Xbox boss Phil Spencer recently revealed that Microsoft’s highly anticipated RPG Starfield could have been a PlayStation exclusive if it weren’t for the company’s acquisition of Zenimax. During a discussion with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Spencer disclosed that Sony routinely pays competitors to skip Xbox. In order to prevent Starfield from skipping Xbox, Microsoft felt it was necessary to purchase Zenimax and secure the game’s availability on their platform.
“When we acquired ZeniMax, one of the impetuses for that is that Sony had done a deal for Deathloop and Ghostwire… to pay Bethesda to not ship those games on Xbox,” Spencer explained. “So the discussion about Starfield, when we heard that Starfield was potentially also going to end up skipping Xbox, we can’t be in a position as a third-place console where we fall further behind on our content ownership, so we’ve had to secure content to remain viable in the business.”
Microsoft acquired Zenimax and its subsidiaries, including Bethesda, in 2021 for a whopping $7.5 billion. Following the acquisition, it was announced that Bethesda would release “some” games exclusively on Xbox and PC. Since then, Bethesda has released Redfall as an Xbox/PC exclusive and plans to do the same with Starfield.
This revelation sheds light on the competitive nature of the gaming industry and the lengths companies are willing to go to secure exclusive content for their platforms. It also highlights Microsoft’s determination to remain competitive in the console market and maintain a strong lineup of exclusive games.
For more information on Phil Spencer’s statements to the FTC, including his comments on The Elder Scrolls 6 and Xbox’s commitment to CoD PlayStation promises, be sure to check out our related articles.
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What prompted Microsoft’s decision to acquire Zenimax and ensure that Starfield would be available on Xbox?
Xbox boss Phil Spencer recently dropped a bombshell, revealing that Microsoft’s highly anticipated RPG Starfield could have ended up as a PlayStation exclusive if it wasn’t for the company’s acquisition of Zenimax. Speaking during a discussion with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Spencer disclosed that Sony regularly pays competitors to keep their games off Xbox. This prompted Microsoft to make the decision to purchase Zenimax and ensure that Starfield would be available on their platform.
According to Spencer, “When we acquired ZeniMax, one of the reasons behind it was that Sony had struck a deal with Bethesda to keep games like Deathloop and Ghostwire off Xbox.” He further explained, “So when we heard that Starfield might also skip Xbox, we couldn’t afford to fall further behind as a third-place console. We had to secure the content to stay competitive in the industry.”
In 2021, Microsoft acquired Zenimax and its subsidiaries, including Bethesda, in a record-breaking deal worth .5 billion. Following the acquisition, it was announced that Bethesda would release “some” games exclusively on Xbox and PC. Since then, the studio has released Redfall as an Xbox/PC exclusive and is planning to do the same with Starfield.
This revelation sheds light on the cutthroat nature of the gaming industry and the measures companies are willing to take to secure exclusive content for their platforms. It also underscores Microsoft’s determination to stay competitive in the console market and maintain a strong lineup of exclusive games.
For more details about Phil Spencer’s remarks to the FTC, including his thoughts on The Elder Scrolls 6 and Xbox’s commitment to fulfilling CoD PlayStation promises, make sure to check out our related articles.
Note: The products mentioned in this article were independently selected by our editors. GameSpot may earn a share of the revenue if you make a purchase through the links provided.
If you have any news tips or would like to contact us directly, please email news@gamespot.com.
This is fantastic news for Xbox fans! Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax ensures that Starfield won’t be exclusive to PlayStation, giving gamers on the Xbox platform a chance to enjoy this highly anticipated game. A smart move by Xbox boss to secure such a promising title for their console!