2020
This is a quick rundown on how the narrative regarding exclusives changed within the past 4 years. I don't want to spend too much time on this post, so I'm just going to provide quotes.
September 21, 2020
Microsoft acquires ZeniMax Media and its game publisher Bethesda Softworks
On
September 21, 2020, Microsoft announced it had acquired ZeniMax and its game publisher Bethesda Softworks. Shortly after the announcement, gamers wanted to know whether or not games such as Starfield and Redfall would be released on PlayStation consoles. When asked this question by Bloomberg, Phil Spencer said it would be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Phil Spencer to Bloomberg
However, future games like Starfield will be available for Xbox, PC and Microsoft's Game Pass video-game service, Xbox chief Phil Spencer told Bloomberg: "We'll take other consoles on a case-by-case basis."
BETHESDA'S EXCLUSIVITY
Bethesda's exclusivity wasn't quite clear as Phil Spencer said it would be on a case-by-case basis. As we can see below, Xbox content creators wanted Microsoft to make Bethesda games exclusive as it would benefit the Xbox ecosystem because in the words of Parris, "
you do not spend 7.5 billion and not make them exclusives."
Parris/@vicious696 - September 26, 2020
I think this is my first time disagreeing with KF XCAST, Gary seems convinced that Bethesda games will continue to be on Playstation
I just dont see it, you dont spend 7.5 billion for timed exclusives
Starfield, Fallout 5, ES6, etc will be exclusive to Xbox, PC and the Cloud
this stirred up a hornets nest so lemme throw this out there too:
what if Playstation or Google bought Bethesda? Do you really think they'd not make these IP's exclusive long term?
Why is Xbox looked at differently in this case? Why not put Halo, Gears and Fable on PS5? And…
short term yes but this is a long term play, I'll say again you do not spend 7.5 billion and not make them exclusives
Why not put Halo, Fable and Gears on Playstation if that was the case
Parris believes this is a good business move for Microsoft.
Palle!
I don't see it. That would be throwing the European market away. Xbox exclusive only makes sense if your game's market is 90% US anyways. This would cut the sales of Fallout by half or more.
Parris/@vicious696
short term yes but this is a long term play, I'll say again you do not spend 7.5 billion and not make them exclusives
Why not put Halo, Fable and Gears on Playstation if that was the case?
Andru Edwards
People commenting simply don’t understand Microsoft’s business. There is no need to put any non-GAAS on PS. Why? Game Pass. You wanna play Fallout 5 and don’t own an Xbox? Get Game Pass. You are right on the money.
Parris/@vicious696
Jez Corden from Windows Central tweets about Starfield's exclusivity to TimDog
It will be.
PC too obviously. But literally no idea why people think this will come to PS5.
September 26, 2020
Parris/@vicious696 - January 24, 2021 - "
Do you want to play Starfield? You better bring your ass over to Xbox."
2020 RECAP
- Microsoft announces the acquisition of ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks.
- Phil Spencer says Bethesda games will be released on other platforms on a case-by-case basis.
- Gamers speculate regarding exclusivity.
2021
Parris/@vicious696 - Feburary 2021
lol you just want the smoke dont ya?
while I expect the majority of Bethesda titles to go exclusive, if they don't I'll be shocked but as a gamer I'll be happy to see it
one thing everybody needs to remember exclusives are a part of the business of gaming
Harvey Smith (Creative Director at Arkane Studio)
We got bought by Microsoft and it was a capital C change. They came in and said, ‘No PlayStation 5, we’re focusing on Xbox, PC and Game Pass.’
March 9, 2021
The Acquisition of ZeniMax Media and its game publisher Bethesda Softworks OFFICIALLY Closes
Phil Spencer
"If you're an Xbox customer, the thing I want you to know is that this is about delivering great exclusive games for you that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists."
It was never on a case-by-case basis.
Phil Spencer even said Parris nailed their plans to make games exclusive, even though Phil said it was only on a case-by-case basis.
Phil Spencer didn't want to confirm its exclusivity until Microsoft completed the Zenimax acquisition.
@GamesBeat
Why Starfield won’t be on PlayStation
Parris/@vicious696
you acquire Bethesda and make their games exclusive to add value to Xbox Game Pass
the long term goal is convincing gamers to come to Xbox and you do that with great games
Destin Legarie - 31:00
Bethesda Makes it Rain on Xbox Game Pass - Unlocked 486
I don't think it would be crazy if the next Elder Scrolls was Xbox exclusive. You don't get to hammer on Microsoft and Xbox for not having exclusives for 5 years running to not have them answer back. There was a time when Xbox almost died at the launch of the Xbox One. Microsoft was ready to pull the plug and kill it. Right? Phil has put in the work and has made this acquisition for Bethesda and he is not playing. In my opinion. They are going to make as many things exclusive as they possibly can and I understand why a PlayStation fan or a PS5 fan would be unhappy about that...Xbox has a such a different strategy than what PlayStation is doing though...and this is the exclusive part of the strategy that I think they're really going to build upon.
This wasn't about gamers, it was about how it benefited Xbox. If you care about what's best for gamers, then you would actually
2021 RECAP
- The ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks acquisition officially closes.
- Phil Spencer announces all future games will be exclusive to platforms where Game Pass exists
- Xbox content creators were pro-consolidation.
- Xbox content creators believed exclusivity was good for business.
- PlayStation gamers missing out on Bethesda games was not important.
2022
January 18, 2022
Microsoft announces they have agreed to Acquire Activision Blizzard
I will keep this section short considering it's basically a repeat of 2022.
Destin/@DestinLegarie - January 18, 2022
On exclusivity, you don’t buy a company for $70 billion dollars and… wait… do we really need to have “the talk” again?
Destin/@DestinLegarie - January 21, 2022
So let me get this straight. Sony makes Final Fantasy, Street Fighter, Spider-Man, and Wolverine PS exclusive. Xbox makes Elder Scrolls, Starfield, and possibly some Activision games Xbox exclusive.
Xbox = Bad
Sony = Good
Just want to be sure I have my facts straight!
January 25, 2022
Our Dream Xbox-Activision Collabs + Who Should Xbox Buy Next? - Unlocked 528
During Unlocked Episode 528, Ryan McCaffrey a
sked, "Who should they buy next?"
I wanted to bring out this quote to show you how much they didn't care about the competition, they didn't care about Microsoft dominating the console market.
Ryan McCaffrey
Who should Microsoft buy next? I don't say that flippantly like, "They're just going to buy everybody and it doesn't matter and the money is unlimited," but the fact of the matter is Microsoft is implying a very strategy to show sure up Game Pass and sure up their studios and make sure that they basically have a strong hand in the entire future of gaming beyond just Xbox as a Platform. So I thought about who could make sense as a next a strategic acquisition. Not just a "wouldn't it be great if" they bought so and so. And I want to throw out somebody that I think I mentioned before on the podcast but I think in light of the Activision acqusition makes a lot of sense is Capcom.
Destin Legarie
My answer is exactly the opposite of what you're thinking. I think they should buy Take-Two. I think GTA and Read Dead is gonna be the best bang for your buck. There's a lot of other cool franchises within that realm that they would acquire and I think that would be like a huge get for them now that I know that they have 70 billion dollars that they could throw at certain companies it seems more feasible that this could be a possibly.
This was during the consolidation period. Many people believed this was where the industry was headed. Destin believed Tencent and Sony would acquire a major publisher like Microsoft, but this doesn't change the fact that they were completely fine with Microsoft buying major publishers to help their ecosystem grow.
Parris/@vicious696 February 9, 2022
you are wasting your time, words are twisted to fit this silly "pay attention to me" console war
no game should be exclusive but it is a part of business but both Xbox and Playstation are seeing the value of bringing their exclusives to more platforms aka PC and Cloud
Parris/@vicious696 May 29, 2022
the exclusive gate keeping is silly to me, yes Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo will always do exclusives because it gets you to invest in their ecosystems BUT if you don’t work for any of these companies why do you care?
Just enjoy great games no matter the platform
Destin/@DestinLegarie - September 15, 2022
Tired of Sony crying about a game that will release day and date for PlayStation. Look at your own practices withholding exclusivesbefore complaining about Call of Duty remaining on PS. At this point Xbox should just say "Ok. We'll treat CoD like you treat FF. Better?"
Here's a conversation between Destin and GameRiot on X.
Destin/@DestinLegarie conversation with GameRiot/@GameRiotArmy - December 23, 2022
@DestinLegarie
Dang if Microsoft was setting revenue/profit records in 2021 with only 10% of the exclusives, imagine how well they'll be doing once they buy Activision and own the same amount of IPs as Sony!
@GameRiotArmy
Should anyone be celebrating Xbox just buying IP …
@DestinLegarie
Smart consumers will.
@GameRiotArmy
Should a PS5 consumer be celebrating…
@DestinLegarie
Seeing nothing will change on PlayStation and Bloomberg is reporting Call of Duty will be added to PS+... yes?
@GameRiotArmy
Last time I looked Activision was more than Call of Duty?
@DestinLegarie
That's correct. But Xbox has announced no plans to make all games Xbox exclusive. I realize what you're alluding to here though. So while I haven't looked are you upset about PlayStation paying to block games from Game Pass and Xbox?
@GameRiotArmy
I think both are as bad as each other. This deal just make things a lot worse
@DestinLegarie
How specifically? More games on game pass and AAA titles remaining on PS sounds great for consumers to me. I've yet to hear a compelling argument why this would be "bad" for... anyone.
@GameRiotArmy
Sorry Destin where has Xbox quoted anything about Activision releasing anything but Call of Duty on other platforms? I get your an Xbox fan but come on.
@DestinLegarie
In the FTC response. A few times publicly. Here's an excerpt. If you want to see the document you can find a few more even just in the full FTC reply. "Xbox cannot afford to take Activision’s games exclusive without undercutting the basic economics of the transaction."
@DestinLegarie
They've also talked about not making games exclusive that have communities built in. So likely Overwatch, Diablo and others people have mentioned stay multi-platform.
@DestinLegarie
So they've been pretty clear they aren't going to do what you're getting at. But for fun let's speculate. If they decided to make everything but Cofuty exclusive how is that "worse" for gaming? Is Final Fantasy "worse" because I can only play on PS/PC? Or is that smart business?
@GameRiotArmy
I don’t agree that FF7 should be exclusive at least for that long. If rumours are correct. Microsoft players should get it next year
@DestinLegarie
Sony has been very smart with how they spend their money to lock in CoD exclusive betas / skins, FF exclusives, etc. Microsoft is taking a big swing to do the same thing on a larger scale because they have the capital to do so and now everyone cries foul after years of silence
Destin believed Activision games would remain multiplatform, but if Microsoft ever decided to make their games exclusive, it would be ok because of Sony's deals with 3rd Party Publishers.
Parris/@vicious696 May 29, 2022
Never changed my view, I wish exclusives weren't a thing but I'm also smart enough to understand the business of videogames and why there will always be exclusives on each platform
Parris/@vicious696 - Pete Hines and Aaron Greenberg Join Us! - Kinda Funny Xcast Ep. 46 - Jun 19, 2022
“The overall point is this: There’s always going to be exclusives. There’s going to be exclusives on Xbox. There’s going to be on PlayStation. Nintendo is literally an exclusive, and it’s just part of the business. You got to take the personal out of the business, right? Starfield is going to be exclusive, but you can play it on PC, you can play it on cloud, and obviously an Xbox. If it is truly the revolutionary game that we’re hoping it will be, you’ll figure out a way to go play Starfield if you don’t already own an Xbox or part of that ecosystem. Just the same way we obviously play Ratchet & Clank and we play Spider-Man, and you know Returnal and Horizon Forbidden West and all these other games are exclusive on the PlayStation, same if we play Mario, everything else on Nintendo, if you’re game and you love games… you’ll figure it out because you want to play games.
2022 RECAP
Exclusivity remains important to content creators.
Xbox content creators think Microsoft should acquire more publishers such as Capcom and Take-2.
Xbox content creators believe PlayStation gamers should be able to "figure it out" if games are not released on PlayStation platforms.
2023
February, 2023
"Exclusive Titles in the Console Space is part of the Business" - Phil Spencer
Exclusive: Phil Spencer Talks Call of Duty, Activision Blizzard & Xbox
Exclusive titles in the console space is part of the business, all platform holders do it. All platform holders do it. They're makring beats and we see that our competitors have alot of exclusive games. So when we're launching new games, there are certain that we're going to make....exclusive for us is always a little bit hard because we ship everything on PC as well, but let's just say we ship on Xbox and PC, and avaliable on Cloud and some of those won't be available on other competitive platforms.
April 29, 2023
The CMA blocks Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision
Destin/@DestinLegarie - July 17, 2023
Sony almost locked up Call of Duty exclusivity, tried to make Starfield exclusive, locked games out of Game Pass, tied up exclusives FF7R, FF16, etc. So MS responded by "buying the bank."
June 16, 2023
The FTC Documents
Microsoft exec was ready to ‘go spend Sony out of business’ to strengthen Xbox
A key email in the FTC v. Microsoft case
www.theverge.com
Xbox expected Starfield to sell 10 million copies on PS5 but decided it's worth more as an exclusive
The same figure was also estimated for Indiana Jones
www.gamesradar.com
June 14, 2023
"We're not a Third-Party Publisher" - Phil Spencer
Giant Bomb at Nite 2023: Phil Spencer and Matt Booty
The math is actually very, very similar. For us what you did on old school consoles is you said, "Ok how many consoles are you going to sell because Halo 2 launches, how long will those players stay on the platform and how many games will they buy and is that make it more cost-effective to keep the games exclusive to your platform." Like let's be clear, we could've sold Halo 2 on PlayStation and we've probably would've sold a couple of copies. Probably could've done the same thing on Nintendo's platform. So when I look at Game Pass, we're absolutely going to make money on Starfield, touch wood that's the plan and we will grow Game Pass and Xbox will be a better platform both on PC and console where people play. For us it's about expanding our platform reach and we think important games like Starfield will be catalyst for Game Pass growth on a lot of different platforms, but anytime you're growing the platform there's always this trade-off with games. We're not a third-party publisher, we do something different with our content like Starfield.
June 28, 2023
"The dominant player there [Sony] has defined market competition using exclusives" - Satya Nadella
If it was up to me I would love to get rid of the entire exclusives on consoles, but that’s not for me to define especially as a low share player in the console market. The dominant player there [Sony] has defined market competition using exclusives, so that’s the world we live in. I have no love for that world.
Destin/@DestinLegarie - IronLordPodcast July 16, 2023
“I will say though... Take Two owns Zynga. So if MS is truly serious about mobile, maybe that's their next big buy.
Destin/@DestinLegarie July 17, 2023
People are so angry that I'd even suggest Microsoft might consider acquiring more companies. I imagine if I suggested Sony is going to acquire some companies no one would bat an eye. It's a very weird double standard to me.
These quotes show the narrative didn't change. Exclusives were still important to make Xbox the dominant brand and they didn't care about gamers on other platforms.
