The studio now under the tutelage of Microsoft reveals that its Xbox exclusives were not initially.
The hearings are linked in the context of the takeover of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft. As the end of the process is fast approaching, the future of the transaction estimated at 69 billion dollars will soon have to be decided. In these last crucial moments, Microsoft studios and teams go to court to face the Federal Trade Commission, the American agency in charge of anti-competitive business practices.
Since the premises of the takeover, this organization has made life difficult for Microsoft and Xbox. Visibly convinced of PlayStation’s fears about the future of call of duty, the main weight in this whole affair, the FTC is constantly looking for other evidence of malignant intentions. It was now time for Pete Hines, publishing director at Bethesda to be auditioned regarding the operation of Microsoft. Unfortunately for the Redmond firm, the evidence provided will not reassure the FTC.
Forced exclusives
Determined to strengthen its catalog of strong licenses, Microsoft would have changed the plans of its studios to transform multiplatform titles into exclusives. Bloomberg had already confirmed the cancellation of the PS4 version of red fall and the FTC is confident that the same is true for Starfield. Without tangible proof until then, these theories have just been reinforced by a statement from Pete Hines.
Do you remember the game IndianaJones announced by ZeniMax in 2021 ? This title, which we have no longer heard of, continues its development in the shadows, not without some modifications on the part of Microsoft. The title announced a few months before the takeover of Bethesda probably suffered from the ambitions of the Redmond firm. Originally, the contract signed with Disney stipulated a release on multiple platforms, revealed Pete Hines in court.
It only took a short time before the project turned Xbox exclusive, he confirms. This post-acquisition decision that the company kept secret could have a significant impact on Microsoft’s credibility. How can we be sure that the same will not happen to Activision Blizzard licenses? Still according to Pete Hines, this decision has nothing to do. By developing a licensed Indiana Jones game, the studio is subject to many restrictions from Disney which gives “a lot of feedback”, he explains. A fixed development time must be respected, which could impact the quality of the game in the event of a detour.
Microsoft would therefore have decided on exclusivity to avoid wasting time on PlayStation optimization and to guarantee “a greater degree of clarity” for a better in-game experience. Is this the truth? Difficult to know more. It is, however, to believe that Bethesda has just offered the FTC a baton with which to beat Microsoft. But under oath in an American trial: no right to lie. Only time will tell if this confession shows good faith or if it is a fatal blow.
