to cash in are in luck because there's a new option to pay later.
Xbox is starting to highlight exclusives
Xbox has now modified the dashboard to highlight exclusives in several ways. The dedicated tab now shows exclusives available for Xbox consoles, and games that are exclusive have received a special label that marks them as such on the thumbnails. The change was made quietly without a major announcement, but it didn't take long for Xbox Series players to notice the change.
The dashboard overhaul follows changes and announcements earlier in the year that the company would be changing the way it approaches exclusive products going forward. In April 2026, Xbox acknowledged that it was considering a shift back to focusing on exclusive first-party games, and then announced in June that Xbox exclusivity would be determined on a case-by-case basis. It was confirmed around the same time Gears of War: E-Day will be an Xbox exclusive, despite Gears of War: Reloaded landing on PlayStation consoles. RPG Mechanical revolution it also comes with an Xbox exclusive.
The new changes to the dashboard have been met with a mixed reception from players. Some acknowledged that they were happy to see another sign of Xbox returning to a focus on exclusivity, as it gives another reason to own an Xbox, especially after the “This is Xbox” campaign blew up. However, others were more critical, with some calling the change “desperate” or calling it “unnecessary fan service”. A significant number of players have also pointed out that even though the games are “console exclusives”, they're still coming to PC as well, which they say undermines the label. With Microsoft being a massive force in the PC industry, that seems unlikely to change anytime soon.
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Others took issue with Xbox in general due to its recent moves in layoffs and studio closures. In addition to the layoffs that have already occurred in previous years, employees have been warned that a large wave of layoffs from Xbox is expected in July, although it is not yet clear how many employees will leave the company. Meanwhile, Compulsion Games, an award-winning developer South of midnightis said to be shutting down, while Double Fine (Psychonauts, Brutal legend) and Ninja Theory (Senua, DmC: Devil May Cry) are reportedly also on the list of planned closures. It's clear that there's a lot brewing on Xbox right now, and more changes are expected throughout the year. It remains to be seen what players' thoughts are on the platform and its exclusive games when the dust settles.
