When it comes to ZeniMax Media’s purchase from Microsoft, it was met with plenty of headlines. There were expectations that all of the future games released under the studios under ZeniMax Media would become exclusive to Xbox and PC platforms. After all, we have Bethesda’s Starfield already being one of the Microsoft exclusives that Sony PlayStation 5 owners have been vocal about. Although, this might be just one of the few games to be released as an exclusive. A new finding from Microsoft’s FTC court case revealed that more games could be released across multiple platforms.
Microsoft has been working hard at trying to obtain Activision Blizzard, and it’s been a back-and-forth with some regulators. A new court case dealing with the FTC has brought up the previous acquisition from Microsoft, ZeniMax Media. This purchase has already confirmed a couple of exclusives for the Xbox Series X/S and PC platforms. Those are Redfall from Arkane Austin and Bethesda’s upcoming Starfield title. But thanks to Stephen Totilo on Twitter highlighting information from the FTC court case, it would look like players can expect Sony and Nintendo to receive future games.
We’re not sure what titles going forward will remain exclusive. According to the tweets sent out, it looks like Microsoft wanted to offer some exclusive content while mitigating the economic costs and damage to its player-focused brand. But we already know just how terrible of a launch Redfall had, so it wasn’t much of the exclusive that was felt in terms of competitor platforms. However, as mentioned, there is already one exclusive coming out that PlayStation 5 owners are feeling.
Bethesda’s upcoming Starfield title is being released exclusively for the Microsoft Xbox Series X/S and PC platforms. So now the waiting game is to see what other titles will remain a Microsoft exclusive along with what tiles will see a launch on competitor platforms. It could help persuade some of the regulators to allow Microsoft to purchase Activision Blizzard, especially if they see the games won’t be locked under the Xbox or PC line of platforms.
One of the big titles coming down the line for Bethesda after Starfield’s post-launch content will be the next mainline installment to The Elder Scrolls franchise, and that should also be a title heavily watched for PlayStation fans to see if the Skyrim successor will grace their platform of choice.
