Microsoft Bought Bethesda To Stop Starfield From Becoming A PlayStation Exclusive

Starfield may have been the front face of Sony if things turned out differently.

Story Highlights

  • Microsoft reportedly acquired Bethesda’s parent company to block Starfield from becoming a PlayStation Exclusive, as said by Phil Spencer in the latest FTC court proceedings.
  • Phil Spencer stated that Sony regularly pays out of its pockets to competitors to keep games away from the Xbox ecosystem.
  • A similar thing happened with Bethesda’s Deathloop and Ghostwire, as Sony prevented the games from arriving on Xbox by paying out of its pockets to make them exclusive.
  • Starfield is now a Microsoft exclusive, aiming for a release on PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. It will release on Sep 6, 2023, but pre-ordering grants access from Sep 1 onwards.

Microsoft is currently defending its acquisition of Activision Blizzard from FTC in court, leading to many details spilling over to the public. As initially reported by The Verge, the Xbox CEO reportedly had to buy Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax to ensure Starfield does not become a PlayStation exclusive. The decision was made to circumvent Sony’s strategy of purchasing exclusivity rights from many studios. 

When we acquired ZeniMax one of the impetus for that is that Sony had done a deal for Deathloop and Ghostwire… to pay Bethesda to not ship those games on Xbox,” Says Phil during the court hearings.

Phil Spencer reportedly mentioned that Sony regularly pays out of its pockets to competitors to keep games away from the Xbox ecosystem. We have also seen it happen a multitude of times, with many titles by third-party studios having timed-exclusive rights that prevent them from releasing on any other platforms. Hence, Microsoft had to buy ZeniMax outright to ensure Sony did not use its strategy on Starfield.

So the discussion about Starfield when we heard that Starfield was potentially also going to end up skipping Xbox, we can’t be in a position as a third-place console where we fall further behind on our content ownership so we’ve had to secure content to remain viable in the business.”

Starfield is now an Xbox exclusive, but things could possibly have been very different if Microsoft did not acquire ZeniMax. The court proceedings also discussed The Elder Scrolls VI and Phil Spencer refused to elaborate on its exclusivity status. In the past, it was hinted that the game would turn out to be an Xbox exclusive, but Phil is currently unclear about its status. 

I think we’ve been a little unclear on what platforms it’s launching on, given how far out the game is. It’s difficult for us right now to nail down.”

The FTC vs Microsoft court hearings are taking place in full force, with Microsoft trying to defend its prominent merger with Activision Blizzard. FTC previously filed a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against Microsoft to stop the acquisition from proceeding, and the court proceedings are the latest attempt for Microsoft to protect the deal. 

We have seen a variety of developments in the last two days since the court hearings started with the Federal Trade Commission, such as Microsoft’s unveiling that the next generation of consoles will begin in 2028. We may see even more intriguing tidbits about Starfield or the endeavors of Sony and Microsoft as the court hearings proceed the following week.

YouTube video

Starfield is now a Microsoft exclusive, targeting a release on PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. The space-faring RPG will reportedly run at 30 FPS on consoles after launch but is expected to retain the 60 FPS on PC. The exhilarating entry will release on Sep 6, 2023, as unveiled in the Official Launch Date reveal trailer. Regardless, pre-ordering the digital premium edition for early access can grant you entry from Sep 1 onwards.

Similar Reads: Elder Scrolls VI Xbox Exclusivity Is Difficult To Nail Down, Says Phil Spencer.

Did you find this helpful? Leave feedback below.

Thanks! Do share your feedback with us. ⚡

How can we make this post better? Your help would be appreciated. ✍

Subscribe to our newsletter and get up-to-speed gaming updates delivered to your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy.

Source
The Verge

Shameer Sarfaraz is a Senior News Writer on eXputer who loves to keep up with the gaming and entertainment industries devoutly. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and several years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.

Experience: 4+ Years || Education: Bachelor in Computer Science.

Related Articles

Join Our Community

Enjoyed this article? Discuss the latest gaming news, get expert help with guides and errors, and chat about all things gaming on eXputer Forums and Discord Server. Connect with fellow gamers who share your passion by becoming a part of eXputer's community.