Sony thought it was ready to fire the opening salvo in the next-generation battle. But then Microsoft pulled off an incredible feat this morning, adding an impressive entry to its development studio roster.
Earlier today, the Xbox giant announced that it has purchased Bethesda and all its studios and properties for a whopping $7.5 billion, expanding its Xbox Game Studios in a rather huge way.
They join the likes of Ninja Theory, Playground Games, Obsidian Entertainment and others in an effort to create big titles for the Xbox Series X, as well as PC.
Phil Spencer, executive vice president for Gaming at Microsoft, said on the deal, “This is an awesome time to be an Xbox fan. In the last 10 days alone, we’ve released details on our two new consoles which go on pre-order tomorrow, launched cloud gaming in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and now we’re making another investment in the most critical part of our strategy: the games. Generations of gamers have been captivated by the renowned franchises in the Bethesda portfolio and will continue to be so for years to come as part of Xbox.” But this deal is much bigger than you think if you look at certain factors involved. Let’s check out the three big ones.
Xbox Game Pass Just Got a Whole Lot Bigger
First off, Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, which already has 15 million members since its introduction, should have no trouble reaching a higher mark by this time next year. That’s because Microsoft has already vowed to make Bethesda’s game library available on the service.
That means it’s only a matter of time before Doom Eternal joins the ranks.
But this also means other titles that will become permanent fixtures. Fallout New Vegas, the Wolfenstein games and Fallout 3 are safe bets, as well as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and the fan-favorite Skyrim. Even more obscure titles are likely to join, including Deathloop (which will possibly debut after that PS5 exclusivity window expires, as it’ll be honored) and maybe even the classic Xbox 360 adventure Wet.
And future titles are a lock. That means Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to play the likes of The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield when they inevitably debut. And that’s a huge deal, adding even more value to the service.
Xbox Game Pass will be a winner here. But other systems won’t necessarily be left out in the cold…
Microsoft’s Third Party Outreach Could Continue
Even though Microsoft will likely keep its big guns close to its Xbox arsenal, there’s a chance that the Bethesda deal could expand its third-party outreach. Mojang’s Minecraft has already proven there’s more than enough room to stretch; and Ori and the Will of the Wisps recently made its debut on Nintendo Switch.
The PS5 exclusivity window for Deathloop will, again, remain in place; and we’ll likely see Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI debut on other platforms, with a “case-by case” basis according to the studio. But either way, it enables Microsoft to reach beyond its Xbox Series X and PC markets, and that’s a huge deal considering the future of gaming.
Where it goes from here is all in question, as the ink on the deal is still fresh from this morning.
But Microsoft put a lot of thought into its investment, so it makes sense to see what surprises are in store from here.
A Bigger Fan Outreach, Possibly With QuakeCon
Bethesda will continue to operate on the gaming front with this purchase, which means good news for the fans that adore the company. This means it’ll likely continue its outreach with fans, while at the same time getting the Xbox name a little further out there.
And one big place that could mean big business for the deal is QuakeCon. Sure, with COVID-19, it’s not quite the same event that it used to be, and may not return that way for some time. But it’s an event that resonates with fans, and Xbox being involved could make it a bigger deal than ever before. Not to mention fan events at the likes of PAX and whatnot.
Again, plans haven’t been made yet, so your guess is as good as ours. But whatever the case, Microsoft and Bethesda have big things in store for the battle of the next generation – and Sony may have just taken a bump to second place.
Congrats to everyone involved! Now let’s see where the deal goes from here…