Xbox and Bethesda will talk this week about what the acquisition means

Regulators in the United States and Europe have approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax Media, which means that Bethesda is now an Xbox studio. But what does this mean for the companies involved and for fans of games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls? Well, Microsoft will begin to answer these questions with a video presentation on Thursday, March 11, according to sources familiar with the plans.

Microsoft is unlikely to go into detail about Bethesda’s upcoming projects. Details about the previously announced sci-fi RPG adventure, Starfield, are likely to come this summer, so Xbox and Bethesda are not going to talk about it right now. Instead, they will explain what the deal means to Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

In particular, several Bethesda games are expected to make the leap to the Game Pass soon. Microsoft will also use this time to reiterate that any future (and contractually eligible) games under the umbrella of Zenimax will arrive on the Game Pass at launch.

Xbox and Bethesda also do not plan to mix their summer showcases. Both companies are preparing announcements for E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Expo), but they will do them separately. Microsoft, however, may try to present them consecutively as part of a double-take on the Xbox.

Finally, it is still unclear whether Microsoft and Bethesda will address the issue of platform exclusivity. PlayStation fans want to know if Bethesda releases like Starfield, Indiana Jones or The Elder Scrolls VI will also be released on PS5. Thursday’s presentation can provide a black-and-white response, or it can keep things gray – especially if your plans are more nuanced and conditional from game to game.

Microsoft will likely confirm the event in a day or two.