Microsoft is reportedly planning a video presentation for this week to explain Bethesda’s future on the Xbox platform. According to GamesBeat sources, the online presentation will focus on what Bethesda games will be coming to Xbox Game Pass.
EDIT: Since the time of writing, Xbox has confirmed that new Bethesda titles will be joining the Xbox Game Pass line up this week. Originally story as follows.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax Media was approved by the European Union this week, which gives the Xbox exclusive rights to Bethesda games. While Microsoft has stated that games like Deathloop will still be making their way to PS5, the same can’t be said for future titles.
Previously, GamesBeat’s Jeff Grubb stated that Microsoft would explain Bethesda’s future on other platforms. There’s a chance that Microsoft will address this, but the main focus of the event appears to be Xbox Games Pass.
The presentation will also reiterate that any “contractually eligible” game from Bethesda’s future collective will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch [via VGC]. In theory, games like The Elder Scrolls 6 could be available to play on Game Pass before anywhere else.
While the presentation reportedly won’t detail future Bethesda titles, the company is apparently holding another exhibition at this year’s E3. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer previously stated that each title would be looked at on a “game by game” basis in response to exclusivity questions. Whether or not that means that we won’t know till closer to each game’s release remains to be seen.
Now that Bethesda is a part of Xbox Game Studios, the company can bring a plethora of titles to its Game Pass service. While Games Pass has featured games from the publisher’s line-up before, Microsoft will be able to make Bethesda games a permanent staple of the Game Pass experience. Ultimately, this could give Microsoft the edge it needs when it comes to dominating the realm of “games on-demand”.
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Featured Image Credit: Microsoft