Starfield was almost a PS5 exclusive before Microsoft bought Bethesda

Because it seems, Bethesda’s Starfield was this near being unique to the PlayStation 5. 

In notes from Kotaku’s Ethan Gach on the Microsoft v. FTC case, Xbox Recreation Studios CEO Phil Spencer revealed one of many causes Microsoft pursued Bethesda (by way of its mum or dad firm ZeniMax) again in 2020 was to actively hold that from occurring. 

Why do it? Spencer felt that Xbox needed to do no matter it may “in opposition to the market chief…[and] stay viable within the enterprise.”

He added that by that time, Sony had paid Bethesda to make Arkane’s Deathloop and Tango Gameworks’ Ghostwire Tokyo into PlayStation 5 exclusives (till they weren’t), and was ready to go three for 3. “We will not be able as a 3rd place console the place we’re farther behind,” defined Spencer. 

As famous by IGN, there have been rumblings of Starfield being a timed PS5 exclusive simply months months earlier than the Microsoft acquisition in 2020, so it is not too shocking to listen to that Microsoft made that transfer with a purpose to forestall three video games in a row from being unique to Sony for a 12 months or extra a bit. 

Sony and Microsoft are two sides of the identical unique coin 

Past Bethesda, Sony has made controversial strikes prior to now to maintain sure video games locked away from Microsoft. One of many greatest is Sq. Enix’s Remaining Fantasy 7 Remake, which has launched on PC, however not Xbox consoles. It is anticipated that 2024’s Remaining Fantasy VII Rebirth will observe swimsuit. 

Earlier than the discharge of Marvel’s Avengers in 2020, it was additionally revealed that Spider-Man can be a DLC character unique solely to PlayStation consoles. 

Offhandedly, Spencer confirmed throughout his testimony that Sony enacted the same deal for Sq. Enix’s Remaining Fantasy XVI, which launched earlier this week as a closely touted PS5 unique.

Exclusives are the blood of all consoles, and Microsoft has responded to Sony’s enterprise ways in form. Not solely is Starfield not coming to PlayStation (presumably ever), Microsoft has actively killed PS5 variations of Arkane’s Redfall and MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game. It could additionally do the identical for The Elder Scrolls 6 and The Outer Worlds 2. 

It is not shocking to listen to that each main corporations are partaking in the identical anticompetitive strategies, however it’s one thing to see them each attempt to paint the opposite as being responsible of the factor they’ve every actively carried out a number of instances. 

Whoa!

Phil Spencer says one motivation for purchasing Bethesda was Sony in talks to make Starfield a PS5 unique: pic.twitter.com/2tZEOTWJLJ

— AmericanTruckSongs9 (@ethangach) June 23, 2023