Following the news that Xbox has acquired ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Softworks, there's been a lot of speculation as to whether Bethesda's games will still appear on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch in the future, such as the highly-anticipated Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI.
We still don't have a definite on that yet, but Xbox boss Phil Spencer has reportedly confirmed to Bloomberg that future titles will be on Xbox, PC, and "other consoles on a case by case basis." (thanks Jason Schreier).
Make of that what you will, but Spencer has also pointed out that Sony's PS5 exclusivity commitment for Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo will be honoured, although obviously we'll expect to see them on Xbox down the line as well.
And of course, don't forget that Microsoft is planning to bring Bethesda's "iconic franchises" to Xbox Game Pass, including brand-new titles which are intended to arrive on the service on day one of release.
Do you think future Bethesda titles will be on PS5 and Nintendo Switch? Share your thoughts below.
[source bloomberg.com, via twitter.com]
Comments 29
Yeah, as I've said elsewhere, this is primarily to make Microsoft more money in the long-run and to increase the appeal of Game Pass. I don't expect the corporate execs at Microsoft are rubbing their hands together evilly and cackling about how it'll allow them to yank games from competing platforms.
It wouldn't surprise me if a bunch of games went to PS5. Why not? Sure, Playstation owners, go ahead and pay Microsoft $69.99 for games that'll be free for Xbox and Win10 users subbed to Game Pass.
I’m thinking games like Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6 or anything Bethesda has already talked about will be on PS5.
Any new stuff they’ve got cooking will probably be exclusives.
Yes, I do.
I can't see a company spending $7.5b on acquiring a company and then deciding to cut off half of that company's income stream.
The only people who would be angry if Bethesda's games came out on PS5 when the company is owned by Microsoft are the mentally-challenged console warriors. Your general PS5 gamer in the street is going to still be charged £60 for the latest Bethesda game on PS5 the same as before, so won't see a difference. The general Xbox gamer is going to get access to the game via their Game Pass subscription, so will be delighted.
They might release a few Xbox exclusives or new franchises here and there, but I can't see Doom, Wolfenstein, The Elder Scrolls or Fallout suddenly becoming exclusive.
No surprise tbh, I think that for the time being they will utilise the other consoles for extra revenue as they have with Minecraft.
Smart move really, though I can definitely see some very strong Xbox/PC exclusive games in 3-4 years. New Vegas 2 being the first I reckon.
GG Phil
Im glad, but I'm gonna have the games on Game Pass anyways.
Good old uncle Microsoft!
For that money Microsoft will still want to take advantage of the Playstation user base, especially for the big sellers such as Elder Scrolls and its not just about having their hardware for them
My expectations:
Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76 will continue to get DLC content.
Fallout 5, Elder Scrolls 6, Wolfenstein 3, Starfield... all that stuff will be PC/XBox exclusive, as well as all new IP.
Doom... Doom should run on Toasters no mater who owns it, and I hope we see doom continue to show up on every single platform possible. But wont be shocked if it stops showing up on PlayStation.
Best case scenario is they continue to release on all platforms but release on Game Pass at launch. You aren't forcing anyone to buy an Xbox, but you're giving them a big incentive to do so
As others have already mentioned, this is most likely to add more value to Game Pass and make it more appealing instead of making franchises like Elder Scrolls exclusive to Xbox. For me this is very important because games are going to cost €80 next generation and I'm not planning on buying many games at all because of this. That's why having Game Pass as an option is absolutely brilliant; either you pay €80 for the game on PS5 or you pay €10 for Game Pass and get to play the same game either on Xbox or PC. And based on how long it takes for you to finish the game, it could even be worth playing it through Game Pass (e.g. if you play it for two months and finish it, then you only paid €20 for the game instead of €80, which is great).
In all honesty, only people who love wasting money are not going to invest in Game Pass next generation. I sure as hell don't like wasting money.
@LtSarge
It really is insane how much you can save money with Game Pass.
@Justifier And publishers are complaining development is getting more expensive every year. Something doesn't add up...
@Justifier At this point I just want Microsoft to buy up as many companies as possible so that I don't have to spend €80 on games. Bring them all over to Game Pass I say!
@Octane
Yes, but they still sell more games than ever.
I could see Xbox making Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, all exclusive to Xbox and PC.. What other way to increase the value of gamepass..
I’m sure there will be some exclusives coming out of this deal, but this is all about Game Pass.
You get Bethesda’s games in there, at launch, which is HUGE!
@carlos82 Probably benefits them to continue getting money from PS5 game sales after the XSS/XSX flops.
I hope not.
As much as I love Sony and the PlayStation brand, I don't want MS to buy Bethesda and keep bringing its games to the PS ecosystem. What was the point of the acquisition, then?
Then again, Minecraft.
@Nickolaidas My thoughts exactly
I think they will pick and choose at will, depending maybe the market at the time etc and what their other studios are producing etc. Any way good news for game pass.
ie they might have doom on all platforms but a new ip from Arkane as an exclusive.
As long as Obsidian makes more Fallout, I don't care.
Does anybody know what games have Alpha Dog and Roundhouse Studios developed or are they new?
@BlueOcean Alpha Dog is at this time a mobile game dev:
http://www.alphadoggames.com/
Roundhouse is a new studio, but basically its the team formerly called Human Head Studios:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Head_Studios
Dont think Roundhouse comes with any IPs, Alpha Dog has a couple mobile IPs that I dont think anyone will care much for.
@Tharsman OK, thanks.
It makes sense they have Alpha Dog under their portfolio, given how much Zenimax was pushing for games like Fallout Shelter and Elder Scrolls Blades, I'm sure they were planning to do more gross micro transaction heavy games with them. They will likely become a support studio going forward.
If I were Phil, I would keep all of these games except ESO & Fallout 76 off the PS5. I would allow games on Switch (if they can run on there), however.
Sony is a nasty company that has a CEO that likes to run his big mouth about Xbox’s way of doing business. I love that Phil Spencer is not that type of guy, but why help out Sony in any way?
People saying that Microsoft should put the games on PS5 bc of the sales it will generate.....but with the games coming to Game Pass at launch, how many people are actually going to buy the games on PS5 to make it worth it?
And if people want a cheap, Game Pass console to go along with their PS5......there is the Series S for that.
Heck no with their caustic player base,Sony doesn’t care enough about it’s players make the ps5 backwards compatible with their own scuf controllers with ps5 games,Sony is so arrogant about the fact they sold 6 trillion more consoles than Microsoft,Sony is only interested in money,The last of us 2 limited edition ps4 pro is the last PlayStation I’ll ever own, the Xbox is a far better console plus the possibility of some amazing limited edition Xbox consoles Is exciting
I wonder if they would do the timed release thing. Hold back Starfield/ES6/FONV2 for 3/6/12 months before releasing on Playstation?
I can already see the big "Microsoft Games Studios" splash screen when DeathLoop and Ghostwire release on PS5. It's such a clear troll for it not to happen. PS will also have commited to spend X amount on marketing for each game so we may find PS paying for Microsoft game studio ads.
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