The Microsoft and Bethesda Softworks buyout is one of the biggest acquisitions in video game history. Last month, Microsoft purchased ZeniMax and all its studios including id, Zenimax Online, Machine Games and more for $7.5 billion dollars. However, gamers are still wondering what it means for non-Xbox platforms going forward. It seems Microsoft may hold onto upcoming Bethesda games including The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield which means these titles won’t release on PS5.
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In an interview with Kotaku, they asked Phil Spencer about the recent acquisition of ZeniMax saying the company needs to recoup that $7.5 billion investment. However, Phil claims it is completely possible without the need to release The Elder Scrolls 6 on PlayStation. When asked whether or not Microsoft will recoup the costs, Phil simply replied “yes”.
Later on in the interview, Phil made sure to point out that the ZeniMax buyout was not done to take games away from another player base. However, Phil does say he thinks about;
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#FBFF33″ class=”” size=”21″]”where people are going to be playing and the number of devices that we had, and we have xCloud and PC and Game Pass and our console base, I don’t have to go ship those games on any other platform other than the platforms that we support in order to kind of make the deal work for us. [/perfectpullquote]
While this is not confirmation that the upcoming The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield won’t release on PS5, it sure sounds like Phil is thinking about the possibility of making them an Xbox ecosystem exclusive. With that said, $7.5 billion is a lot of money to make back on game sales. In addition. Xbox relies on Game Pass instead of physical game sales. If Microsoft has enough subscribers to make the money back then great.