But the thing is that starfield is with them for a long term.so gamepass increase and console sold is more valuable to them.
Plus it's will be a reason to buy the console.
Again, I'd argue that Sony have a far greater impetus to maintain exclusivity with the FF7r sub-franchise than with FFXVI, a title I'd expect to see ported to Xbox within the next 2 years. Because the value to Sony of that exclusivity is going to diminish greatly over time while the opportunity cost to SE will make porting increasingly appealing - especially if MS were to underwrite that as compensation for inclusion on Gamepass!
In the case of Starfield if you check my post history you'll see that I always expected it to be launched as an Xbox exclusive, whereas future TES titles I felt had a good chance to remain multi-platform because their proven track-record of success made a clearer argument in terms of profit/loss for taking them exclusive.
Starfield being a new IP is inevitably subject to the same uncertainties that anything untried faces. It has the hype, it has the pedigree, but if it launches and disappoints even slightly, based on internal expectations, then post launch plans will likely change.
Conversely, if it turns out to be a critical and commercial smash - and this is of course what Phil and team will be counting on- then Xbox gets the "shine" from that and it will be forever synonymous with their brands and become the rising tide that lifts all boats.
Where this gets complicated for me is the intersection with MS' pivot towards service-based distribution, software platforming as opposed to hardware platforming.
In this new world how are they to quantify success? Taking Phil at his word that he believes the service component to stay at around 20% of their total revenue, I just don't see how the numbers are going to line up when cutting Sony out of the equation permanently isn't really serving those interests.
I mean, there's nothing MS would like more than to get GamePass on Playstation! Phil's said as much repeatedly. They don't mind sharing revenue, but there's no way on earth they will concede market control. Which is of course the precise same reason Sony will always rebuff them, despite the fact that being able to offer Xbox product on their hardware platform would no doubt offer uplift to their sales!
That being the case, how does it serve MS' interests to maintain exclusivity past the point where the headlines and benefits have faded from memory? Its not like its a new venture for them to invest in, they bought a publisher very prominent and active on Playstation after all.