More Xbox games cancelled, as slow console sales and lack of exclusives make PS5 a priority

Despite declining console sales, many multi-platform publishers still cater to Microsoft’s gaming systems. However, recently, there have been signs that the Xbox Series X|S has become less of a priority. Although not high-profile AAA games, 1348 Ex Voto and Nickelodeon Splat Pack will only be shipping on the PC, PS5, or Switch.

Set in medieval Italy, 1348 Ex Voto is an action-adventure game played in third-person perspective. As Gematsu reported, Dear Villagers announced a March 12th release date for a cinematic-heavy title. Sadly, the planned Xbox game for the Series X|S has been cancelled. According to the publisher, it made the decision “in order to focus the studio’s efforts on delivering the best experience possible for PC and PlayStation.”

Some retro gaming fans trapped in the 1990s were also dealt bad news. Nickelodeon Splat Pack includes Rocko’s Modern Life: Spunky’s Dangerous Day, Nickelodeon G.U.T.S, and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. The collection will now only come to Steam, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on January 30th. Neither publisher, Limited Run Games, nor developer Mighty Rabbit Studios provided an explanation.

The Splat Pack cancellation is frustrating because confirmation surfaced days before its release date. Yet, given the evolving console landscape, it may not be surprising that fewer companies are allocating resources to the ports.

Xbox's sluggish retail performance continues

Already struggling, Circana U.S. data showed that November 2025 was a historically poor month for Xbox systems. In a normally lucrative time for console sales, the Series X|S experienced a 70% drop compared to the prior year. The situation wasn’t any less dire in the U.K., where, according to Christopher Dring of The Game Business, Series X|S sales plummeted by 39% in 2025.

Microsoft itself is no longer concentrating on the hardware that launched to compete with the PS5. Instead, the Xbox Play Anywhere campaign centers on PCs, Windows handhelds, and cloud gaming devices. The next Xbox console will reportedly also rely on its popular OS.

Buyers and smaller publishers are finding fewer reasons to support Microsoft’s consoles. Price increases and a lack of Xbox exclusive games are further motivations to abandon the systems. Fortunately, anticipated AAA projects like GTA 6 are unlikely to suffer the same cancellations.