Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of ZeniMax Media and its subsidiaries, including Bethesda Softworks, will be approved by EU antitrust regulators by early March. The Xbox manufacturer’s intention to buy out the companies behind The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Doom surfaced during the latter half of 2020. Speculation as to what would happen with the future of Bethesda’s games began circulating immediately, with the big question being whether The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and other intellectual properties would continue releasing for PlayStation, Xbox’s primary competitor.
Much of that speculation is still making its way across the internet. However, Microsoft has committed to honoring two timed exclusives for the PS5, including Deathloop and GhostWire: Tokyo. It is unclear what the future of Bethesda’s various titles will be in terms of exclusivity, but the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, has confirmed the studio is not required to release any of its projects with Bethesda for PlayStation; this does not mean exclusivity is the path Microsoft is taking with Bethesda’s content, just that it is a possibility.
As the current console generation’s games get off to a slow start, Reuters reports that Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda will receive a ruling by the EU antitrust regulators by March 5, 2021. Microsoft submitted its request for the acquisition’s approval by the European Commission on January 29, 2021. Moreover, the EU antitrust regulators are not required to permit concessions to approve the buyout during its preliminary review. If the regulators feel it necessary based on any severe concerns they have, they can open a larger investigation into the acquisition, something that typically only concerns if the deal could negatively impact competition in the industry.
PlayStation fans have been concerned that Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax and Bethesda could result in the future of the studios’ most popular franchises – The Elder Scrolls and Fallout – not being released on Sony’s platform. However, despite Phil Spencer’s assertions that Microsoft is not obligated to release any Bethesda games for any platform other than Xbox, the head of Xbox has also not indicated Microsoft plans to withhold those titles from PlayStation. Arguably, the biggest boon for Microsoft with the Bethesda buyout is the near certainty that future Bethesda IPs will release on Game Pass on day one.
Regardless of any future decisions made by Team Xbox to release or not release future Bethesda titles for PlayStation, Microsoft benefits financially from those games. Assuming the acquisition is approved by the EU antitrust regulators, even launching Bethesda titles on PlayStation requires deals to be established between Microsoft and Sony, resulting in a consistent revenue stream for the former by making games available to its main competitor within the gaming industry. There is no part of this acquisition where Microsoft does not benefit on a fiscal level unless it royally messes up the quality of Bethesda’s games.
Source: Reuters