PS5 players shouldn't worry about Xbox Series X Bethesda deal

PS5 players shouldn't worry about Xbox Serial X Bethesda deal — here's why

PS5 owners shouldn't worry about Xbox Series X Bethesda deal

(Image credit: Microsoft)

In case you somehow missed it, Microsoft recently acquired Zenimax Media and the deal has sent out ripples in the gaming community. PS5 players are panicking over the news that time to come Bethesda titles volition be Xbox Series X exclusives. Only if we take a step back and look at the bigger moving picture, they're almost certainly getting worked upwards over nada.

Zenimax is the parent company of Bethesda, which is the studio that's home to hugely popular franchises like The Elder Scrolls and the Fallout series. Xbox boss Phil Spencer'due south statement in the wake of the deal plunged PS5 players into despair equally he confirmed that news that yeah, "some new titles in the future that will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players."

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While this sounds like the death knell for the likes of Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls on Sony's consoles, it would make lilliputian sense in the context of Microsoft'southward ethos and strategy. Gamers who believe that they won't always see their favorite games release outside of the Xbox Serial X, Xbox Serial S, and PC are jumping the gun.

Microsoft'southward Xbox masterplan

Xbox Game Studios — (Image credit: Microsoft)

Ever since Phil Spencer took the helm at Xbox, Microsoft has managed to win over gamers. Spencer and his archetype t-shirt and blazer combo has made us feel like nosotros've got one of united states of america in the boardroom, representing our interests in a sea of stuffy suits and corporate execs.

His mantra is all about inclusivity. And before Fortnite forced Sony's hand on the topic of cantankerous-platform play, he spoke candidly on Sony's stance at the fourth dimension. "It doesn't assist the developer, and it doesn't help the consumer, then it doesn't feel like it helps grow gaming to me," he said.

Spencer has also been song on Sony'due south proclivity for exclusivity when it comes to PS5 games and what he thinks near nabbing exclusives for one particular platform. Back in 2017, he told GameSpot that he's staunchly against the thought.

"People always knock me on this; I've been on tape... I don't love the idea or exercise of us paying so other platforms can't play or use a certain gun in a game or practise a sure level." Spencer said. "I know I say that and, Xbox history — DLC exclusivity windows with Call of Duty — I sympathize the fingers are pointing right dorsum to Xbox. I can only be who I am. It's non the best PR answer. Simply I don't like that."

Talking more than specifically about console exclusives simply earlier the Xbox Serial X launched, Spencer told GamesIndustry.biz: "Our device is not the centre of our strategy, our game is non the centre of the strategy. We desire to enable yous to play the games you lot want to play, with the friends you desire to play with, on whatsoever device.

"On Tv, the Xbox console is going to be the best mode to play console games. Xbox Series X is the most powerful console out there and it will have absolutely the all-time versions of our console games. Only that'due south not to exclude other people from being able to play."

Spencer waxed lyrically explaining that gaming is well-nigh entertainment and community, and how exclusives are counter to what gaming is near. He besides enthused that "gaming is bigger than any one device" and about the players and access to games.

Merely a few months later, news of the Zenimax deal broke. In an interview with Gamereactor, Spencer stressed his belief that platform exclusives provide curt-term value, but he thinks the jury's out on how beneficial information technology is outside of generating hype.

"From an exclusivity standpoint, they are great marketing vehicles and they can lead to some great games. Simply if nosotros take a higher-level view, is gaming ameliorate if more than people get to play more of the great games in our ecosystem? I think that is true," Spencer said. "And that is why we ship our game on Xbox, we transport our game on PC, and if you have an Android phone you can play our games likewise."

The Minecraft model

Minecraft is a nifty example of this. After Microsoft bought Mojang, it was still possible to play the game on Nintendo Switch, and PS4. Only you can sign in to your Microsoft account on both platforms for benefits similar cantankerous-play. Furthermore, you can tie your in-game purchases to your account, then they carry over if yous switch to a different device or platform to play the game on.

In this instance, the game was already available on the platforms, and while in that location was pushback from Sony, which cited player safety as a reason to oppose cross-play, the company somewhen relented. Microsoft got its way: PS4 players were free to sign in to their Microsoft business relationship and link it to their PSN business relationship.

Paired with its historical stance on exclusives, and willingness to echo the sentiment expressed by gamers on subjects like cross-play, suddenly pulling a 180-degree plow would be bad for business.

Phil Spencer has presented the image of someone invested in gamers' involvement higher up arbitrary business organisation decisions that would see segments of the customs excluded from playing great Xbox games.

A question of time

PS5 DualSense VS Xbox Series controller — (Paradigm credit: Sony / Microsoft)

But of course, profitability is a factor that can't exist ignored, especially after sinking $7.5 billion into buying Zenimax Media.

The all-time way for Xbox to come out on tiptop of the acquisition is timed exclusives, especially with beloved franchises that have released across platforms in the past. It'south a 'higher-level view' in-line with Spencer'due south personal behavior on how gaming should work.

Moreover, Xbox Game Laissez passer has been dubbed 'Netflix for games.' And while distribution rights vary drastically betwixt industries, it's common do to see series and films migrate betwixt streaming services, even for original content.

Game Laissez passer is certainly revolutionary in bringing this format to gaming — just await at how Game Pass now has admission to EA Play — and the streaming service-like approach is undoubtedly the future. Keeping titles exclusive to 1 platform forever is decidedly not.

If Phil Spencer and Microsoft are as frontward-thinking every bit they've led us to believe, PS5 players won't have anything to worry near.

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Shabana is T3's News Editor covering tech and gaming, and has been writing most video games for almost a decade (and playing them since forever). Likewise as contributing to Tom's Guide, she's had bylines at major gaming sites during her freelance career before settling down at T3, and has podcasts, streaming, and video content under her belt to boot. Outside of work, she too plays video games and should actually think about expanding her hobbies.