Xbox owns two of the biggest RPG franchises in gaming history, but it won't seal them off. Despite holding the keys to The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5 through its Bethesda acquisition, Microsoft is expected to release both blockbusters on multiple platforms, not as Xbox exclusives.
Xbox, through its parent Microsoft, acquired ZeniMax Media—parent of Bethesda Softworks—for $7.5 billion in 2021. The deal instantly gave Xbox control over iconic series including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, DOOM, and Starfield. Many assumed these games would become Xbox console exclusives, a powerful weapon to compete with Sony's PlayStation. But the path Microsoft is charting looks different.
Why exclusivity won't happen? Cash. Making a game like The Elder Scrolls VI or Fallout 5 exclusive would cut off tens of millions of potential buyers on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Analysts estimate that a single AAA title from these franchises can sell over 20 million copies. Sacrificing even half of that audience would cost billions in lost revenue, far outweighing any console sales boost.
Microsoft's strategy now centers on Xbox Game Pass, its subscription service with over 34 million subscribers. The company wants to reach players wherever they are—PC, cloud, mobile, and yes, rival consoles. Timed exclusives and day-one Game Pass releases are the new normal: Starfield and Redfall launched exclusively on Xbox and PC, but older Bethesda titles like DOOM Eternal remain on PlayStation. The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5 will likely follow a hybrid model—exclusive on Game Pass at launch, then wider release on other platforms after months or years.
This approach mends fences with regulators who scrutinized the Activision Blizzard deal, showing Microsoft is committed to multi-platform distribution. It also maximizes revenue from games that cost hundreds of millions to develop. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, has repeatedly stated that no game is “untouchable” when it comes to multiplatform releases, hinting that even the biggest Bethesda franchises could arrive on PlayStation eventually.
The broader shift is clear: the console wars are retrenching. Exclusivity once defined brand loyalty; now it's a negotiating chip for a subscription ecosystem. Sony is bringing its exclusives to PC; Nintendo experiments with mobile; Xbox wants Game Pass on every screen. The Elder Scrolls VI exclusivity debate symbolizes this evolution—where owning the IP matters more than locking the door.
What happens next? Elder Scrolls VI is still years away, likely after 2026. Fallout 5 is even further out. When they arrive, expect day-one Game Pass access on Xbox and PC, but don't bet against seeing them on PlayStation or Nintendo eventually. The financial calculus for total exclusivity simply doesn't add up.
Technology
→ Neutral
Why Xbox Won’t Make ‘Elder Scrolls VI’ And ‘Fallout 5’ Exclusive
Xbox now commands two of the biggest franchises in gaming, The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout, but they will likely not make them exclusive, and here's why.
Paul Tassi, Senior Contributor
Forbes
3 min read
8/10
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft paid $7.5 billion for ZeniMax Media in 2021, giving Xbox control over The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, DOOM, and Starfield franchises.
- Major AAA titles like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim have sold over 60 million copies; making a mainline entry exclusive would forfeit sales to PlayStation's 120+ million user base.
- Xbox Game Pass now exceeds 34 million subscribers, and Microsoft's strategy is to grow that number across all platforms, not just hardware sales.
- Previous Bethesda titles such as Starfield launched as Xbox/PC exclusives, but older games like DOOM Eternal remained on PlayStation, signaling a hybrid approach.
- Regulatory pressure from the Activision Blizzard acquisition pushed Microsoft to commit to multi-platform releases, setting a precedent for future Bethesda games.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is highly unlikely that The Elder Scrolls VI will be an Xbox exclusive. Microsoft’s strategy for Bethesda games now focuses on maximizing revenue across multiple platforms, including PlayStation and Nintendo, especially after timed exclusivity windows.
Making Fallout 5 exclusive would lose billions in sales from the large PlayStation and PC user bases. Xbox prioritizes Game Pass subscriber growth over hardware sales, so releasing multiplatform generates more revenue and meets regulatory commitments.
Xbox uses a hybrid model: new Bethesda titles launch as day-one Game Pass titles on Xbox and PC, with a timed exclusivity period (often one to two years) before releasing on other consoles like PlayStation.
Game Pass aims to attract subscribers on any device—consoles, PC, cloud, and mobile. Releasing games on rival platforms after an exclusive window helps expand the Game Pass ecosystem without sacrificing initial subscriber growth.
Starfield launched as an Xbox/PC exclusive. Older Bethesda titles such as DOOM Eternal are still available on PlayStation, indicating that exclusivity applies mainly to new releases with eventual multiplatform expansions.
Through its $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media in 2021, Xbox owns franchises such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, DOOM, Starfield, Wolfenstein, Dishonored, and Prey.
Topics
Original source
www.forbes.com
Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to post a comment or reply.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!