Matt Booty on Xbox Multiplatform Strategy: “ Xbox players can absolutely continue to expect many games to launch as exclusives”
- Thread starter Remember_Spinal
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Best to think of Bethesda games as a case by case basis. I believe Sony already made a deal for the new Doom game pre Microsoft purchase just like the other Doom games that released this gen. I also believe internally Zenimax is pressuring Microsoft to put all Zenimax releases on PlayStation, but not all of those will be day 1.
Sony didn't make a deal. They don't need to make deals to get someone to skip Xbox or to get games for their platform, and that includes from Xbox.
When MS bought Zenimax the Xbox CFO (the chief of finances of their gaming division) said that their plans for Bethesda wasn't to remove them from PS or Nintendo, but instead "first or better or best" on Xbox.
Meaning, their plans for Bethesda games are baing multiplatform since day one or with some timed console exclusive.
Bethesda's deal with Sony was a timed console exclusive for Ghostwire Tokyo and Deathloop, both already expired. After the acquisition MS kept releasing Bethesda's games and DLC (outside Starfield and Redfall) day one on PS because they wanted.
Regarding ABK, once the deal of the previous CoD titles expired, having AB stuff like future CoD day one on PS maybe has more to do with the negotiation with Jim Ryan to give their ok for the acquisition.
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Before the deal went through that was the Xbox position. Then the deal closed and it was LOL. The very first day they went to the offices demanding the PS5 version cease.
This pivot is because the Xbox Series sales have cratered. This is to hide the gaps until next gen as MS shareholders may look to cut the fat.
After the acquisition Bethesda kept releasing Fallout 76 DLC, Elder Scroll Online DLC, Quake Remaster, Quake 2 Remaster, Doom Dark Ages day one on PS. Hifi Rush has been a timed exclusive.
We have to see if Starfield, Redfall and Indiana Jones are timed exclusives. And I'd say it's pretty clear that around year or so after their release will be announced/released for PS5, with Redfall maybe the exception because due to too low quality and sales they may think doesn't have enough potential to achieve a decent amount of sales.
They may also want to try to further improve Redfall before the PS5 release trying to use the port as a relaunch of the game.
The CFO (Tim Stuart) did say that, but there's a leaked email from the FTC trial showing that Spencer wanted to take it all exclusive.
The original CFO statement happened on or around 13th Nov 2020
Microsoft Wants Bethesda Games 'First or Better or Best' on Xbox - IGN
Microsoft says that Bethesda games coming to cross-platform will be 'first or better or best' on an Xbox console or platform.
Then it was revealed that Spencer decided to take it all exclusive (meeting happened Nov 2021, Emails were leaked in June 2023)
Xbox's Phil Spencer Seemingly Decided to Make All ZeniMax Games Exclusives in 2021 Meeting - IGN
Phil Spencer apparently made a "big decision" to make all ZeniMax games Xbox exclusive in a November 2021 meeting.
Anybody who says making things like Doom multiplatform was the plan all along is either lying or misinformed.
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Given their sneaky corporate-speak wording, the only exclusives they'll retain (permanently) will be games that are critical disasters and or financially unsuccessful. For example, if South of Midnight is another Redfall, then it will be a "case" where porting it to other platforms doesn't make any sense. Why lose millions and be critically panned on both Xbox and PlayStation?
Games that have tight licensing agreements would also fall under their "case-by-case" initiative. Blade and Indiana Jones are interesting in that regard. If Disney is taking 50% of everything and PlayStation is taking about 30%, would the leftover numbers make sense for Xbox? I don't think the numbers work unless Xbox can get the ports done cheap -- which would mean a small, unknown studio somewhere in Bucharest or Valkenswaard gets the contract. Are Disney going to be cool with a no-name non-Microsoft owned studio handling their properties on the (potentially) largest sales platform for their properties? I bet their 'cool' will come with a bunch of clauses and fine print that would make the PlayStation ports much less lucrative for Xbox.
Ultimately, if Xbox can't survive without PlayStation's user base then nothing's off the table. Starfield, Forza Horizon, Flight Sim, and even Killer Instinct make a lot of critical and commercial sense on PlayStation. It still feels surreal to say it but Halo on PlayStation is not a matter of if but when. Unbelievable.
Oh, I see. I didn't remember/knew that Spencer said that in an internal meeting.The CFO (Tim Stuart) did say that, but there's a leaked email from the FTC trial showing that Spencer wanted to take it all exclusive.
The original CFO statement happened on or around 13th Nov 2020
Microsoft Wants Bethesda Games 'First or Better or Best' on Xbox - IGN
Microsoft says that Bethesda games coming to cross-platform will be 'first or better or best' on an Xbox console or platform.www.ign.com
Then it was revealed that Spencer decided to take it all exclusive (meeting happened Nov 2021, Emails were leaked in June 2023)
Xbox's Phil Spencer Seemingly Decided to Make All ZeniMax Games Exclusives in 2021 Meeting - IGN
Phil Spencer apparently made a "big decision" to make all ZeniMax games Xbox exclusive in a November 2021 meeting.
Anybody who says making things like Doom multiplatform was the plan all along is either lying or misinformed.
Crazy that after years of Phil's promises turning out to be lies that Nadella still hasn't fired him. He must have some crazy blackmail material on Satya.I'm surprised Satya is still entertaining this (timed) exclusive nonsense from Xbox. Maybe Phil and Booty have managed to convince him that COD on Xbox will be a coup for their GamePass numbers
It was very clear that Zenimax studios especially Bethesda with Pete Hines with some of those emails and departures. I’d imagine losing majority of the players and fans will do that. I’d also imagine their bonuses being cut due to lack of sales will hurt morale as well
Phil will either leave or will be replaced when Microsoft Gaming is fully established for full 3rd party and openly acknowledging the hardware being a niche piece of the business at most. Let the captain go down with the ship then put a new face behind the wheel
"Our portfolio" from Matt and Phil makes my blood boil. They act like they created this stuff and it was the plan all along 
I can see MS in 2025/2026 buy another publisher especially in Asia. There pushing 3rd party likely day n date on PS & Nintendo soon which will allow them to buy future publisher since that was the only concern by competitors & regulators
