Update: A Microsoft spokesperson has provided the following statement about whether or not more Xbox exclusives will come to other platforms.
"The past year has been an exciting time for us as we have more than doubled the internal creative teams making up Xbox Game Studios. As these new studios transitioned in, we were aware of some existing commitments to other platforms and will honor them. However, going forward these new studios will focus on making games for our platforms. We have no plans to further expand our exclusive first party games to other consoles. We continue to believe deeply in cross play and progression of games with the right flexibility for developers to insure a fair and fun experience."
Original story follows.
Xbox has openly admitted that it has largely dropped the ball on delivering high-quality single-player experiences this generation, but there is an exception to the rule. Single player Metroidvania game Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the highest-rated games of the entire generation, and has stood as one of the Xbox One's most highly-regarded console exclusives. However, it will soon be available to an even wider audience, as it was confirmed by Nintendo at Gamescom 2019 that the once-Xbox One console-exclusive Ori and the Blind Forest is coming to the Nintendo Switch.
The Ori and the Blind Forest Switch release date is September 27, 2019. And it's the Definitive Edition of the game to boot, meaning that players will be able to explore brand new areas that weren't in the original game, try out multiple difficulty modes, and enjoy a fast-travel system. The Definitive Edition of Ori and the Blind Forest is certainly the best way to experience the game, so it's nice that version is the one coming to the Switch.
Nintendo chose to end its Gamescom 2019 presentation with the Ori and the Blind Forest announcement, showing just how big of a deal it really is to see an Xbox exclusive come to the Switch. However, it seems as though Microsoft and Nintendo have developed quite a strong working relationship. After all, Cuphead came to the Switch, and Microsoft is also lending Banjo-Kazooie to Nintendo for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Moving forward, it's likely that more Microsoft-exclusive games will come to the Nintendo Switch. In fact, even Microsoft's own studios may end up developing games for non-Xbox platforms, according to Microsoft's Matt Booty.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to see what other Microsoft-exclusives come to the Nintendo Switch in the future. One likely candidate seems to be the Ori and the Blind Forest sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, but for now, that game is only confirmed for PC and Xbox One.
Ori and the Blind Forest is out now for PC and Xbox One, and is coming to the Nintendo Switch on September 27, 2019.