A former PlayStation head stated, "If Mario were to appear on PlayStation, that would be the end of the world."

When it comes to "exclusive games"—titles available on only one platform—if you had told people in the past that Sega would stop manufacturing hardware to focus solely on software, that Nintendo would bring Mario to mobile phones, that Sony titles would launch on PC, or that Microsoft’s Gears of War would arrive on PlayStation 5, most would have said it was impossible. Back then, gaming giants competed fiercely, often in a "do-or-die" battle to capture market share. However, in an era where selling games has become increasingly difficult and rising prices make consumers hesitate, platform exclusivity is no longer enough for a company’s survival. Even Nintendo has expanded into the mobile market. Yet, one thing remains seemingly impossible: seeing a Nintendo game on a PlayStation console. As a former PlayStation executive once put it, "If Mario ever appeared on PlayStation, it would be the end of the world." Is the rivalry truly that intense? Let’s find out.

Former PlayStation head Shawn Layden discussed the role of exclusive games in the industry on Game Rant's Character Select program. Layden believes exclusive titles offer immense brand value, citing the impact of series like Mario on Nintendo and Uncharted on PlayStation in making platforms distinct and vibrant. You can read more about Shawn Layden's views on Game Rant.

"He doesn't believe every game should be a platform exclusive. However, he acknowledges that exclusives allow developers to fully harness a console's power. Unlike multi-platform games that require coding for various systems, exclusives don't have to settle for the 'lowest common denominator.' As Shawn put it: 'When you're doing multi-platform, you're coding for the general case. But when you're doing an exclusive, you can push every envelope to the max.'"

"While the CEO of Xbox has stated that the concept of console exclusives is outdated, he believes the key to future success lies in making games as widely accessible as possible. Hits like Minecraft and Fortnite have already dominated the market by being available almost everywhere, allowing players to access games on any platform they choose—which he sees as a better approach than limiting a title to a single hardware."

In short, we are seeing a clear divide in how industry leaders view the future. One side argues that exclusives are essential for pushing both hardware and software to their absolute limits—a philosophy Nintendo firmly upholds. On the other hand, the CEO of Xbox believes the future lies in multi-platform accessibility to maximize reach and revenue. Despite these differing strategies, one thing remains certain: we will never see Nintendo’s Mario on a PlayStation. That is something both sides would likely agree on