Microsoft has taken a huge leap forward and added the ZeniMax Company to its studio collection, which means Bethesda video games are now part of the Xbox family. This means that the developers behind Doom, Wolfenstein, Dishonored, The Elder Scrolls, The Evil Within, Prey, Starfield and many more are included in the deal. For gamers, many are curious about what this new $ 7,5 billion deal means to them. Can we expect all of these games to become Xbox exclusives, and if so, does that mean they won't be releasing on PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch in the future?
Fortunately, Microsoft has added 20 developers to Xbox game studios over the past few years, and given the acquisitions, we can take a look at what things look like for Bethesda. Fortunately, all of these games are unlikely to be on the verge of Xbox exclusives. Many of them will likely continue to release on various platforms, both for PC on Steam, Sony's PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. However, this means that Xbox products could be given a more lucrative option.
For example, The Outer Worlds published by Obisidian Entertainment is a great example to use for these predictions. Obsidian was acquired and joined Xbox Game Studios in November 2018, shortly after announcing The Outer Worlds, a game they were already working on, likely amid talks with Microsoft. When The Outer Worlds came out, it was released on all possible platforms on day one, with the exception of the Nintendo Switch, which took longer for the developers to function properly. You can buy it on Steam, for a PlayStation 4 or an Xbox One. But you could also get it for free on Xbox Game Pass if you had a subscription. This is the main draw for working within Xbox Game Studio, and it's likely a trend we'll see with Bethesda games in the future.
While future games are not an Xbox exclusive, the games will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one. This makes the Xbox Game Pass subscription service extremely attractive; if that wasn't already the case with the massive amount of games available for a small subscription, you have to pay once a month or a year.
To help allay fears gamers might have after hearing this news, Todd Howard, director and executive producer at Bethesda Game Studios, shared his thoughts on a Bethesda blog post on the future of the business and the way she planned to release games.
"Like our original partnership, this one involves more than one system or screen," Howard writes. “We share a deep belief in the fundamental power of games, their ability to connect, empower and bring joy. And a belief that we should bring that to everyone - no matter who you are, where you live or what you play on. Regardless of the size of the screen, controller, or even your ability to use one. "
We can expect to hear more details from Microsoft and Bethesda on what the future holds for both of them. But rest assured, it doesn't look like these games will be exclusively available on the Xbox Series X or future Microsoft consoles. All parties seem to want to work together and share the game with everyone.
