Without a doubt, many are still reeling from that news that Microsoft has acquired Bethesda. It’s a game-changer for the Xbox Series X, but it also puts thefuture of Bethesda gamesin question. While games that are currently on the PlayStation platform or have PlayStation exclusivity will maintain those deals, games likeThe Elder Scrolls 6,Fallout,and more are questionable. Now, the Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has finally commented on that possibility.
In a recent interview with Kotaku, Phil Spencer was asked, “Is it possible to recoup a $7.5 billion investment if you don’t sellThe Elder Scrolls 6on the PlayStation,” quickly affirmed that had no monetary reason to put the game on PS5 (effectively). As many who have kept up with or taken part of the debate here know, one common argument was how Microsoft would need to release toThe Elder Scrolls 6on the game to regain investments and earn profits, among other reasons, but Spencer seems to be shooting that idea down here.
RELATED:The Case for Fallout: New Orleans in the New Bethesda-Obsidian Era
That’s not all, though. Spencer continued to talk about the deal, Xbox’s philosophy regarding gaming and gamers, and the number of platfoms Xbox has at the ready. While Spencer does not come out and say “no” to theElder Scrolls 6on the PS5, his phrasing does suggesting that it, in fact, probably won’t:
“I don’t want to be flip about that. This deal was not done to take games away from another player base like that. Nowhere in the documentation that we put together was: ‘How do we keep other players from playing these games?’ We want more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games. But I’ll also say in the model—I’m just answering directly the question that you had—when I think about 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. Whatever that means.”
In tackling the question and being as honest as he can, he states that the deal had nothing to do with takingElder Scrollsfans away from the PS5. However, in the business model Xbox and Bethesda seem to be taking is about the “where” people will be gaming. Mentioning the number of devices with Microsoft support, includingxCloud, PC, Game Pass, and its very own console base, he elaborates that there’s no need for games on platforms the company doesn’t support, “whatever that means.”
In other words, this becomes a big hole for those whose main argument was that Bethesda would continue to put out its game, even if it was just its biggest games likeThe Elder Scrolls 6andFallout, on the PS5. Again, Spencer doesn’t necessarily put down the possibility, but if it means growing and doing what’s best for the brand, it’s clear that platforms which Xbox supports will clearly be the mainstay. While this may still come across as a disappointment for the PS5, it is a counterargument to the criticism that Xbox doesn’t have enough exclusives. And with games like theElder Scrolls 6on Game Passon day one, it is a huge incentive to invest in the Xbox ecosystem.
