For years, many have declared the console wars over and the battle of Sony’s PS5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S was shaping up to be a foregone conclusion. Alas, it is not!
As reported Monday, 21st September, Microsoft have confirmed plans to acquire ZeniMax Media Inc., the owners of Bethesda Softworks. Bethesda are one of the world’s preeminent video game developers. The deal will set a record as Microsoft’s biggest ever video game related purchase at $7.5 billion.
Bethesda’s best-known titles – The Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Doom – are huge franchises. With the release of Microsoft’s new consoles in November, this deal comes at a time when the tech giant has failed to match the buzz around Sony’s PlayStation 5. It has desperately needed something big to entice gamers into buying their systems. After all, one reason for the PS4’s success over the Xbox One was the fantastic selection of exclusive games.
If Microsoft are hoping to secure the new Xbox’s success by guaranteeing exclusivity of some of gaming’s biggest franchises, what does it mean for the future of Bethesda’s popular titles?
The Elder Scrolls VI, a sequel to 2011’s Skyrim, is one of the most hotly anticipated games in history. With its release date still unconfirmed, this deal throws into question the potential for a cross-platform release. Without a doubt, many gamers will be disappointed at the prospect of missing one of the biggest video game releases ever. While I think Skyrim was a tad overrated, its enduring popularity is indisputable. It stands to reason that should Microsoft secure the exclusivity of Elder Scrolls VI before November they may well sway many players over to the Xbox.
Fallout’s cross-platform future is also at risk. With the resounding failure of Fallout 76 (the first online Fallout game), Bethesda’s focus must be on going back to what made Fallout a household name – an incredible single-player experience. Equally as popular as The Elder Scrolls, the promise of a revitalised Fallout exclusive for Xbox could have significant impact on the upcoming console war.
Many will be hoping that Microsoft choose not to go down the exclusivity route. Perhaps they’ll opt instead to maximise game sales and release these popular titles across all platforms? While it’s possible, I’m sceptical. Yes, it would be an unpopular move by Microsoft. But both Elder Scrolls and Fallout have significantly large and hardcore fanbases. Just look at the sheer volume of people who get Vault Boy and Skyrim tattoos. Arguably, a large amount of the existing fan base wouldn’t miss these games for anything. If they’ll just as readily purchase a new Xbox console and the game (or Game Pass subscription) as they would’ve done just the game on the competing machine, Microsoft will surely take advantage.
Exclusive games are, of course, the natural result of two competing companies with tribal fanbases. Like swing states in presidential elections, exclusives can turn the tide of poor sales from one generation to the next. Just look at the disappointing lifespan of the PS3 compared to the blow-away success of the PS4.
While I understand their reason for being, it doesn’t make the prevalence of exclusives any less frustrating. As a kid, I had a PS3 for the sole reason of playing Metal Gear Solid 4 (which was an exclusive). Many of my friends, however, had an Xbox 360. This meant that unless their parents shelled out for both, they never got to play it. Similarly, in that generation, both consoles got exclusive games focussing on a fight against an alien race. The PS3 got Resistance: Fall of Man; Xbox 360 got Gears of War. They were great games. But neither console got both.
To any adult with sufficient expendable income and able to get a PS5 and Xbox, exclusives are neither here nor there. They’re an irrelevant result of consumer capitalism. But to those who must pick one console or the other – especially kids – exclusives can be a deal breaker. And it always means missing out on some fantastic gaming experiences.
At the time of writing, neither Microsoft nor Bethesda have confirmed what this deal actual means for games currently in the pipeline. Two games poised as ‘timed-exclusive’ launch titles for the PS5 are Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo. Sony’s showcase events have featured them both. While neither stood out as deal-breakers in the choice between an Xbox or PS5, they did add more depth to Sony’s line-up. With the delay of Microsoft’s biggest title – Halo Infinite – until next year, the Xbox didn’t have a great deal to offer at launch. Simply adding two well-publicised launch titles, alongside the promise of future exclusive Bethesda content, may pay dividends.
Whatever angle Microsoft choose to take with the handling of Bethesda IPs, this deal is a win-win for them. Not only will they have dibs on exclusivity for huge future titles, they’ll also be able to command exclusive content for those games if they choose to go cross-platform or even early releases. Unfortunately, the real losers here are gamers. With the PS4 and Xbox One, the choice was quite easy as one had a vastly superior line-up to the other. Now, many will be left facing a dilemma that can’t be solved without an unlimited budget. Only time will tell what the future holds for Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, but it doesn’t look good for Sony fans.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Featured Image Credit: Bethesda Softworks
