That could open a can of worms for Sony.
Knowing Microsoft they are probably doing this for that exact reason simply to muddy the waters.
Yep, which is a big reason why I wish they had been a lot more reserved with their PC push. They don't have the vested interests in PC the way Microsoft does, so these ports (and the frequency of them) could have just been benefiting a future pivot for Xbox if anything.
Personally though, I don't think the next Xbox systems are going to be full Windows-based gaming PCs. There's probably way too much work MS would have to do to get a console UI frontend smoothly integrated into bloated Windows. Not only that, that specific approach would mean much higher-priced devices, meaning lower production volumes, meaning fewer user avenues for MS to push Game Pass (Game Pass growth is still intricately tied to hardware adoption, specifically Xbox).
If they can't
guarantee Game Pass on PlayStation and Nintendo devices by next gen, they
aren't taking the full-on gaming-centric Windows mini-PC/NUC device approach because the price for hardware to make up for software revenue losses would limit the market reach too much, and result in too low of hardware volumes, to adequately push Game Pass numbers significantly higher. Though, it would help secure Windows as a PC gaming platform better against any further moves by Valve to shift PC gamers to Steam OS with devices like Steam Deck and a likely return of Steam Machines.
But would MS really give up pursuing Game Pass growth for that? I don't think so. Hence I've been thinking the next Xbox systems will be more in line with what they're already doing, just bringing some extended Windows functions to run whitelisted Windows applications, probably alongside with porting over Windows Store (to facilitate as the means of accessing those Windows apps on Xbox) and working with Valve on some version of Steam for Xbox (likely with access tied to an ongoing Game Pass subscription since, again, they want to grow Game Pass but in this case, can't expect Valve to entertain a revenue sharing option which makes zero sense for Valve just to help Xbox).
And in that case, I guess Xbox would still be more a console than a PC (even if they do other stuff like introducing modular hardware upgrades for stuff like the GPU or RAM), and be a bit more price-competitive with PlayStation (though still more expensive than an equivalent PlayStation). On those grounds, Sony/SIE could easily implement a block of their games on those Xbox devices and get away with it. Might be a bit messy, and again could've been avoided if they didn't get so overly aggressive with PC ports to begin with (or at least didn't rely predominantly on a 3P storefront like Steam to host them), but at least then it'd be possible.
Because
otherwise?
Hooo boy....