Will Elder Scrolls 6 be an Xbox exclusive after the Bethesda acquisition?

Bethesda's long-awaited Elder Scrolls 6 is being kept under wraps for now, but will the next-gen game be exclusive to Xbox hardware in light of Microsoft's acquisition of the studio? Here's everything we know.

Even though Elder Scrolls 6 was unveiled in 2018, there have been few details about the upcoming game. Insofar as Starfield is getting ready to release first, we may still have a few more years. However, this did not end the endless online speculation.

Rumors continue to swirl from setup to release date. One of the most discussed issues concerns platform exclusivity. After a dizzying dealings Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media for $7,5 billion, the parent company of Bethesda, fans are desperate to know if Elder Scrolls VI will be an Xbox exclusive.

Now we have a clear idea of ​​how all this will work in the future. In an hour-long conversation with Microsoft VP of Games Phil Spencer, the fate of Elder Scrolls exclusivity was all but confirmed.

Will Elder Scrolls 6 be an Xbox exclusive?

When it comes to the future of the Elder Scrolls, exclusivity is proving to be a key focus in the new relationship with Microsoft. However, this does not limit Elder Scrolls 6 to Xbox hardware specifically. “If you're an Xbox customer, it's about bringing you great exclusive games that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists,” Spencer explained.

This means that the vast majority of upcoming Bethesda games will be exclusive to both Xbox and PC. With Game Pass in mind, this obviously leaves the Sony and Nintendo platforms out of the conversation.

Given the scale of Elder Scrolls VI, we can expect it to follow this trend. "That's why we're doing it, that's the root of our partnership," he added.

Xbox Game Pass has been Microsoft's main focus of late, and now 20 classic Bethesda games have joined the subscription service. Everything from Doom Eternal to Skyrim is now available as part of the purchase.

Can you believe that 10 years have passed since the release of Skyrim?

Phil Spencer Interview on Elder Scrolls 6

Spencer revealed more about how Elder Scrolls 6 could be an Xbox exclusive in GQ interview. Since it was announced that Starfield would be an Xbox exclusive, Spencer revealed that he is introducing the same for Elder Scrolls 6 as well. However, according to him, this needs some deciphering:

“This is not about punishing any other platform, because I deeply believe that all platforms can continue to grow. But in order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about Elder Scrolls 6. It would be true when I think about any of our franchises.”

While Spencer hasn't explicitly confirmed that Elder Scrolls 6 will be an Xbox exclusive, if you're reading between the lines, it's very much like that's the goal. 

Will every Bethesda game be a Game Pass exclusive?

However, this news doesn't mean that every Bethesda game will be limited to Game Pass. Some releases already have agreements with various publishers who reserve the right to release them on other platforms. 

Take, for example, Deathloop. Despite being a Bethesda game, it's launching as a Sony PlayStation 5 exclusive. Cases like this are likely to happen from time to time, Spencer acknowledged.

“I can't sit here and say that every Bethesda game is exclusive. We know that this is not true, there are contractual obligations that we have to fulfill. We have games that exist on other platforms and we're going to support those games."

As for the future of Elder Scrolls, if you have access to Game Pass, you will have access to the sixth entry in the series. However, it may still be a few years before the release, so don't expect to see any details anytime soon.

Was the article helpful?

Thank you very much!

YES! >. No, bad :

Send this to help me!