
Phil Spencer emphasized the franchise's history as a justification for Doom: The Dark Ages being multiplatform because Doom has a long-standing tradition of being available on multiple platforms. This decision aligns with the idea that the Doom franchise is one that everyone deserves to play, regardless of their chosen gaming platform. By releasing Doom: The Dark Ages on PS5 as well as Xbox, Microsoft is acknowledging the game's legacy and ensuring that it reaches the widest possible audience.

Phil Spencer cited the history of the Doom franchise and its presence on multiple platforms as the main reasons for releasing Doom: The Dark Ages on PS5, despite Xbox's recent exclusivity trends2. He believes that Doom is a franchise that everyone deserves to play, regardless of the platform. This suggests that Xbox may choose to release certain games multiplatform based on their legacy and history across different gaming systems.

The acquisition of Zenimax Media by Xbox has had a significant impact on the release strategy of their games. Since the acquisition, Xbox has focused on bolstering its Xbox Game Pass service by including ZeniMax's games directly into the subscription service4. This has led to a shift in focus towards providing content for all types of players to attract as many subscribers as possible.
Additionally, Xbox has started to prioritize its first-party offerings and exclusivity for some games. Some of ZeniMax's future games will be exclusive to platforms that support Xbox Game Pass, which is expected to strengthen Xbox's position in the market4. This strategy aims to associate ZeniMax's popular franchises, such as Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, with the Xbox platform, similar to how Nintendo associates itself with its blockbuster franchises2.
However, it is important to note that Xbox's Phil Spencer has mentioned that there will be new games that are exclusive to Xbox and PC, while other games will be available on other platforms4. The decision on which games will be exclusive and which will be available on other platforms will be made on a case-by-case basis4.