![]() ![]() The simple truth is that Microsoft has spent a colossal amount of money purchasing ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) and will want to see a sizeable return on that massive investment. While a vague statement about titles being considered on a “case-by-case basis” has raised the hopes of PlayStation gamers, it seems like little more than empty PR speak to me. Since the moment the deal was announced the press have hounded Microsoft and Bethesda execs with questions about exclusivity. ![]() However, to suggest that Microsoft will be putting future installments on Sony’s next-gen system seems completely illogical. The idea that hugely popular franchises like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, and Wolfenstein will never grace a PlayStation system again is disappointing. Personally, I think it doesn't change anything. Time will of course tell, and the wiggle room for interpreting Spencer's words might give some PS5 players hope that they'll be adventuring in Tamriel or wandering the Wasteland again this generation. Although it could just be a reference to titles such as The Elder Scrolls Online, which have already launched on PlayStation consoles and have been confirmed to still be receiving support on those systems. This could be an indication that Microsoft has no plans to restrict key Bethesda titles to just Xbox platforms. It may not be all bad news for gamers playing on PS5 though, as part of the statement reads: "We look forward to empowering Bethesda’s creative teams to reach even more players around the world." Frustratingly we likely won't know for a while yet which titles will be Xbox exclusive. However, this is our clearest indication yet that at least some of Bethesda's future games won't be coming to PlayStation consoles. ![]() There's communities of players - we love those communities and will continue to invest in them - and even in the future there might be.either contractual things or legacy on different platforms that we'll go do." We have games that exist on other platforms and we're going to go and support those games on the platforms they're on. "There's contractual obligations that we're going to see through. Reading between the lines, that doesn't scream that future Bethesda games will wing their way over to Sony's PS5.īut then Spencer did give some hope ot PS5 by noting: "Obviously I can't sit here and say every Bethesda game is box exclusive, because we know that's not true," explained Spencer. "And that's our goal, that's why we're doing this, that's the root of this partnership that we're building - and the creative capability we'll be able to bring to market for Xbox customers is going to be the best it's ever been for Xbox after we're done here." "If you're an Xbox customer, the thing I want you to know is this is about delivering great exclusive games for you that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists," Spencer said. However, this got clearer in an Xbox and Bethesda roundtable, where Spencer said in no uncertain terms that future Bethesda games will be used to bolster Xbox Game Pass. The most interesting part of the announcement is when Spencer directly said: "Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass will be the best place to experience new Bethesda games, including some new titles in the future that will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players." But there are a few little nuggets that hint towards what Bethesda's relationship with Sony will be in the future. According to the company, since The Elder Scrolls hasn’t seen a new installment since 2011, it’s not exactly yanking anything away from Sony and unlike Call of Duty, Microsoft won’t be forgoing a steady stream of revenue from the Bethesda franchise just to dunk on PlayStation either.The statement is mostly flowery language about how exciting the acquisition is. ![]() In its response to UK’s Competition and Markets Authority ( page 57), Microsoft claimed that The Elder Scrolls is a mid-sized franchise compared to Call of Duty and Minecraft, and making a future entry Xbox exclusive would do no harm to PlayStation. On the other hand, games like Call of Duty have a mass market appeal and require a robust multiplayer community to continue thriving so it wouldn’t make sense to make it exclusive in the future. In yet another gem unearthed from the document containing Microsoft’s arguments in favor of the Activision Blizzard merger, the Xbox maker states that games like Starfield and Redfall have higher exclusivity value since they are new IPs that are often single-player and only appeal to dedicated gamers. While explaining why Starfield is Xbox console-exclusive, Microsoft has hinted that The Elder Scrolls 6 is Xbox exclusive as well. ![]()
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