Current Events > MS acquired ZeniMax because Starfield might have been a PlayStation exclusive

(+) Yeah! (+)

Starfield is coming this September as an Xbox console exclusive, but there was a time when things almost played out very differently.

On the witness stand as part of today's trial between Microsoft/Activision Blizzard and the FTC, Xbox head Phil Spencer confirmed that there were discussions about Starfield potentially skipping Xbox consoles prior to Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax.

This part of Spencer's testimony was filled with questions about third-party exclusivity deals, where the Xbox boss also confirmed that Sony signed Square Enix to a deal to keep Final Fantasy 16 as a PlayStation 5 console exclusive.

Spencer said Xbox "needed to do a lot of work with a lot of partners given the competitive situation we had against the market leader, referring to Sony. He also said Xbox was worried about losing Starfield after seeing Bethesda titles like Ghostwire: Tokyo and Deathloop head exclusively to PlayStation. Spencer said Xbox had to secure content for its platform by way of the Bethesda acquisition to "remain viable in the business".

Back in 2020 when Microsoft announced its plans to buy Bethesda journalist Imran Khan first reported on Starfield's potential PlayStation exclusivity, writing "Sony had been negotiating timed exclusivity on Starfield as recently as a few months ago. Going to guess either those talks are done or the price suddenly went way, way up." Shortly after in early 2021, the reports started to surface that Starfield would head exclusively to Xbox Series X|S.

We're in the middle of day two of the trial that could determine the fate of Xbox's proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. To keep up with all the news, check out our recap of day one and what to expect the rest of the way.

Fuck Microsoft.

as a PlayStation-only owner, it seems fair, I guess.

like, if it wasn't for Sony trying to get all of these games off of the Xbox, even if it was for just a year, then Starfield could have been available for both the PS5 & XS.

If people wanted to game on Xbox though they would have sold more units.

As a physical collector, I don't give a fuck about Gamepass.

Yeah man, fuck Sony. They keep buying up all these timed 3rd party exclusives, which Microsoft has NEVER done obviously.

Which makes it even more fair when Microsoft buys up whole, major companies to get plenty of exclusives. Sony started the fight so Microsoft finished it!

As of March 2010, Sony has made 92 acquisitions while taking stakes at 56 companies. The company has 83 divestitures since 1983.

Sony has been buying companies, including game companies, since the 80s.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acquisitions_by_Sony

Basically more ammo for the FTC

And so has Microsoft

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mergers_and_acquisitions_by_Microsoft

Cool, then stop talking about Microsoft buying "whole, major companies" like it's not standard business.

I'm not saying it's not

However, when you're making the biggest acquisition in gaming by over 50 billion dollars, some might see that as unfair.

Sure, but when the people saying it's unfair in court are the ones that have a long history of buying companies to do exactly what Microsoft is trying to do, the argument rings hollow.

Basically more ammo for the FTC

Seeing people go to bat for MS in this whole ordeal is mindblowing lol

Seeing people go to bat for MS in this whole ordeal is mindblowing lol

I'd be mad if Capcom or Konami became console-exclusive. Major companies buying up smaller companies has been a thing since before video games. It's a shame for Sony fans who wanted this game, but I can't say that Microsoft is doing something unheard of.

Seeing Sony cry like a bitch when their game is turned against them is soul food

Yeah man, fuck Sony. They keep buying up all these timed 3rd party exclusives, which Microsoft has NEVER done obviously.