Xbox boss says Bethesda acquisition is ‘all about delivering great exclusive games’
Phil Spencer says Xbox Game Pass exclusives are at the “root of this partnership”
Microsoft has said that delivering exclusive games for platforms that support Xbox Game Pass was the primary reason it acquired Bethesda parent ZeniMax Media.
Speaking during an Xbox and Bethesda roundtable event on Thursday, Xbox head Phil Spencer addressed the burning issue of exclusivity following the acquisition.
“So obviously I can’t sit here and say every Bethesda game is exclusive because we know that’s not true – there are contractual obligations that we’re going to see through as we always do in every one of these instances,” he said.
“We have games that exists on other platforms and we’re going to go support those games on the platforms that they are on. There are communities of players, we love those players, and we’re going to invest in them.
“And even in the future there might be things that have either contractual things or legacy on different platforms that we’ll go do, but if you’re an Xbox customer, the thing I want you to know is this is about delivering great exclusive games for you that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists.
“And that’s our goal, that’s why we’re doing this, that’s the root of this partnership we’re building, and the creative capability we will be able to bring to market for our Xbox customers is going to be the best it has ever been for Xbox.”
Further reading
Bethesda reiterates Deathloop’s PS5 console exclusivity
Bethesda currently has two PS5 timed exclusives planned in Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo, which Xbox has previously said it will honour.
Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it had completed its acquisition of Bethesda parent ZeniMax Media in a $7.5 billion deal.
The move sees Xbox Game Studios grow from 15 to 23 development teams with the addition of Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog and Roundhouse Studios.
Xbox games marketing GM Aaron Greenberg had cautioned fans prior to Thursday’s roundtable that the event would not focus on news or game reveals.
Asked during the event when consumers will get some information on what the companies have been working on together, Bethesda Softworks global marketing and communications VP Erin Losi said “we’ll have something this summer.”
It was also announced during Thursday’s roundtable that Xbox Game Pass will be home to 20 Bethesda Softworks games from March 12.
Bethesda titles already available on Microsoft’s subscription service include Wolfenstein Youngblood, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls Online, Doom Eternal, Rage 2, Fallout New Vegas, Fallout 76 and Dishonored 2.
From tomorrow, the list will also include several legacy Doom, Elder Scrolls and Fallout games, Dishonored Definitive Edition, The Evil Within and more.
