Microsoft now owns Bethesda, its library, and is responsible for any upcoming projects. While there was much handwringing from fans and the media at first, we now know that the former third-party publisher’s projects will no longer release on PlayStation. There are obvious exceptions: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition launched on the PlayStation 5 last week, and Sony still has a contract with Ghostwire Tokyo that will be honoured. Beyond these very specific situations, though, it’s game over.
Of course, it’s not going to stop Xbox boss Phil Spencer from being asked the question, and speaking specifically about The Elder Scrolls 6 – which was announced eons ago – he reiterated that you won’t be playing it on your PS5: “It’s not about punishing any other platform, like I fundamentally believe all of the platforms can continue to grow,” he cryptically said of the exclusivity situation in an interview with GQ. “But in order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full complete package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about The Elder Scrolls 6. That would be true when I think about any of our franchises.”
In other words, if your console doesn’t have services like Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, then it doesn’t have The Elder Scrolls 6. We’ve all come to terms with this now, haven’t we?
[source gq-magazine.co.uk, via psu.com]
Comments 176
Wow is this still news? Its not punishing playstation as this won't dent the PlayStation 5's sales and there's plenty of other amazing games coming to take people's mind of this and If you've played oblivion and skyrim then you've pretty much played this.
If their sales target isn't reached or gamepass users don't increase as much as they expect then I'm sure they will rush to put out a ps5 version after a couple of years
I recently purchased an Xbox for the first time ever for this very reason. Playstation has been my main console since PS1 and always will be, but I am not missing Starfield and Elder Scrolls and the other stuff coming from the studios now under Microsoft's banner.
Time to let go of this and just accept it’ll be exclusive. Sony have their exclusives, Microsoft have theirs. Nothing wrong with that.
Remember when they made a big fuss about Sony blocking cross-play a few years ago... MS was all about the sharing back then. What happened to all that fake concern for the gaming community Phil?
What a load of nonsensical babble.
You bought it to sell your platform, releasing on competing platforms doesn't fit into your business model. Just say that. What are you afraid of?
Honestly given the modding community for elder scrolls and the historically ***** UI - especially inventory - this is a game best left to PC anyhow.
….. now to update my PC graphics card…..
Comments section off to a good start here.
I'm sure the best is yet to come, though.
I mean they obviously bought Bethesda to hurt Playstation sales lol. Dont lie to us Uncle Phil, you are not better than any other Boss of the Big 3
Both Sony and Xbox are a laughing stock in this exclusivity game. Releasing on PC because it's all about maximizing profits, why not ALL platforms then...
Of course it's not about punishing anyone. It's just about selling those Game Pass subs
A real shame to be honest. Guess I’ll be playing it on PC.
Seriously why is this still a question at this point? Xbox fans don't constantly ask Jim Ryan if Spiderman is coming to Xbox...or, if you like, Nintendo fans don't constantly ask about Bethesda games still coming to the switch. Time to get over it and move on. I wouldn't mind but you know full well who the loudest on twitter will be slagging off these Bethesda games when they eventually release...yet so desperate for them.
@velio84 Those are certainly all words.
And its not about punishing bathesda if i dont buy the game.
This game is 5-6 years away at the earliest. Not even Phil knows what the landscape will be at that point. Could easily see Microsoft publishing games on Nintendo and PS by then. All depends how their console strategy changes over those years.
@TheArt you don't get it cause you're still looking at it in the view point hardware sales are the be all and end all - they're not. Hardware sells at a loss. The money is in services. Has been for a generation now...and it's not going to change. Exclusives still matter. It's just the 'platform' has changed. It's really not rocket science. Ask yourself what Microsoft is really pushing on pc...is it games for pc? Or is it gamepass for pc.
I imagine they will use this games as a flagship title for xcloud in the future. This game isn't coming anytime soon and when it does you won't even need a Xbox console to play it.
@velio84 Yeah it's a lot of words to say "we bought the publisher and it gives us a competitive advantage so of course we're not putting that game on other platforms".
@Bleachedsmiles That’s a fair point, this game could end up being the tentpole for Xbox’s cloud push. You can’t play it on PlayStation but you can play it on your TV’s XCloud app.
@UltimateOtaku91 I hear you, it's not really news anymore. However, I suppose the question will continue to get asked for a little while longer before it dies out completely.
@Bleachedsmiles I guess it's still a question because, up until a year ago, Bethesda still made PlayStation games. I certainly understand why the question's still getting asked, even if it will almost certainly get less and less frequent as the years pass.
Phil "When everybody plays, we all win" Spencer.
I really hate how he spreads this duplicitous rhetoric acting all friendly and "pro consumer", first by guilting PlayStation and their owners into cross-play multiplayer that does nothing for PlayStation but bolster Xbox and PC's scarce online lobbies then proceeds to withhold long established multiplatform games for "reasons".
I fully understand why this game won't come to PlayStation but I would respect him more if he just dropped the act and said straight that for strategic business purposes all Bethesda games moving forward will remain Xbox and Windows exclusive and accept that he's fully responsible for that choice instead of this gibberish PR spin of not wanting to punish other platforms, trying to maintain his good-guy image.
@get2sammyb Tbf they still make them kinda...Elder Scrolls Online Expansions will still come out on PS4/5 lol
@Ilovecoffee Exactly. Long as you're paying them for a gamepass subscription. Netflix isn't exclusive to hardware. But does have exclusives over prime, Disney ect. Whether Sony allows gamepass on a playstation console won't even matter...they want gamepass as an app on your TV ultimately. And trust that Sony want psnow on TVs too.
And then when we're all used to the low barrier of entry to play these games we'll all look back and wonder why the hell people used to fear them going onto pc.
@Bleachedsmiles “Xbox fans don't constantly ask Jim Ryan if Spiderman is coming to Xbox...”
I wouldn’t put it past Jim Ryan at this point tbh.
@truerbluer so true and does get annoying listening to him when all he is doing is sugar coating the fact he wants to get one over on playstation, the way I see it Microsoft could bully the gaming industry with their money and will do if they don't out perform sony this gen.
@truerbluer why the hell would Phil care if playstation is doing cross-play? And why do believe he has such power over Sony?...he's xbox's head. Not Sony's. Do you think Sony is so weak minded to bend the knee at something Phil Spencer says? That's crazy.
Sony allowed cross-play because playstation gamers demanded it. Not cause Phil Spencer guilted Sony into it. Seriously.
And from a gaming point of view cross-plays benefits are obvious. Having a game have longer legs on PlayStation doesn't benefit Xbox!
From a consumer point of view the concern regarding cross-play is also obvious - why do we still have multiplayer behind a paywall when we're playing with people who don't? - that should be what you're annoyed at. Not gamers wanting cross-play and Sony listening!
@Royalblues Which exclusives? They are all coming to PC lol
@IonMagi with that logic xbox also has no exclusives as they are also on pc day one unlike sonys which don't go to pc until 2-3 years later
‘…But in order to be on Xbox..,’
A wise man once said..,everything before ‘but’ is a pile of BS 😅
Taking away exciting IPs that been multiplatforms for years
Then saying when everybody play we all win
I hope sony acquires square enix and t2
@UltimateOtaku91 Well...yeah they dont too lol. At least on PC you need Microsoft for those Games
@IonMagi Fair.
Of course we have and when it's finally released (2026 at this rate) I might buy a cheap Series S just to play it BUT of course this move (purchasing Zenimax and big franchises like TES, Fallout and Doom) was designed to pull people away from PlayStation, to suggest otherwise is laughable and just pure bs.
Right now, I'm not bothered in the slightest but at some point in the future I may have to make an additional purchase which I'd prefer not to have made.
I was intending to get this for PC anyway, but I keep having to push back getting a new desktop.
Mid-tier computers are super affordable now, but high-end rigs are ludicrously overpriced. It's just frustrating thinking about having to shell out about 2,500 dollars for a computer that is... slightly better than my PS5?
At least I'll get to play games at 144 fps, so there's that at least.
@Bleachedsmiles Nah not looking at it as hardware sales being the be all end all. You say it's all about services services services, then I guess PS NOW could go to Xbox/Nintendo and GamePass to PS/Nintendo, why PC ALONE...clearly they're all punishing each other like children and Xbox is the bigger child here with this Bethesda acquisition. And you can't tell me they aren't factoring console sales ELSE they would bring exclusives to rival CONSOLES no matter how you look at it. People bought Series S just for Bethesda's games.
@Col_McCafferty Exactly! I don't know how people can suggest otherwise, it's really laughable.
@Zag_Man. Microsoft have always been second best or last.they couldn't even beat ps3 .and PlayStation always kick theyre as😂.ps5 will continue dominating x box.easy victory for ps5.and sony got housemarque and bluepoint and ember lab is next and other studios.word up son
I'm preparing myself for when the next Doom game is announced and what they do with that
@Bleachedsmiles
But it’s not really a question. It’s Spencer talking and talking in an interview. Reporters report because it’s gold. 🤷🏼♂️
@Bleachedsmiles It absolutely was Phil Spencer who sparked the whole cross-play debacle with Sony when Minecraft got cross-play with Switch and he expressed his disappointment that Sony wouldn't play ball, I remember watching an interview from Giant Bomb's E3 coverage a few years back. When that happened PlayStation's social media would get completely hounded by people demanding cross-play until Sony finally relented.
Also I have no problem with cross-play among similar platforms that have paywalls, but when PC gets into the mix it raises questions why console owners still have to pay when PC players get the entire pool of console players for no cost. I have been vocal about that already.
On the bright side, this buyout has left a open world rpg hole for a massive user base open to other developers. I'm sure at least one of the big guns is eyeing it up.
@Ultrasmiles I think majority of players won't buy the game. They will have it as part of Game Pass subscription, since it's cheaper
@velio84 This is his special version of clever PR speak, except no one thinks that but himself. Haha
Removed - trolling/baiting; user is banned
I’ll just buy a cheap Xbox and trade it in when done. Simple
@IonMagi
Dont forget them PlayStation exclusives coming to PC too soon if not sooner day 1 drops also on PC
Classic Phil
Honestly this is all business. Also the REAL winner is PC not Xbox and not PlayStation.
At this point you only need a good enough PC for to play Xbox exclusives and also eventually PlayStation exclusives. You can use GeForce now, Xcloud if you want if it isn’t powerful enough.
The only console you will need is a Nintendo console because Nintendo games can’t be played on PC unless by emulation
@Royalblues @RedKnight34 You are comparing Sony that created its own exclusives with Microsoft that locked previously available franchises to its platforms.
@viktorcode I feel Microsoft has the LEAST amount of creativity and Nintendo being the MOST creative out of the big 3. Sony is somewhere in the middle.
Basically, 'Uncle' Phil is a massive hypocrite and everything he says should be taken with a large pinch of salt.
He's as much a Company Man as Jim Ryan is, but the latter doesn't make out he's on the side of gamers everywhere.
I also can't believe that some on here are trying to make out that Sony nurturing relationships with individual studios over many years, before finally buying them one by one is the same as MS splashing big bucks on one major publisher who owned some of the biggest franchises in gaming. Well, I can believe it because some people are simply idiots.
@Col_McCafferty can you clarify on this? I don’t 100% understand what you are saying
Removed - unconstructive; user is banned
Yup its just business I got it now back to downloading Halo Infinite Multiplayer!
Guys, just buy a GamePass subscription, play for a month or two and disable it. If anything Microsoft makes it easy to play even if you don't own their hardware.......That definitely cannot be said about the other two.
@velio84 The man can't switch off from PR mode. It would kill him to just say, "No. We haven't had a system seller in years, so no, we're not putting it on any console that isn't an XBOX."
There is not even an release date for this game. The game is years away.
Typically Xbox, a lot of talking but no games.
They can have these boring Bethesda games for their own.
Yawn....we have games that xbox owners and pc owners wont ever have..we also have games that wont be going to pc and maybe xbox for a long time...and to be be fair this is the only game that xbox and pc will have that makes me a tad envious....let them have their 15 minutes...
@Reeneman
Seems too me lately sony is the one with no games
@RedKnight34 what? Sonys the one with no games? Were you dropped on your head as a child?
@RedKnight34 Did you make your account just for this?
@RedKnight34 I mean they do but they aren’t coming out for a while. Also some are going to PC so yeah
@Northern_munkey for this holiday season, I don’t think they do. Microsoft does on the other hand
@Northern_munkey
Sony hasn't had a exclusive since June on Ps5 and judging from the top 10 from sonys Ps5 1 year thing no plays sonys exclusives
Seeing how Skyrim is available everywhere, these words seem hollow to me. Profit trumps personal feelings.
@RedKnight34 to be honest xbox have had no exclusives up until these last couple of months whilst playstation have had a several throughout the year and it's release such as demon souls, ratchet and clank, Returnal, Kena Bridge of spirits, Deathloop, Ghost of tushima DLC, Final fantasy 7 intergrade and destruction all stars.
Xbox has had flight simulator, forza horizon 5 and Halo infinite.
I know who's had the better year in terms of new games to play
@Reeneman ah yes while ES6 doesn’t have one, Starfield and I believe another new IP Redfall do have approximate release dates.
Starfield for late 2022 and redfall for summer 2022
@RedKnight34 they have a weak Q4 in this year, due to the delay of Horizon.
But we will see so many great games in the next year. What about Xbox? It’s great now with Forza and Halo this year, but what’s after? Starfield? What more, nothing.
Elder Scrolls, Fable, Hellblade 2 … will all take years until release.
@Reeneman Redfall. You forgot that
@UltimateOtaku91
Im laughing you counting timed exclusives and one made by Xbox... Kena is known timed same with Deathloop but ya im done arguing with sony fans
@Reeneman exactly, in the first 3 months of next year sony will have horizon forbidden West, Forspoken and Stranger of Paradise Final fantasy origin
That's 4 time the amount of xbox exclusives within the first 15 months
@RedKnight34 those two forgot about Redfall
@anoyonmus just on ps5? So halo infinite and forza horizon 5 are also on xbox one? Which don't class as next gen exclusives aswell
I was just talking about console exclusives first party, third party and timed that are available on playstation but not on xbox hence more to play on playstation right now and throughout the last year
@UltimateOtaku91 and in terms of first party for Xbox you only said Starfield even though there is another one that you forgot
Even if you don't get ES6 within the first year you'll be able to play it over the next 20 years when Bethesda releases it over and over.
@anoyonmus yes for next year as Starfield is the only confirmed one, I'm pretty sure red fall will get delayed especially as they didn't even show gameplay for a game that's supposedly a year away
@Col_McCafferty actually it's to pull people over to gamepass. You also realise that there's no law against buying multiple consoles from different manufacturers? I own playstation, Nintendo and Xbox consoles. You're also aware that if Sony allowed gamepass on playstation you'd be able to play every bethesda and Microsoft game at launch and you wouldn't have to pay $70 for each title either. I probably wouldn't even have an Xbox if gamepass were on playstation.
@UltimateOtaku91 Redfall is confirmed for Summer 2022 but we will see
@Neither_scene but Sony won’t do that
@RedKnight34 and how many have microsoft had so far this gen?
Lol looks like I’ll be swapping my Ps5 with my wife’s Series X for a while when it comes out then. No way am I missing out on Skyrim, Starfield and any new real Fallout (not that online garbage). Those games I mentioned are right up the top of the best games going around so
👌
@anoyonmus so do we blame Microsoft for putting Bethesda titles on gamepass day one or Sony for not facilitating gamepass on their systems? I remember when Microsoft scored EA access on Xbox and Sony stated that the reason it wasn't on playstation was that "it didn't represent good value to their player base." How about you put it on your system and let the player base decide what's good value? I'm pretty sure some of these f2p console titles that are riddled with mtx's don't represent good value, yet you're more than happy leave purchasing decisions to the players. Ironically the service did eventually come to playstation, despite it not representing "good value."
Hahaha 90+ comments about a game that’s not coming out until 2027
I may be one of very few people who barely turns on his Series X. It was an impulse buy and I did it too early. I have never been interested in Halo nor in racers in general. What I've been hearing from Redfall doesn't interest me in the slightest, so the next potential game that might be for me is Starfield one year away. Also, Game Pass value is great but the games on there I would be interested in, I already played last gen. What have I done, lol. Then again, I am probably a rare exception.
I genuinely can't stand elder scrolls games anyway so this means nothing to me. The series s is readily available if you're that bothered.
Not sure what I just read from Spencer, but I’m willing to accept Sammy’s interpretation.
This could be a killer app for Xbox.
Though I’d rather play it on PC, I could see myself buying an Xbox for this game.
You people need to realize that by the time ES6 and maybe even Starfield come out you will probably have either gaming PC’s or a subscription to a service that will allow you to stream the game. Exclusives aren’t a big deal anymore. And I extremely happy because of that.
Well at least others will get to play it day of release, if not on an Xbox console then through PC or I guess cloud gaming.
That is more than Nintendo and Sony do with their exclusives.
If you want to play Mario or Aloy game on day of release then you are forced to buy a Nintendo or Sony console. Who really are the tight ones here.
Xbox Marketing lies:
Worlds most powerful console
12 TF as the only performance number to measure the capability of a gaming system
Native resolution/Native 4K as an important value in times of upscaling techniques
All games running native 4K/60 FPS: Same stupid term as Sony did with 1080p/60 before PS4 launch
Only console with full RDNA2 feature set:
No infinity cache on SX
Dolby Vision Gaming to improve visuals and give a perfect image on each supported TV
@Colonel_98 Most people don't even have an Internet connection that can stream games, especially households that have to share it with the rest of the occupants.
And claiming exclusives don't matter on a topic where a company has spent billions to make something exclusive is kinda, eh.
@Balosi We are talking years in the future. We are slowly going in that direction already. I didn’t believe in streaming, but then 3 months ago I signed up to PS Now because of a promotion and I was able to play 90% of all Sony exclusives that eluded me for years for a ridiculously low price. I am seriously considering not even updating my PC if I can stream Starfield through xcloud. No need for consoles too.
It is the future. And if you are in the right region/ have wired internet connection it could be the present as well.
@Colonel_98 funny thing is that you can actually play Starfield on Xbox One soon enough
@Colonel_98 At what does using 'the future' as an argument become hypothetical though? We don't know how good Internet is going to be in 5 years time, yes something could happen that makes it great and cheap for everyone, but it could also turn out to be too expensive to invest in.
@anoyonmus You can, but if the game is available for streaming then I would always choose that option. I understand that consoles/pcs are important to people and will be for years, but now there is a third way to play games and I find it the easiest and cheapest to use.
@Balosi I live in Bulgaria so my internet speed isn’t anything special and my region wasn’t even supported. I had to use a VPN to sign up to the Austrian PS Now and despite all of that I managed to beat TLOU, Uncharted 1-3, God Of War 2018 and Gravity Rush for 1 euro. 1.
I consider signing up again to Play TLOU 2 and Bloodborne. And I have never owned a console. Isn’t streaming awesome?
Funny thing is with Microsoft buying this studio up and Sony buying this one up and this exclusive and that exclusive they think it's going to bring Sony players over to Xbox and Xbox players to Sony but in reality it's taking players away from consoles and turning them to PC.
Well taking IPs away from platforms they were on, is punishing those platforms. Seriously why don't more so called "journalists" call him out on his BS?
@Colonel_98 it will on Xcloud. 1st party games on game pass don’t leave game pass I think
@Tasuki exactly. That’s why I said PC is the REAL winner
Is there some reason he doesn't come out and say "it's only on Microsoft platforms. If you want to play it then buy our products."
Seems weird to spend many billions of dollars on exclusivity and then downplay that exclusivity every time the topic comes up.
I don't have a issue of it being on Xbox/PC only and it won't even impact me as i own a Series S but i'm sick of his cryptic non answers as well as him constantly contradicting himself.
@munstre
Actually I'm pretty sure Sony has owned Spiderman for many years.
I dislike Phil Spencer very much.
Good grief, that is some serious waffle to say 'we bought this company so their games are now exclusive to us'.
I legit don't feel as though I'm missing anything. I can't name a single Bethesda RPG that launched with a higher level of polish and fewer glitches than any first party Sony title. The level of quality is just not the same.
Sony titles push technical boundaries. Bethesda RPGs are best played with community mods.
"this is just more stuff that'll turn console players to PC" they all say. Before seeing that you can buy a PS5, a Series X, an OLED switch, and 5 years of all their various games services for less than you'd spend for a decent PC at the moment.
Playing on PC has never been the smart economic choice, and a lot of console gamers take don't seem to get it. Playing on PC is for people who live to tinker, not save a few quid on each game while sinking more than a console is worth just to buy a graphics card.
Signed: someone who even still occasionally plays on PC
Expect Microsoft games to be on PC, Xbox and xCloud... you need one of those to play them.
PS5 is not getthing Bethesda games anymore. Switch is not getting Bethesda games anymore.
Not like Playground Games is making Forza Horizon 5 for PS5 either.
I get why, but the way he explained as the full complete package made no sense at all. In fact it basically made a case for it not being exclusive instead. Horrible PR speak.
@KippDynamite idk about game rights but movie rights they 100% had it for a long time
Phil should just shup up about this whole Bethesda BS already... He isn't just an hypocrite, but also annoying as heck (he just keeps repeating that same kumbaya BS every time he can). He needs to stop acting like a good guy when he clearly isn't one.
I had my eyes on actions like this from the likes of Microsoft... EA... These companies aren't worthy of the money they earn and I for one will never touch an Xbox, nor another Bethesda game until they wake up and pull themselves out of their stupid butts. I have several generations of Xbox btw, I'm selling every single 1, hell I'll give them away if I have to, in order to be rid of them. I'm deleting all Bethesda games too.
And there's a great many I know that agree and we will continue to spread this philosophy... Act like that and get shunned... Simple.
If this was Sony you'd all be saying some nonsense about keeping greatness or some crap, let Xbox have a win.
@truerbluer The point is it doesn't matter what Phil Spencer says if gamers don't respond to it - it's Sony's install base they listen to...not Phil Spencer. You're basically complaining that Phil Spencer was vocal about something a lot of playstation players wanted...and ended up getting. Why? It makes no sense. If you think he was instrumental in Sony offering something every other platform was offering then you should be praising him, right?
If this was Sony I'd sell all my PlayStation's and delete every Bethesda game. It's not Xbox Vs playstation, it's about content freedom. I buy the same game for PC, playstation and xbox, if I really like them. Tomb raider and hitman being cases that instantly spring to mind. But Xbox is a goner for me. I hate this content exclusivity crap. It's not about keeping a player base because... Exclusive! That's a sure fire trip to loser town. It's about competition in graphics, UX and stability. Screw exclusivity. That just screams loser without confidence in your product
@TheArt If they could have gamepass on Nintendo or playstation it would be by now - don't kid yourself they've not tried. It won't happen because Sony and Nintendo have their own services they want their install base to pay for. And that's why psnow won't end up on Xbox either. It's the services competing. Not so much the hardware anymore - this, I promise you, by the end of this generation will be more evident than ever.
They want the exclusives to get you subscribing to gamepass more than to buy a series X/s. If this wasn't the case they wouldn't hit gamepass day 1. They wouldn't be pushing cloud gaming. They wouldn't be putting gamepass on Android devices. They wouldn't have it on pc. They wouldn't be giving you as many options as possible to invest in gamepass. They'd make sure the only way you can play them is to buy an Xbox console.
They're keeping games off playstation be cause they want you signing up for a gamepass subscription. The principles of the exclusives are the same...just the platform has changed. That's the bigger picture.
You're going to see Sony invest more in psnow and bring that service to more platforms this gen.
Why do physical/digital games get released on pc still outside of gamepass option? Theres no licence fees with pc. Every game they place on PlayStation store Sony gets a cut from. Maybe that's one reason. But the big one for why xboxs first party won't be on PlayStation is because they want you moving away from that ecosystem onto their own...they just don't care if you buy hardware or not to get there.
@velio84
If you couldn't tell my looking at him, he smokes a lot of weed.
Bye then. I won't miss you, Skyrim was a mediocre open world game. Xbox is continually unable to develop the kind of IPs that would make me actually want to buy an Xbox, which is the main reason I lean more Playstation than Xbox. Shame because they own two IPs I would be interested in (Banjo and Conker), but they're just sitting on them and every time they bring them out of the vault they screw it up. I've always been Nintendo with Sony as my #2, and Xbox seems intent on doing nothing to change that.
Well then I’ve played my last Elder Scrolls and Fallout game then, and Starfield for that matter. I just couldn’t bring myself to play one of those games for hundreds of hours with that gimp Xbox controller. After using the Dual Sense for a year now there’s no going back. No worries Micro$oft errr…. Microshaft more then enough exclusives coming to my beloved PlayStation plus all the exclusives like Last of Us Part II I want to revisit.
@Bleachedsmiles Don't you see the hypocrisy of his actions though? He was pushing for cross-play because he says he's all about inclusivity and breaking down gaming barriers but then comes out with some lame excuse for not allowing Bethesda to release games outside his own Xbox and Windows ecosystems.
Cross-play serves to benefit his ecosystems the most by giving their meagre online base a larger community without sacrificing players who would migrate from Xbox and Windows to PlayStation for the healthier online base. He didn't spearhead cross-play as some noble "pro consumer" cause, it was simply to strengthen his ecosystems using a shortcut by spouting phrases like "when everybody plays, we all win", well PlayStation owners certainly won't be playing new Bethesda games will they?
He doesn't practice what he preaches, he picks and chooses whenever it benefits his platforms. I just wish he would come clean about it and not hide under the "pro consumer" guise that his supporters have lapped up.
Also Sony rarely if at all listens to its install base, if they did there wouldn't be PC ports, price hikes to £70 and upgrade fees going from PS4 to PS5 (Horizon Forbidden West). The only thing they've heard and reacted to is to keep the PS3 store alive for a little longer.
This thread is soooo funny , I don't see the problem whatsoever if u want to play es6 buy a Xbox /pc whatever just like if u wanna play ratchet and clank u get a ps prob solved
And for those who say I'll never buy a Xbox blah blah then don't ( I personally think it's cutting Ur nose off to spite your face) , and if u decide not to your choice as always I really don't think Microsoft will lose sleep over it , just like Sony won't lose sleep over ppl not buying ps to play ratchet
There are far more important things in life than who gets to play what game on what console
The only thing it's going to do for an already-declining Bethesda is drastically reduce its number of sales compared to Skyrim by not being sold on Playstation consoles.
A significant percentage of Skyrim and Fallout 4 sales were on PlayStation.
@Salt_AU Funny thing about Minecraft is that it was on PS4 before Microsoft bought Mojang so it makes sense to be honest, I think.
@Northern_munkey dude, most big PS Exclusives are slowly coming to PC. Even if it’s years later, they’re being updated to be 4K monsters. So even if a person waits years, the version on PC will typically be better than what launched on the PS5 or PS4…
One game a decade which I have the option to play on PC. I honestly don't care, especially considering I haven't truly enjoyed a Bethesda game since Oblivion.
@11001100110zero dude thats what i'm kinda saying bro....duh like every one knows that at some point some playstation games are going to arrive on the pc but by then we will be on the next itteration of the games..and we all know that the pc versions will be far superior in every way conceivable to our humble peasent station 5 versions..who left the gate open at the dufus farm?
Lol reading these comments and people going ‘leave Xbox alone, leave Spencer alone. Why always asking and bully that good guy man?’
Spencer isn’t a genius, far from it, but he knows what he’s doing. He is the one talking and the press does exactly what he wants because they love him and love having gold articles every other day. Whatever ‘pro gamer’ looking bs he says all the time that don’t even need to make any sense like here they can pick and choose nice headlines which is what he wants.
And I'll still never buy an xbox, not even if i had 10 lifetimes.
I personally think that having exclusives in this day and age is stupid, I understand the need for sales ect but this isn't about the gamers. This practice needs to stop so gamers have the best chance to enjoy the games.
I also feel that taking a game that has been multiplatform and making it's follow up games exclusive is just wrong in general, Elderscrolls 6 was bought up ages ago and up until the Microsoft buy out, I was assuming and I doubt I'm alone in that, that it would be a multiplatform game. It's also the same for outerworlds which I also love, that was on both and then to find out number 2 is Xbox exclusive was a kick in the nuts.
So now in order to enjoy those games I'm going to need to get an Xbox aswell. I just feel that unless you have the money, gamers will lose out which isn't a good thing.
At the end of the day, Phil is just trying to boost the XBox numbers but this is very much counter to his previous comments when things weren't going his way.
After the acquisition I never thought TES6 would appear on Sony's consoles while XBox are trying to build their user base. The only hope for it appearing on the PS5 is if the PS5 destroys the XBox as was the case in the PS4 -XBone era by outselling it 3:1 or more. At that point, MS would need to try and recoup some of the cost of buying Zenimax.
If people buy a Series S to play it then it'll never appear on a Sony console and Phil will crow more about the XBox being a success.
That said, Oblivion was excellent, Skyrim was a flogged to death 'meh' and I don't have much hope for TES6.
When I finish building my gaming PC, I'll get this game. I don't expect it to be good but it will help kill time. I think I should give oblivion and Skyrim a break haha
Xbox game pass on PS5 would be so great
Makes me laugh how MS try to imply it would be anything other than suicidal for Sony to put Gamepass on PlayStation.
@Grimwood You're absolutely right. The life of black tiger, for example, is so much better. Like literally like.
What gets me about Xbox pushing gamepass is how are they making money, as I got a free 3 month sub with my series s in September so was good until December now I have been doing the rewards points since then on and off each week and I already have gamepass up until April already I don't see myself having to buy a pass in the near future as long as I keep doing this. I know not everyone does this but and does pay but yea I honestly don't know how they are making money. I have only actually bought a 2 games on Xbox so far that were not on gamepass, and prefer playing on playstation tbh. But for me it's great as I get free gamepass for certain games and the PlayStation stuff which I pay for.
I don't like passive aggresivness
I might actually have found the one game that has made it worth my while buying an Xbox. Right now it’s gathering dust after the first week.
@Artois Same here but I've had mine for 3 months now, barely turn it on. Hoping Starfield in one year will change that. That said, I am usually not too much into Sci-Fi settings and Bethesda has always been hit or miss for me anyway. Fingers crossed.
@truerbluer Of course I see the hypocrisy. I see it from all sides - I'm sure you complained at Sony buying up Bethesda timed exclusives preventing Xbox gamers from playing them for years, right? But that's different naturally. You're complaining about PR speak. That's always going to be bs. 'when everybody plays we all win'...is no different in message to 'play has no limits' - yet Sony was being left behind because of all the limits it placed on gaming on its platform.
The actual fact is it doesn't matter what digs the marketing of Xbox playstation or Nintendo have at one another. If there's no actual demand for it it doesn't happen. I don't get why you can't understand this. It's like you're cursing Phil Spencer for making gamers aware that every other platform was supporting cross-play? Bang on about how cross-play benefits Xbox...so??? It also benefits YOU!
You don't like that he says 'when everybody plays we all win' yet still believes in building up exclusives for Xbox services? That's business. But think about it logically. Cross play was happening with or without Sony. Alot of playstation gamers were demanding it. Sony was getting a lot of backlash from sites about it before Phil Spencer piped up. Xbox want you gaming on gamepass...not gaming with Xbox gamers through other services...why would they? You guys give Phil more credit than xbots do.
Sony listens to money. You claim they don't listen to their fanbase because if they did there wouldn't be £70 games and upgrade fees...you only have to read messages on this site or any other playstation site and you'll see the most vocal are the ones defending Sonys anti consumerism. The games are still selling. The upgrades still being bought. Sony do listen...it's just the majority aren't saying the same as you are. Same with pc ports. The moment their decisions start effecting money is the moment they'll do something different - horizon is a recent example (preorders started to become effected).
If they start losing noticeable hardware/plus sales because of pc ports I guarantee pc ports will stop. But it won't happen as casuals aren't interested in gaming PC's no matter if every game imaginable is on them. The space for the living room will always be console based for the vast majority of PlayStation's and xboxs install base.
Not a problem for me since I mostly played fps rpg like oblivion on pc rather than console, the mods are better on pc too 😃
Remember when Phil Spencer said Bethesda would still publish in other platforms? Well with this news we now know the fine print.
Some PlayStation fans make fun at Xbox for not having games and when they do get a really good exclusive they throw a fit lol
It actually disgusts me that MS bought Bethesda (and this isn't fanboy stuff, anybody here can tell you I'm a big critic of Sony as well and a search through my history will show I was one of the first to say I didn't even like rumors of Sony sniffing around SquareEnix, big publishers should remain independent from the hardware makers) but at this point it is what it is and Phil Spencer needs to stop trying to be 'Mr. Nice Guy' and just say that MS bought Bethesda and if you want to play its games you need to have a platform that is open to the Xbox ecosystem. Very simple but he'd rather take this 'we're the good guys, we're not doing this to be mean' approach. So stupid. I can't stand Jim Ryan but at least he's direct when he makes his statements good, bad or otherwise.
@Westernwolf4 couldn't you have saved $500 and spent $15 on Game pass Ultimate and just streamed the games though?
@Salt_AU yet Phil says
I know there's a lot of people that like to write [that] we're burning cash right now for some future pot of gold at the end. No. Game Pass is very, very sustainable right now as it sits. And it continues to grow.”
I pretty much think he knows more than anyone else about game pass
It's totally expected.
But, it is also expected the audience and sales for it will shrink compared to Skyrim.
It's quite the strategy. They had to pay an enormous amount of money for some (potentially) good exclusives, for them to put it on a subscription service that probably won't turn a profit for quite a while. I mean, it's got me interested in potentially getting an Xbox console for the first time since the first one, so that's something. I'd wait til after ES6 is released though.
@Gamer83 I agree. Don't like entire publisher acquisitions, no matter the side. Putting a ring on studios with a long lasting relationship like Housemarque or Playground Games? Sure, no big deal to me.
Boy, Playstation fans love to dunk on Xbox for no exclusive games, but when they say some games are exclusive like Starfield or Elder Scrolls they absolutely lose it.
My money is on them breaking and bringing it to other consoles, maybe even just PC since nobody has or cares about XBox. They will be missing a TON of sales potential.
@Salt_AU
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2021/11/phil-spencer-xbox-game-pass-isnt-burning-cash-its-very-sustainable
“I know there's a lot of people that like to write [that] we're burning cash right now for some future pot of gold at the end. No. Game Pass is very, very sustainable right now as it sits. And it continues to grow.”
Honestly who cares? I am a perfectly happy gamer and haven’t played any of the Bethesda’s games. I tried them, but they are just not for me.I tried Fallout 3, 4 and New Vegas. They did nothing for me. I tried the Elder Scrolls games again the same thing. I know it’s personal taste, but it really isn’t the end of gamer world that future installments of these games are not coming to PlayStation anymore.
@kyleforrester87 That doesn’t mean anything. They can declare gamepass as profitable as they want by not assigning any costs to it.
Gamepass gets Forza and Halo day 1, and gets all the benefits from that, but development costs are all assigned to Xbox game studios division.
Microsoft buys Bethesda, cost is attributed to Xbox game Studios but Gamepass gets all games for free.
If Halo doesn’t sell enough copies to make back its development costs then those losses will be attributed to Xbox Game Studios, and 343 Studios.
All the the lost sales for games that are now day one on Gamepass are almost certainly not being accounted for.
@dschons
Agree. MS needed to bolster it's first party and obviously Playground Games was a good studio to finally acquire. I also liked Nintendo's decision to purchase Next Level Games and think it should next lock up Mercury Steam to make it the 2D Metroid studio while Retro handles the 3D games. Purchases like that I have no problem with. I just hate seeing a big publisher that didn't need to be bought get nabbed up and don't want it happening again.
I mean it is what it is.
The sixth generation was far more exclusive laden than the current generation.
This is why the Series S exists. I’m going to pick one up sooner or later for Microsoft’s exclusives and to be my secondary bed room console.
@UltimateOtaku91
Totally agree. Microsoft would be better off selling games to ps5 to recoup the money they payed.
fook Bethesda for giving the "insult" to PlayStation 5 users, i have played their games since ps3 early days and enjoyed all their titles and this is the thanks i get! no way would i invest in a £1000 gaming pc just to play their game, it's just not right! and i hope PlayStation elder scrolls users are agreeable just the same as i am!
It may not be his intention to punish, but that is the actual result.
Also sad that to get a quality game you have to mandate one version only.
Seems like many big developers like 343 are a total mess and can't be allow to wander.
Phil bought a multi-platform publisher and forced them to support a single platform.
Bethesda breathed a huge sigh of relief, because they can't ship finished clean games.
I guess when you give up on the idea of selling games to people, it makes sense?
@huyi You're right but by the time this game comes out, it will most likely be playable on the Xcloud. No hardware or PC required.
@Ilovecoffee maybe so but my internet connection would never support cloud with how bad it is, I prefer local gaming 😏😏
We shouldn't as PlayStation users have to put up with this regardless, this is a half done attempt from Bethesda and they should be ashamed of themselves for the way they have treated us!
I totally understand that Phil. I think we got that the first time it was confirmed and reported. No need to make another article about it.
What could happen is Game Pass coming to PS5? After it comes to Switch first of course.
PR BS. It’s exclusive cause they want people to buy game pass subscriptions and series X. I may buy a series S in 5 years if it’s really good. But it won’t come anytime soon anyway
@Gamer83
I actually don’t mind. I think it’s not even about Sony and Ms but a bigger picture people miss that’s happening in the gaming industry.
I’ve been saying I like that Jim Ryan is straightforward. I find funny people call him a liar while actually he was painted this way by misreporting and Spencer is always being painted as beautifully as possible whereas he’s the one who keeps lying and being hypocritical and making goofy statements.
I always find fascinating how facts are (mis)reported and distorted by the press.
"It's not about punishing other platforms"!! More P.R. bull from Gamer Phil skating around his previous good guy comments of hating 3rd party timed exclusives & "gaming for all"....the reality is away from a handful of projects too far in or contracted, it was always his intention to make previously 3rd party franchises ala Elder Scrolls,Fallout,& likely Doom etc. down the line Xbone/PC Gamepass/ Cloud exclusives.
Earlier reports & even P.R. from Bethesda talking about using Dual Sense,(& rumours of Sony pursuing a timed exclusive deal),made it likely Starfield was in development on ps5 'til the purchase deal ink dried & Gamer Phil quietly axed the ps5 version whilst publicly spouting his gamer friendly street cred "project by project" spiel.
Xbox very much want to push gamepass rentals & live services,the pricey acquisition is just another means to wall its garden & bring players into it-they just do so under Phil Spencer's friendly gamer first image.
If it looks like a snake, moves like a snake and sounds like a snake. Then it’s damn sure Phil spencer
I don't care. I'll just play it on PC.
@velio84 Maybe he was speaking Chinese and they used Google translate for the article.
@Valgore Without exclusives, what's the point of having different consoles? Yeah, it's lame that you can't buy one console and be able to play every game, but competition drives innovation and progress. It's better this way.
I guess. I lean more into previous franchises that were multi platform not becoming exclusives. Taking Elderscrolls 6 and outerworlds ect and making that exclusive is in my opinion a slap in the face to gamers.
@Valgore Yes It is, like Sony did with Xbox players for several IP's but when Sony does It, It is Fair, It is business.
@MaikonCSGarcia What IP's did sony do it to? I don't think it's right no matter which company does it, it's bad for gamers. I'm not about all this console war rubbish.
@Valgore Final Fantasy, Street Fighter, Spideman, Shemue, etc...
Hmm although your list is questionable like spiderman (the new marvel spiderman was created as a 1st party title and was never said to be multiplatform) Like I said before, taking a multiplatform game franchise/series that started as multiplatform and then making that game exclusive is imo bad for gamers. I'm talking about games like outerworlds where number 1 was on both but now number 2 is on Xbox only and ES where that's been on both for years and now that's Xbox only. That's not good for gamers.
@MacWood4500
Absolutely correct....no one knows the landscape even 3 years from now...
Late but this is bullcrap. I will not pay Microsoft a cent for this games. They can take their monthly subscriptions that means you don't really own the games all they want. And Sony can too. But it is unsustainable and a loss when you really look at it.
Just wait till game pass is a $1 for three months and play it on PC. How does that $1 pay for the games? I'm doesn't. Streaming services and gaming services aren't worried about profit as long as they can claim they have no subscribers to investors. It's a game they play where they pretend they don't know you made three accounts for trials. They say it's three new people.
Who else thinks this will be a timed exclusive like dead rising 4 total ***** game but came to playstation eventually
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