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Deconstructing the surprise that no one saw coming
METERicrosoft dropped a bombshell on Monday when it announced that it would take over ZeniMax Media, the parent company behind one of gaming’s biggest monsters, Bethesda Softworks. Doom, Wolfenstein, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Quake, Dishonored, I could go ahead. Iconic franchises that have an incredible technical pedigree in the gaming space. It’s certainly a huge win for Team Xbox, but would Microsoft really skimp on selling games to PlayStation and Nintendo fans? Potentially lose millions in game sales to shore up its exclusive lineup?
I do not think so.
Microsoft’s $ 7.5 billion awards them eight studios, a talented group of more than 2,300 developers known for creating acclaimed masterpieces. This brings Xbox’s internal studios list to 23 and fills a hole in the shape of Bethesda against the onslaught of Sony exclusive titles. Bethesda already has a history with Xbox, with its first console game The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind appearing on the original Xbox. Plus future Bethesda games like Starfield Coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one, it wouldn’t be too difficult for an exclusive game to appear on Microsoft’s chosen platform. As for Arkane’s Deathloop and Tango Gameworks’ Ghostwire: Tokyo, Games announced as timed exclusives for Sony’s PlayStation 5 and PC, Microsoft stated that it will abide by these agreements.
Does Microsoft publish games exclusively for the PS5? 2020 sure is one for the books.
Future games will hit non-Xbox platforms on a “case-by-case” basis. While this seems like there is room for discussion, this is why Microsoft will most likely continue to support rival systems in the near future. Console wars have always been based on little to no hardware margin, and losses have been recouped on video game sales. But with Microsoft’s focus on bringing Xbox Game Pass to as many people as possible, they just might get a chance to have their cake and eat it, too. A 50% increase in the number of subscribers in recent months means that they are already on the right track. Video game sales would only add to Microsoft’s wallet.
While Bethesda joining the Microsoft bandwagon may seem like a huge win in the exclusives department, this is why Microsoft can earn more from the release of upcoming Bethesda titles across all platforms.
Strength in numbers
With over 30 million copies sold as of 2016, Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is among the 20 best-selling video games of all time. A good chunk of those sales came from the PC version, allowing you to have perhaps the best modding scene in the business. You know SkyrimThe ‘modders are second to none when the blogs have a top 100 list for their mods. From graphic showcases to new narratives, it opened a portal for fans to build on an already critically acclaimed game. You can thank them for keeping the game alive 9 years after its release.
Bethesda’s foothold in the PC space is undeniable. Their connection to the rise of PC gaming gives them an enviable position in the minds of gamers. Just looking at titles developed by Bethesda could give anyone a dose of nostalgia. While Fallout’s previous iterations and Ancient documents offered an intense role-playing experience, Condemn and Wolfenstein pioneered the mechanics that would generate the first-person shooter genre. A formula that still reaps success with games like Wolfenstein: Young Blood and Doom Eternal. Add to that the subscription-based format that The Elder Scrolls Online deals, as well as hit mobile games like Nuclear shelter, Bethesda creations are solid bets for Microsoft. And Xbox Game Pass.
Versatility is the name of the game here. Be Dishonor masterful stealth elements or Dam Haunting story aboard a space station, Bethesda knows how to duplicate effective mechanics, no matter how exotic the setting. Microsoft promises that Bethesda will maintain their existing leadership hierarchy, which means they will continue to work on ongoing projects targeting all of the leading platforms. Considering the fact that most of these projects have been brewing for years, it makes little sense for them to go 180 and ditch the Sony and Nintendo versions of said games.
And with the deal closing only for the second quarter of 2021, there is not much Microsoft can do to stop the gears that have already been turned on.
Microsoft has a decision to make
Bethesda is not a panacea. It’s not going to magically solve the exclusives problem without players raising their forks. Leaving support for platforms that Bethesda has worked with for years is not something that goes well with fans. Rather than going the route it did with Rare, it makes more sense for Microsoft to handle things the way they worked with Mojang in Minecraft: on every imaginable platform. They continue to build a fortune by maintaining their user base of more than 200 million players. It’s a recipe for success that Microsoft could replicate with Bethesda. After all, they have been moving in this consumer-friendly direction for years by coexisting with giants like Google.
While Bethesda has had its share of fame and bountiful sales, its games are notorious when it comes to bugs. Case in point, Fallout 76.
It took Bethesda an embarrassing amount of time to fix a game that was beyond breaking at launch. Even Skyrim It is riddled with a glitchfest from the past. Whether this changes under Microsoft remains to be seen. Nonetheless, they still have the potential to up the ante when it comes to Microsoft’s lackluster top-notch lineup. A game or two might help beef up their defenses, but I think these will be entirely new endeavors rather than entrances to existing franchises, along the veins of Deathloop. This ensures that they maximize sales from the current fanbase, filling Microsoft’s deep pockets for bolder purchases and experiments.
Bethesda’s statement seems to indicate the same, despite the “case-by-case” clause:
“We are still working on the same games that we were yesterday, made by the same studios that we have worked with for years, and those games will be published by us.”
Pete Hines, Head of Marketing at Bethesda
With Bethesda under its belt, Microsoft is in a good place to take on the PlayStation 5. It’s its biggest game purchase yet, one that gives Microsoft a chance to fight games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the God of War continuation. After the delay of Infinite Halo And a phenomenal showcase for Sony, the surprise ad restores some faith in the Redmond behemoth. And with Xbox Series X and Series S pre-orders opening tomorrow, Microsoft’s acquisition is sure to have an effect on eager console buyers.
