Author:
Simulacrum
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Date:
9/22/2020 5:18:19 PM
Subject:
RE: Microsoft buys Zenimax?
As far as I've been able to find out, Microsoft bought Zenimax and now owns all Bethesda IPs. Bethesda will remain a publisher but will be "empowered" by new "resources" from Microsoft. My translation of this is that Bethesda will get better banking from Microsoft than they did with Zenimax. However, Microsoft will probably claim at least near-term exclusivity rights for major upcoming Bethesda releases, e.g., Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI.
What this will probably mean is that you will see Starfield and ES6 first as Xbox exclusives. After X number of weeks, PC players will be able to buy passes, but nobody is going to play Starfield or ES6 for a dollar. Prices will be adjusted. After Y more time (months), players may see pass arrangements with Steam, Epic, etc. I cannot imagine what will happen with Playstation owners.
Basically, Microsoft will use EA and Epic strategies but will modify their approach slightly so as to seem kinder and gentler.
Here is the main thing: big games will appear first and exclusively on Xbox because Microsoft has an irrational need to sell this hardware. They can rationalize it by pointing to Xbox Live and peripheral/game sales or whatever, but they have always been in a purely megalomaniacal dither to dominate the console market. Apparently, they don't mind spending $7.5 billion to do it.
