As a result of the ongoing pandemic, video game delays in 2021 have been all too common, and the most recent victim is the upcoming PlayStation 5-exclusiveGhostwire: Tokyo.Ghostwirehas been delayed to “early 2022"without any further details about when exactly fans can expect to see it. While delays are common, especially over the last year, the game’s delayed release is bad news just about everyone, and especially for Xbox owners.
Despite the game’s current existence as a PS5 exclusive, there’s still hope thatGhostwire: Tokyowill release on other platforms, specifically on the Xbox Series X and S. Although there’s no official confirmation that the game will ever become a cross-platform title, those waiting anxiously for an announcement of that sort will likely have to wait even longer as a result of the delay. Looking at a title in a similar position might shed some light on what fans can expect fromGhostwire: Tokyo’s release.
RELATED:What Makes Ghostwire: Tokyo’s Yokai Folklore Influence Unique
Deathloop is Coming to Xbox
It’s been known for a while that bothGhostwire: TokyoandDeathloopwill be timed PS5 exclusives, and then will make their way to Xbox platforms once their exclusivity deals are up. Sony was pretty transparent when initially advertising for the PS5 about which of its titles will be exclusives and which will be released elsewhere. BothGhostwire: TokyoandDeathloopare being published by Bethesda Softworks, and the fine print on all of their trailers said that they’d be PS5 exclusives for 12 months following their PlayStation debuts.
FollowingMicrosoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Mediain fall 2020, all eyes were on the company to see how it would handle the exclusivity deals that certain ZeniMax-owned studios had made with Sony. Microsoft said that it would be honoring the contracts previously made, and soDeathloopandGhostwire: Tokyowill be only available on the PS5 until their contracts run their courses. Once the contracts are up, however, it’s likely Microsoft will go all out for both games to arrive on their platforms. With the company’s E2 2021 press conference being so Xbox Game Pass-centric, it’s likely thatGhostwire: TokyoandDeathloopwill come to the service the moment they’re available.
Now thatDeathloop’s release is growing closer, information on when it’ll be available for Xbox consoles is beginning to come together, ultimately informing what the release ofGhostwire: Tokyomight look like as well. TheDeathlooptrailer from the July State of Playsaid the game will be available outside of the PS5 after August 05, 2025, meaning thatDeathloop’s exclusivity is based off of when the game actually releases and not when it was initially supposed to.Deathloopwas originally meant to release on Jul 04, 2025, but like many AAA titles this year was pushed back.
RELATED:How Shinji Mikami’s Resident Evil Background May Impact Ghostwire: Tokyo
Ghostwire: Tokyo’s PS5 Exclusivity Deal and Release
Deathloop’s release situation is very telling for howGhostwire: Tokyo’s release will likely be handled. Up until recently, the datesexplainingDeathloop’s exclusivity situationwere as vague as its finalized release date, but now the Jun 03, 2025 date is all over its marketing in the fine print. This means thatGhostwire: Tokyowill likely share the same fate, becoming available on multiple platforms exactly one year after it actually goes live, not when it was initially supposed to release.
Unfortunately, these types of exclusivity deals are rarely detailed in the public eye, so it’s impossible to confirm thatGhostwire: TokyoandDeathloop’s situations are identical. However, because they’re both being published by the same studio, it’s likely that they’ll be sharing a similar fate. Adding even more to the evidence that both games will receive similar treatment, their status asMicrosoft-owned IPs being published exclusively to a Sony platformputs them in a unique situation that will likely result in equal treatment.
The question now is about whenGhostwire: Tokyois actually going to be releasing. Despite supposedly coming out in October 2021, the game has been relatively quiet, without any new information or trailers being released for some time. Its “early 2022” release date from the recent statement byTango Gameworks, the studio behindGhostwire, is similarly vague so there’s really no telling as to when the project will be finished.
When Ghostwire: Tokyo Will Be Heading to Xbox
At the end of the day,Ghostwire: Tokyo’s delay might be frustrating for fans who are anticipating the title, but it’s a good thing in terms of the game’s development and quality. While PS5 owners might be disappointed, things look bleakest for Xbox owners who are patiently waiting for the game to cross the console aisle potentially a year following its release. TheGhostwire: Tokyodelay means that the wait will be even longer for Xbox owners, extending from waiting until late 2022 to early 2023. The upside is that bothGhostwire: TokyoandDeathloopare likely to be debuting on Game Passthe day they launch on Xbox platforms.
It’s also worth noting that there’s been no official announcement regardingGhostwire: Tokyo’s eventual arrival on Xbox, but it feels like only a matter of time until an announcement comes. It’s likely such a statement will come after one regardingDeathloopas the Arkane title is releasing first. However, it makes sense that Microsoft will say something asGhostwire’s exclusivity contract comes to a close. When that will be specifically is still unclear. In the meantime, there’s not much else anyone can do other than to keep eyes open for newGhostwire: Tokyotrailers,wait patiently for “early 2022,” and hope that that means a January release rather than a March one.
Ghostwire: Tokyowill launch in early 2022 for PC and PS5, and is rumored to release at a later time on Xbox Series X/S.
