“Creative ability … will be the best of all time for the Xbox”.
It is the question that everyone is eager to answer since the news that Microsoft was acquiring Bethesda and Zenimax Media controller last year, and now Xbox boss Phil Spencer has clarified Microsoft’s position on exclusivity for future games from Bethesda.
Speaking as part of the long Xbox and Bethesda “roundtable” event tonight, Spencer chose to address the issue directly. “I see it in the community, I listen to podcasts and all the questions,” he said, “so I’m going to try to be as clear as possible because I think it’s fair.”
“Obviously, I can’t sit here and say that all Bethesda games are [an Xbox] exclusive, because we know it’s not true, “he explained.” There are contractual obligations that we will fulfill. We have games that exist on other platforms and we will support those games on the platforms they are on. There are player communities – we love those communities and we will continue to invest in them – and even in the future there may be … contractual or legacy things on different platforms that we will be doing. “
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“But if you’re an Xbox customer,” Spencer continued, “what I want you to know is that it’s about delivering great games exclusive to you, on platforms where Game Pass exists. And that’s our goal, that’s why that we ‘If we’re doing this, that’s the root of the partnership we are building – and the creative capacity that we will be able to bring to the market for Xbox customers will be the best of all time for Xbox after we finish here. “
The conclusion, then, is that the games currently available on other platforms should not be affected by the acquisition of ZeniMax Media by Microsoft, nor the pre-existing exclusivity agreements, such as the timed exclusivity windows previously announced for Deathloop and GhostWire: Tokyo no PS5. Future games, however, will be exclusive “where Game Pass exists”, currently meaning Xbox consoles, PC and any platform capable of accessing the service via the cloud.
And while there was little news for anyone hoping to learn more about these future games during tonight’s round table, Microsoft and Bethesda have now confirmed that more will be revealed during a special demo event scheduled for this summer.