Microsoft buys Bethesda, maker of hit Fallout and The Elder Scrolls games, in $7.5 billion deal Published Mon, Sep 21 2020 9:35 AM EDT Updated Mon, Sep 21 2020 1:33 PM EDT Ryan Browne @RyanBrowne. While it might be expected that The Elder Scrolls 6 would be an Xbox exclusive, it has since been noted after the acquisition that the future of Bethesda game 'will be on Xbox, PC and other. Even if Elder Scrolls 6 is not a PC and Xbox Series X exclusive, the fact that it will likely be on Xbox Game Pass is a game-changer, as PS5 owners will have to buy the game at full price. The Elder Scrolls 6 is also in production, while a Fallout 5 announcement continues to be rumoured. It's possible they'll now be Xbox Series X/S (and maybe PC) exclusives. The Inverse Analysis — The fact that games like The Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, and whatever's next from studios like MachineGames and id Software might be Xbox exclusives is a gigantic loss for.
Microsoft made the shocking announcement Monday morning that the company had acquired ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, the game studio behind major franchises like Elder Scrolls, Starfield, Fallout, Doom, The Evil Within, Wolfenstein, and Dishonored. Now, all of these franchise are part of Xbox Games Studios. What exactly does that mean for upcoming titles like Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield?
The short answer is if you're interested in these games, you'll probably have to have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in some capacity if you want to play it.
What did Microsoft just acquire? The acquisition was announced via Xbox Wire and various social channels on Monday morning. 'Today is a special day, as we welcome some of the most accomplished studios in the games industry to Xbox,' Phil Spencer wrote in the article. 'We are thrilled to announce Microsoft has entered into an agreement to acquire ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Softworks.' A press release confirmed that the deal is worth $7.5 billion.
The post goes on to highlight many of the aforementioned famous franchises from Bethesda, all of which are now technically owned by Xbox.
Every developer within Bethesda is part of this acquisition. That means the likes of id Software (Doom), Arkane (Dishonored, Prey), MachineGames (Wolfenstein), Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within), ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online), Bethesda Softworks (the publishing arm), Bethesda Game Studios (Elder Scrolls, Fallout), Alpha Dog (Monstrosity Rampage), and Roundhouse Studios are now owned by Xbox, bringing its number of owned developers up to 23 from 15.
What does this mean for The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield? When it comes to Bethesda Game Studios' big upcoming RPGs, it initially seems that The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfieldwill eventually be released for PC and Xbox. This would give the Xbox Series X and S some major open-world exclusives to bolster their upcoming exclusive lineup alongside Obsidian's Avowed, but comments from Executive Producer Todd Howard do muddy the waters on that situation.
'Like our original partnership, this one is about more than one system or one screen,' Howard said. 'We share a deep belief in the fundamental power of games, in their ability to connect, empower, and bring joy. And a belief we should bring that to everyone — regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you play on. Regardless of the screen size, the controller, or your ability to even use one.'
This seems to indicate that Bethesda Game Studios titles could come to more consoles other than Xbox, though Microsoft and Bethesda have not directly stated if that's the case yet. A far more likely explanation is that Microsoft may urge Bethesda developers to develop with current- and next-gen consoles in mind so as to make games more accessible to a wider variety of gamers. Which is to say that Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield might never land on PlayStation 5.
While Bethesda does have some multiplatform titles announced or actively support like Doom Eternal, Deathloop, and GhostWire, those games should still be released on their confirmed systems before coming to Xbox if Microsoft follows the precedent set by previous acquisitions of inXile Entertainment and Compulsion Games. Hopefully, this acquisition won't result in any delays for either game.
What we know for sure is that any future games from Bethesda will be on Xbox Game Pass on the day that they launch, which means you won't need to purchase the likes of The Elder Scrolls 6 or Starfield Sims 4 steam unlocked. separately if you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription. It also means that a robust backlog of Bethesda games will likely hit Xbox Game Pass in the coming months.
Todd Howard also teased that Bethesda has made its 'largest engine overhaul since Oblivion, with all new technologies powering our first new IP in 25 years, Starfield, as well as The Elder Scrolls VI.'
The InverseAnalysis — The fact that games like The Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, and whatever's next from studios like MachineGames and id Software might be Xbox exclusives is a gigantic loss for Sony and a major win for Microsoft. The most common criticism thrown at Xbox is that they don't have enough compelling franchises and exclusives to draw people to its platforms, but now it has the market cornered on AAA open-world RPGs.
While the fruits of this acquisition might take over a year to finally muster, it nets Xbox some highly anticipated major exclusives. Hopefully, Xbox won't be as secretive as Bethesda has historically been, and we'll learn more about these games as soon as possible once the $7.5 billion acquisition is complete.
Next Elder Scrolls Game
There's been an inconsistent trickle of TheElder Scrolls VI news since the teaser was unveiled back in 2018. Now, Bethesda Softworks has given fans of the high-fantasy series a glimpse at how the launch of its next installment will play out in the future.
Chief Software Engineer Todd Howard was interviewed as part of the Develop: Brighton Conference 2020 in early November. While he chatted mostly about Starfield, an upcoming Bethesda space-faring adventure, he also offered an update about the eventual TES 6 launch.
Howard's comments come weeks after Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda, which has now bound the future of the beloved franchise to Xbox consoles. There hasn't official confirmation that TES 6 would be an Xbox exclusive (yet), but past comments from Xbox chief Phil Spencer and Howard's latest interview have hinted that The Elder Scrolls 6's new home will be on Xbox and its Game Pass subscription service.
While the game itself might be a few years away, we can piece together hints from Bethesda and online chatter to estimate when fans will be able to once again roam the craggy mountains of Tamriel, the main continent where all of the Elder Scrolls games take place.
Here's everything we know.
When is the Elder Scrolls 6 release date?
Bethesda has not announced an exact release date or even a release window for Elder Scrolls 6 yet. But Howard has stated that its development and release is completely reliant on the company getting another one of its projects out the door first: Starfield.
'We had done so many things, we were going Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and you have this Starfield game in your head and you sorta say, well, when?' he told IGNin July 2019. 'We are creatives, and we have to make this game and this is the time, and so Elder Scrolls VI is gonna have to wait a little bit.'
The science fiction title has been stuck in a development rut for over a decade at this point, and it has yet to receive its own release date. Howard teased that Starfield could be released on both current-generation and next-generation consoles back in 2018, but that seems very unlikely now.
We probably won't hear much more about the next Elder Scrolls until after Starfield's release date is announced. But it's looking like the follow-up to Skyrim won't launch until a few years into the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X's lifespan.
An April 2020 batch of allegedly leaked information that was later said to be false claimed that Bethesda was aiming for 'Q4 2024,' which means no earlier than October 2024. While that info dump is now widely considered to have been faked, a release date four to five years from now doesn't seem so far fetched especially since Bethesda began pre-production in 2018.
Will Elder Scrolls 6 be Xbox exclusive?
With the console wars in full swing as the next-generation is right about to begin, the big question is what exactly Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda means for Elder Scrolls VI. Will the game be Xbox exclusive? Skyrim has been ported to essentially every console released in the last decade, but could the Elder Scrolls VI exist on just one?
Howard teased that TES 6 could launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one. Around the 49 and 50 minute maker of his Develop:Briton Conference interview, the Bethesda executive reveals how much of a pillar accessibility will be for the company over the next few years.
Best Elder Scrolls Games
The post goes on to highlight many of the aforementioned famous franchises from Bethesda, all of which are now technically owned by Xbox.
Every developer within Bethesda is part of this acquisition. That means the likes of id Software (Doom), Arkane (Dishonored, Prey), MachineGames (Wolfenstein), Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within), ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online), Bethesda Softworks (the publishing arm), Bethesda Game Studios (Elder Scrolls, Fallout), Alpha Dog (Monstrosity Rampage), and Roundhouse Studios are now owned by Xbox, bringing its number of owned developers up to 23 from 15.
What does this mean for The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield? When it comes to Bethesda Game Studios' big upcoming RPGs, it initially seems that The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfieldwill eventually be released for PC and Xbox. This would give the Xbox Series X and S some major open-world exclusives to bolster their upcoming exclusive lineup alongside Obsidian's Avowed, but comments from Executive Producer Todd Howard do muddy the waters on that situation.
'Like our original partnership, this one is about more than one system or one screen,' Howard said. 'We share a deep belief in the fundamental power of games, in their ability to connect, empower, and bring joy. And a belief we should bring that to everyone — regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you play on. Regardless of the screen size, the controller, or your ability to even use one.'
This seems to indicate that Bethesda Game Studios titles could come to more consoles other than Xbox, though Microsoft and Bethesda have not directly stated if that's the case yet. A far more likely explanation is that Microsoft may urge Bethesda developers to develop with current- and next-gen consoles in mind so as to make games more accessible to a wider variety of gamers. Which is to say that Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield might never land on PlayStation 5.
While Bethesda does have some multiplatform titles announced or actively support like Doom Eternal, Deathloop, and GhostWire, those games should still be released on their confirmed systems before coming to Xbox if Microsoft follows the precedent set by previous acquisitions of inXile Entertainment and Compulsion Games. Hopefully, this acquisition won't result in any delays for either game.
What we know for sure is that any future games from Bethesda will be on Xbox Game Pass on the day that they launch, which means you won't need to purchase the likes of The Elder Scrolls 6 or Starfield Sims 4 steam unlocked. separately if you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription. It also means that a robust backlog of Bethesda games will likely hit Xbox Game Pass in the coming months.
Todd Howard also teased that Bethesda has made its 'largest engine overhaul since Oblivion, with all new technologies powering our first new IP in 25 years, Starfield, as well as The Elder Scrolls VI.'
The InverseAnalysis — The fact that games like The Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, and whatever's next from studios like MachineGames and id Software might be Xbox exclusives is a gigantic loss for Sony and a major win for Microsoft. The most common criticism thrown at Xbox is that they don't have enough compelling franchises and exclusives to draw people to its platforms, but now it has the market cornered on AAA open-world RPGs.
While the fruits of this acquisition might take over a year to finally muster, it nets Xbox some highly anticipated major exclusives. Hopefully, Xbox won't be as secretive as Bethesda has historically been, and we'll learn more about these games as soon as possible once the $7.5 billion acquisition is complete.
Next Elder Scrolls Game
There's been an inconsistent trickle of TheElder Scrolls VI news since the teaser was unveiled back in 2018. Now, Bethesda Softworks has given fans of the high-fantasy series a glimpse at how the launch of its next installment will play out in the future.
Chief Software Engineer Todd Howard was interviewed as part of the Develop: Brighton Conference 2020 in early November. While he chatted mostly about Starfield, an upcoming Bethesda space-faring adventure, he also offered an update about the eventual TES 6 launch.
Howard's comments come weeks after Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda, which has now bound the future of the beloved franchise to Xbox consoles. There hasn't official confirmation that TES 6 would be an Xbox exclusive (yet), but past comments from Xbox chief Phil Spencer and Howard's latest interview have hinted that The Elder Scrolls 6's new home will be on Xbox and its Game Pass subscription service.
While the game itself might be a few years away, we can piece together hints from Bethesda and online chatter to estimate when fans will be able to once again roam the craggy mountains of Tamriel, the main continent where all of the Elder Scrolls games take place.
Here's everything we know.
When is the Elder Scrolls 6 release date?
Bethesda has not announced an exact release date or even a release window for Elder Scrolls 6 yet. But Howard has stated that its development and release is completely reliant on the company getting another one of its projects out the door first: Starfield.
'We had done so many things, we were going Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and you have this Starfield game in your head and you sorta say, well, when?' he told IGNin July 2019. 'We are creatives, and we have to make this game and this is the time, and so Elder Scrolls VI is gonna have to wait a little bit.'
The science fiction title has been stuck in a development rut for over a decade at this point, and it has yet to receive its own release date. Howard teased that Starfield could be released on both current-generation and next-generation consoles back in 2018, but that seems very unlikely now.
We probably won't hear much more about the next Elder Scrolls until after Starfield's release date is announced. But it's looking like the follow-up to Skyrim won't launch until a few years into the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X's lifespan.
An April 2020 batch of allegedly leaked information that was later said to be false claimed that Bethesda was aiming for 'Q4 2024,' which means no earlier than October 2024. While that info dump is now widely considered to have been faked, a release date four to five years from now doesn't seem so far fetched especially since Bethesda began pre-production in 2018.
Will Elder Scrolls 6 be Xbox exclusive?
With the console wars in full swing as the next-generation is right about to begin, the big question is what exactly Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda means for Elder Scrolls VI. Will the game be Xbox exclusive? Skyrim has been ported to essentially every console released in the last decade, but could the Elder Scrolls VI exist on just one?
Howard teased that TES 6 could launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one. Around the 49 and 50 minute maker of his Develop:Briton Conference interview, the Bethesda executive reveals how much of a pillar accessibility will be for the company over the next few years.
Best Elder Scrolls Games
He didn't outrightly say TES 6 would be part of the service's lineup, but Microsoft's main line of delivering games to gamers on various platforms (Xbox, PC, and eventually mobile with xCloud) is Game Pass.
'When I think about the next-generation for me it's about accessibility,' said Howard. 'I think that friction between 'I'm playing and I want to pick it up and have it go with me and have it be frictionless.' I think ultimately over the next five..even ten years it's going to be about making that seamless..Bringing everything we're doing to everybody.'
Xbox's Spencer also teased that Elder Scrolls 6 might not be released on the PS5.
'We have xCloud and PC and Game Pass and our console base,' said Spencer speaking to Kotaku. 'I don't have to go ship those games on any other platform other than the platforms that we support in order to kind of make the [$7.5 billion] deal work for us.'
Spencer reassured gamers that Microsoft wasn't trying to intentionally restrict the platforms that future Elder Scrolls titles will be available on, but the company needs a way to recover the significant investment it made in Bethesda. That doesn't mean that Elder Scrolls 6 will be off PS5 forever.
Minecraft raft mod. Microsoft could release Elder Scrolls 6 on its supported platforms for a limited time and then eventually expand to PS5. This way they can get an initial influx of gamers that want to play Elder Scrolls 6 day-one to buy Xboxes or pay for Game Pass and then still profit from PS5 sales later on.
Is there an Elder Scrolls 6 trailer?
Not really. Bethesda did release a short announcement teaster to rile up fans at E3 2018. The video was mostly just a bird's eye view of a sea-side city with. But fans might receive another teaser this year.
What the teaser trailer below: Foxy video game.
Will Elder Scrolls 6 be on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, or the PC?
Since Elder Scrolls VI won't arrive until after Starfield is released. While that game may launch cross-generation on current- and next-gen consoles, it's looking likely that Elder Scrolls 6 will be a next-gen title. What's more is that with Microsoft acquiring Bethesda in September 2020, it may be the case that Elder Scrolls 6 is a Microsoft exclusive for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.
Where in Tamriel is Elder Scrolls 6 set?
The aforementioned leak also claimed that Elder Scrolls 6 will take place in both High Rock and Hammerfell, which are the two neighboring regions to the west of Skyrim.
Players will allegedly be thrown into a period of regional unrest and take part in large-scale battles involving some of the biggest power-players in Tamriel. So think Skyrim, but instead of factions within a single region, players will be dealing with continental politics on a much wider scale.
The leaker states that Bethesda is waiting until the PS5 and Series X are a few years into their life cycle. The publisher wants to make the most use out of the consoles' next-generation hardware to render sprawling environments and battles with potentially hundreds of warriors, archers, and mages on screen at once.
'Most of these regions will be warring against each other,' wrote the anonymous leaker. 'This is because Bethesda wants to use this generation's hardware to create some huge, epic battle scenes with dozens, if not hundreds of characters battling on-screen in real-time.'
Again, all of this was allegedly proven as false by Redditors but it does seem like a natural progression of Skyrim, which had its own big battle scenes that could seriously be elevated with next-gen console hardware.
Elder Scrolls VI is in development.
