Does Bethesda's Mixed Approach to Xbox Exclusives Matter? - Ultimate Guide

Bethesda is slowly introducing Xbox exclusive releases for some of their biggest titles. Will this help or hinder them in the long term? We took a closer look here.

Bethesda has established themselves as one of the premier RPG developers in modern gaming. Though their titles might be packed with bugs and home to some more than interesting glitches and goofs, these are games that are loved by people all over the world. However, their decision to partner with Xbox on certain releases has caused some raised eyebrows. Let’s take a closer look at what this could mean for these games and the company as a whole.

New Releases on the Horizon

Bethesda has developed many of the most popular gaming franchises out there. These have attracted thousands of fans over the years, and it means that their next moves are always watched with anticipation. There have been hints that two of the biggest upcoming Bethesda releases are in fact going to be Xbox-exclusive.

One of these is the science-fiction RPG Starfield. Due to come out in 2022, the studio claims that this will reinvent the sci-fi RPG genre, and could help to bring even more players to their games than before. Their other big release will be the still-untitled Elder Scrolls VI. The fifth instalment of this series, Skyrim, is undoubtedly one of the most popular computer games of all time, so it will be interesting to see how they try to build on this and release a game that can stand on its own.

Potentially Alienating Fans

These games will most likely be released on Xbox and PC exclusively. While this move does make sense, since part of Bethesda was bought out by Microsoft, it does come with the risk of alienating part of their fanbase who do not play on either.

It is difficult to imagine other gaming platforms doing this. Websites like GGPoker.com are busy trying to improve their accessibility so as many people as possible can access their games. The company seeks to offer access to as many potential players through as many hardware and combinations as possible.

By cutting off PlayStation users and other consoles at launch, Bethesda runs the risk of alienating players and losing a large swathe of their customer base to other platforms and providers. It can be incredibly frustrating for a player to eagerly anticipate the release of a game only to discover that it will not be available to them, and it can sometimes cause them to turn their back on the franchise entirely.

Never Say Never

Though the games might only appear on these platforms at release, there is still a chance that it will later be ported and released for others. One of the running jokes within Bethesda’s fan community is their insistence to just keep rereleasing Skyrim. With several remasters having been released so far, plus ports for the Nintendo Switch and VR headsets, it is often noted with amusement that the Elder Scrolls VI might just be yet another redevelopment of Skyrim.

However, it does look like there is a good chance that the release on Xbox and PC might only be temporary. Figures from both Bethesda and PlayStation have voiced their belief that the former’s games will eventually come to other platforms. It would be foolish for them to cut off part of their audience, and the influence that they hold in gaming communities could easily drop off if they are not willing to adopt a mixed approach to their releases.

It should be noted that most of Bethesda’s approach to their game releases will be influenced by their deal with Microsoft. For this reason, it is only logical that they will release their most popular titles on an exclusive basis. All the rumours we have heard thus far about Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI are yet to be solidly confirmed. However, it does seem like not all games from this studio will be in an Xbox-exclusive deal.