This acquisition took place in March 2021 for around $7.5 billion and has since been dwarfed by other Xbox acquisitions, such as the record-breaking 2022 acquisition of Activision Blizzard for a staggering $68.7 billion. With that being said, several high-profile upcoming Bethesda titles are now confirmed to be exclusive to Xbox as a result of the acquisition, which has flung this particular deal back into the limelight.
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Starfield
The upcoming Starfield is one of the most hotly anticipated releases to come from Bethesda that the studio has seen in quite some time. An expansive RPG that is set to follow a lot of the same gameplay beats as the Fallout and Elder Scrolls games, Starfield takes the Bethesda formula to an intensely detailed space setting.
Starfield is the first brand-new IP to come from Bethesda in decades and has predictably set the studio’s fan base ablaze with anticipation. With over 1,000 planets for players to freely explore, it is no wonder that Microsoft has ensured that the hopeful title is exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC. It has officially been confirmed that Starfield will be an Xbox exclusive, with the title surely being the perfect candidate for what kind of games Microsoft is hoping to make exclusive via the ambitious Bethesda deal.
Redfall
Redfall is another upcoming Bethesda project that has been officially confirmed by Microsoft to be an Xbox and PC exclusive. Developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda, Redfall is set to be an open-world co-op first-person shooter set on the island town of Redfall, Massachusetts.
Vampires play the main antagonistic role of Redfall, occupying the island and blocking out the Sun. With a focus on complimentary co-op combat roles and a gradual uncovering of a deep and layered narrative, Redfall is another game that has already amassed an excited audience in the run-up to its release. Like Starfield, the Xbox exclusivity of Redfall means that the title will be available on day one of its eventual release through the highly successful Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
The Elder Scrolls 6
Of course, the upcoming The Elder Scrolls 6 is another confirmed Bethesda title that has massive amounts of anticipation surrounding it. Given the success of The Elder Scrolls franchise, combined with the fact that the last franchise entry released over a decade ago, the hype and discourse surrounding The Elder Scrolls 6 is unlike anything else associated with the studio.
Skyrim is one of the most successful games of all time, which still famously receives re-releases to this day, meaning the pressure will be high for TES 6. The acclaim and prestige surrounding this particular franchise ask whether Xbox will be bold enough to make The Elder Scrolls 6 an Xbox and PC exclusive, in the same way that both Starfield and Redfall are. It is not yet officially confirmed what level of platform availability TES 6 will possess, however, the precedent set by Xbox regarding the somewhat comparable Starfield possibly indicates that the next Elder Scrolls could find itself limited to Xbox hardware. While this would be controversial, it would undoubtedly be a clear statement of intent from Microsoft as to the level and scale it is willing to utilize its many acquired studios to their maximum potential.
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