Starfield Was Planned For PS5 Prior To Microsoft's ZeniMax Acquisition, FTC Says

Bethesda's sci-fi RPG would have come to PlayStation if not for Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax in 2021, according to the FTC.

[Sonic1881]

Like I said in my last post. Microsoft intentions was to always make Bethesda games Xbox exclusive but they had to say some games will not be an exclusive but case to case basis to finalize the deal. They're using the same strategy with Activision after the buyout and COD and popular games will be an Xbox exclusive which makes sense after acquiring them for 70 billion. I knew FTC was going to try and use Bethesda acquisition as an argument

https://n4g.com/news/255624...

[Extermin8or3_]

Your comment means it's a legit argument for the FTC to make because as you say MS is clearly gonna donthe same thing again.

[neutralgamer1992]

I don’t know anything else, but I do know FTC has a really strong case. Especially with CMA also against this acquisition.

[giovonni]

@neutralgamer1992 you know for a fact that the FTC has a strong case?

[VenomUK]

This revelation that Starfield was originally intended for release on PlayStation is not a surprise, nevertheless its saddening to see it confirmed as it means when Phil Spencer said "This deal was not done to take games away from another player base like that" his contrary actions mean he was lying. He comes across as a friendly dude, he says the right thing that often chimes with the gaming press and public and they love his down to earth demeanour. I've always found him to be likeable. But if you say one thing and do another then it undermines your credibility and deservedly, based on his past behaviour, some trust his promises about Activision games a little bit less.

https://www.gamesindustry.b...

[ArmrdChaos]

I find it amusing that many claim they're not exclusive titles if they are available on PC, but when it becomes convenient for the argument they jump on the console exclusive tag. PC and Playstation was the combo we keep hearing about so what exactly in being kept from them? At least Microsoft is making the game available day one. What would have Sony done? Make people wait a year or better? Sony would have done the same exact thing had they the capitol to pull it off, but then it would have been praised as business genius. This isn't the slam dunk most think it is. We'll see.

[darthv72]

surprised the FTC didnt hit everyone with these other nuggets of knowledge...
"Halo Was Planned For Mac Prior To Microsoft's Bungie Acquisition"
"Kameo Was Planned For Gamecube Prior To Microsoft's Rare Acquisition"

[Zeref]

They will do the same thing again. You're saying that as if it's a bad thing lol.

CoD will be multiplat, they already committed to that publicly.

Anything else is case by case. Are they supposed to not make exclusives or something? 😂

[giovonni]

Are they? Because aren’t there ten year contracts signed that are not only legal binding, and also will bring Activision games to different platforms go against what you just said?

[shinoff2183]

There was nothing stopping Activision from bringing their games to those same platforms that ms signed deals with. Some of the companies I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't just offshoots of ms let's be real ms wants monopoly. History repeats itself with ms from back in the 90s.

[ABizzel1]

The CMA report details exactly what MS was trying to do with those 10-year agreements which honestly was one of the most foul contracts I’ve seen in a while. The contracts allowed companies to STREAM CoD, but MS wouldhave the right to all profits from the games during the 10 year agreement, which is absolutely crazy.

The contract make a little sense for all the streaming platforms that agreed since they don’t currently have CoD, as well as, Nintendo since the hardware they produced with the Switch isn’t powerful enough to run modern CoD (Switch 2 maybe), but PS5 would suffer the most if you can physically buy or download a copy of the game on Xbox and PC services like Steam, but forced to Stream on PS, as well as, a best case scenario Sony only gets around 30% for sales for being sold on the PS Store, and maybe a fraction of the in-game purchases if MS allows it on their platform.

That’s why Sony was so against it, and it was one of the points the CMA held against MS in their decision to block this. If MS was truly keeping CoD available on all current and future platforms without ever making them exclusive, I don’t think this deal would have had such a hard time being approved, or is Activision was forced to spin off CoD. But MS has proved time and time again they cannot be trusted based on their word, and ever decade try to create some type of monopoly since the 90s, which they’ve been sued for and lost on all occasions.

[Profchaos]

Sad but true if only for the legacy of the games that id software makes imagine a world where Doom is locked behind a single platform rather than trying to run on anything with circuitry.

[Abracadabra]

Sony are a cancer in the gaming industry. Their only goal is to kill any competition and be the only high end console available.
Using monopolistic tactics they got huge 3rd party exclusives, that simply would be impossible for others to obtain.

If Sony had their way, they would have made COD and Starfield exclusives, and by that, killing the competition. Microsoft did the only thing they could to save the Xbox...

[SeTTriP]

Making good games ain't one of them.

[TheKingKratos]

Sony is the Cancer now ?! Lol 😂😂😂

[ApocalypseShadow]

Ridiculous. The opinions expressed to defend Microsoft are on another level of ridiculousness.

2 TRILLION dollars, over 20 years in the business and they can't compete. So, they need or have the right to buy up third parties because Sony made a few games exclusive. Games that would most likely have sold more on PlayStation. Where Xbox gamers wait for game pass but not buy on Xbox because they are too cheap to spend money. Creating the very reason developers go with PlayStation.

These counterpoints you guys make are just beyond rational and logical understanding. Just ridiculous.

[Christopher]

***If Sony had their way, they would have made COD and Starfield exclusives,***

Sony would have made COD and Starfield exclusive, but they failed to do that with Bungie? Man, if only it was easy to make up hypothetical outcomes from something that has never happened.

***Microsoft did the only thing they could to save the Xbox...***

So, the only thing to save Xbox is taking games away from others, but Sony is the cancer? Fight cancer with cancer?

[MrDead]

Well yeah, Sonys platform was their biggest money maker in the console industry. MS has banned Bethesda's games from one of it's biggest revenue streams.

[Obscure_Observer]

"MS has banned Bethesda's games from one of it's biggest revenue streams."

As they should. Sony tried to make Starfield exclusive to Playstation and though they could get away with it. If wasn´t for Todd Howard and Phil Spencer, Xbox gamers would be the ones left in the cold right now.

Phil had enough of Sony´s constant scumbag bs schemes after Ghostwire: Tokio and Deathloop exclusive deals for Playstation and just put an end to it once and for all!

Sony´s bs move to try and keep Starfield from Xbox gamers was their last mistake!

Enough is enough!

[Crows90]

Go get em boy!
So let me get this straight...you're fine with Xbox taking it because PlayStation would've taken it otherwise...hmmm

I thought Bethesda and Microsoft had a long time partnership...that was the reason for the purchase as many Xbox fans said....why would they exclude Xbox intentionally if that was the case...unless it was complete BS.

It would've been bad if Sony did it...still bad if Xbox does it.

Both those deals you mention...were temporary ..so Xbox wasn't going to lose on any game assuming another deal would take place.

But I don't see the problem ..aren't you guys fine with these deals???
Get your messaging straight and stop flip flopping.

[shinoff2183]

Tried to make starfield timed exclusive to ps5. Timed is a key word you guys keep forgetting same as ghostwire and deathloop.

Ms is keeping the whole fking game from ps where if I went to ps they wanted Timed. You guys can't keep forgetting that. It's a huge difference. Just like I say I'd take stsrfield a year later on ps. I'd be happy as hell. It'd be fixed , possible free dlc.

Also obscure how did you feel about the scummy practices ms were up to in the 90s with the pc environment, or how about those same scummy third party deals ms had during the 360 Era. Call a spade a spade dog

[tay8701]

Lol dude you always Crack me up. MS are even bigger scumbags than sony. Funny you should bring up tokyo ghostwire and desthloop. They actually run better on playststion than they do on MS. Lok. How embarasing
They had a whole yr to port it and they both can't match the ps5 releases. No doubt starfield would have as well, so congratulations on having lesser quality games now. You can be damn sure the same will happen if they get their hands on ABK.

[FPS_D3TH]

Goofy

[Terry_B]

lol

[Obscure_Observer]

@Crows90

"I thought Bethesda and Microsoft had a long time partnership...that was the reason for the purchase as many Xbox fans said....why would they exclude Xbox intentionally if that was the case...unless it was complete BS."

Todd Howard said NO to Sony´s proposal to make Starfield exclusive and chose to go exclusive with Xbox instead, for life!

So what´s exactly the part that you can´t understand that Todd Howard didn´t gave a f* about Sony´s money? Todd Howard always had a closer relationship with Xbox, he said that himself. Other companies like VALVE and CDPR also have a closer relationship with MS than any other major platform.

So don´t act surprised if any of those companies chose Xbox over Playstation.

"Both those deals you mention...were temporary ..so Xbox wasn't going to lose on any game assuming another deal would take place."

Yeah, like Sony could be trusted. They made FF Remake, Rebirth, XVI, Forspoken, KOTOR, Silent Hill 2, Rise of Ronin and even Stellar Blade which was ANNOUNCED to Xbox, all permanent exclusives! Sony literally PAID Stellar Blade´s developers to ever release that game on Xbox.

So yeah, screw Sony and its bs predatory practices! They poked the bear for far to long! Time to deal with the consequences!

Whatever happened and might happen to them regarding future acquisitions, they´d brought on themselves!

"But I don't see the problem ..aren't you guys fine with these deals???"

Of course I´m. Sony can acquire EA and I wouldn´t give a sh!t. They could had acquired CDPR or Kadokawa for they´d chose and invested all that money on Bungie, because GaaS is their priority.

At least Phil invested on Bethesda which main focus is RPGs and single player games due his vision for Xbox.

To each their own, I guess?

[MontyeKristo]

shinoff2183 - It's not really that different; let's be honest. There are very few games many people would wait a year for. There are sooo many games that get released every year, I've such a large backlog already that it's hard to get to all of them. Not to mention, after waiting a year.. all the spoilers are already out there, good luck avoiding them.

For a lot of people; I imagine time exclusivity is just as bad as full exclusivity.

[Lightning77]

Biggest revenue stream, biggest money maker. You realize You're fighting for MS case with those statement right? Confirming its ok that MS to make those games exclusive?

[MrDead]

Wow, someone has no clue how business works, go stalk someone else kid or I'll hand your ass to you again.

[Lightning77]

So basically just owned yourself in your comment since you can't explain. You didn't hand nothing to nobody. You're literally just made MS pint for them and didn't even realize it.

Go ahead and explain.

[MrDead]

ok weird creepy stalker that has followed this comment for almost two days, a publisher that had three revenue streams now only has one full paying platform and a share of a subscription service and has lost it's biggest console market. Your spectacular lack of understanding of business seems to think that because they are owned by MS that an underperforming or lowest profit margin division will be fine... just a little heads up MS has already fired Xbox and Bethesda staff because of Azures lower than expected profits... now go away child!

[Lightning77]

As expected you didn't answer my question. Let me break it down. So MS makes less than Sony as you stated. You suggest they continue to provide to the highest revenue stream on PS, which means for Sony to stay on top. MS bought one of the company's that provides said money for Sony, that'll now being making money on Xbox. Or attempt at it anyway. To slowly chip away said revenue made on PS.

Again you're argument was the EXACT same argument that MS made about Sony this past year that's why they're getting approved because of said facts about Sony and MS platforms when comparing revenue streams So in turn you're helping MS case.

Stalker this and that blah, blah, blah. No What you said was dumb and I wanted to point that out to you.

[Immagaiden]

Microsoft really think they slick by making all these Bethesda games exclusive while pretending they won’t do that with Activision Blizzard

[shadowT]

60 FPS on PS5?

[Binarycode]

It would chew through loading those worlds.

[SullysCigar]

Sony wouldn't have made us walk across a thousand planets. They'd have made sure we had a vehicle to traverse them with. PS5's SSD would have allowed us to take off and land on planets at will, no cutscenes required. Oh, what could have been! Lol

Joking aside, this is not a good look for Microsoft in the eyes of the FTC.

[GameBoyColor]

I don't think so. FFXVI is showing the limits of ps5. during an eikon battle i was dropping to like 15fps. Heard the performance mode was all over the place too so I just stayed with quality.

I guarantee 30fps targets are back to being the norm for consoles now lol

[NatsuXTheMaxspeed21]

lol Final fantasy is a Square enix game them struggling at optimization isn't a ps5 problem as other games run 4k 60 FPS without issues like spiderman or Ratchet and clank.

[Binarycode]

I'd say it's the limit's of that engine.

Most of the current engines are crossgen, built for legacy hardware.

I'm hoping once that goes away you'll see some more exciting things.

[CrimsonWing69]

Yea no sh*t. The announcement was before the acquisition.

It’s not shocking that when MS bought Bethesda all games became exclusive. Is this rocket science or something?

The reason Death Loop and Ghostwire were released is because MS honored Sony’s contract for the game’s timed exclusivity. Sony were already doing showcases and mentioning the exclusivity. MS actually didn’t have to do this as when a buyout occurs contracts can become void.

Starfield was never mentioned to be a console exclusive. We just got a lame teaser about it and it was implied to be multi-console as most Bethesda games were.

[jznrpg]

Buyouts do not negate contracts that’s just something you made up.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Buyouts do not negate contracts that’s just something you made up."

And where´s the PS5 "contract" for Starfield?

That´s right! Starfield will never hit the Playstation because Sony never had a contract for it to be released on PS5 in the first place!

Sony tried to make it exclusive and Todd just said no!

[Profchaos]

They could choose to not honour the contract and pay the associated fees. There's always a choice but the pr would have been brutal

[Crows90]

@obscure
Wait...hold on just a second. You just wrote a comment where you said PlayStation was going to get an exclusive deal...

Now you say Todd said...no....

Where you pulling out all these contradicting facts from?!

[shinoff2183]

Obscure timed. Don't forget to add timed exclusive. There you go again.

[CrimsonWing69]

Please help me here.

Can you link me the info you have on this so I can be better informed?

[neutralgamer1992]

You could not be more wrong, even if you tried. Microsoft had no option, but to honor those contracts or pay huge settlement or contract breaking fees.

Just because the company is bought out, does not mean they’re past is erased. before any company is bought out they make their new parent company aware of their past commitments

[shinoff2183]

Crimson I think your dead wrong. Pretty sure legally the exclusive contracts would've still had to play out

[jznrpg]

Obviously

[talocaca]

Obviously.....there's no way they can justify that $70 billion purchase taking content away from other platforms.

Honestly speaking, $70 PS5 versions vs "free" on GamePass Xbox versions would be the best way to make Xbox look good given the circumstances.

I have zero interest in the vast majority of Bethesda/Activision titles but I sure hope this deal is blocked. It feels very anticonsumer.

[neutralgamer1992]

This 100% factual statement. Who in their right mind think that if ZeniMax was still independent that starfield it would not be coming to PlayStation 5. This is coming from someone who owns a Xbox doesn’t on a PlayStation 5

I am 100% against any acquisitions Phupho publisher, either by PlayStation or Xbox. I believe the only way a publisher could be acquired is, if these companies can give it a legal writing that none of the games will ever become exclusives

And we may not see it right now, but if this acquisition is allowed, then Sony will buy Capcom and or square Enix, and make their games exclusives some gamers don’t win. Sony has been gathering funds to make acquisitions and they have close to $15 million in their acquisition fund right now.

I don’t understand how gamers don’t seem to understand they will be retaliations. Every action has an equal or greater reaction.

[DarkZane]

Even if the acquisition doesn't go through, Sony will probably buy Square-Enix and or Capcom. The best part is that those 2 companies are japanese, so Sony likely doesn't need regulator approval to buy them.

[giovonni]

That’s incorrect they do need it. Remember MS had to get approval from governing bodies from around the world. Then it has to be proven without a shadow of a doubt that it doesn’t harm competition. I know this is going to be hard for A lot of people to swallow and or believe, but Sony is closer to a monopoly than Xbox. And if XBox had to give remedies imagine what Sony would have to do?

[shinoff2183]

Giovonni

How is Sony closer to a monopoly then ms, hmm ms more studios just bought a grip of studios and a publisher(zenimax quite a big one) currently trying to buy the largest 3rd party publisher in the world, more money. Ms is ms own worst enemy. They have all the resources in the world to make great games and they blow it almost every fking time. Every time man. Let's not forget ms only has what 7 8 less years in gaming then sony. Ms had their sh together one generation and that was 360. You remember how they did it. Buying up 3rd party exclusives, and 50 million dollar dlc

[The3faces]

Square Enix games are already exclusive to Sony

[notachance]

They have more exclusives on Nintendo than they do on Sony, but whatever helps you sleep at night I suppose

[shinoff2183]

Just like redfall that was canned starfield was most definitely in development for ps5. If you deny that your just flat out lying to yourself

[PhillyDonJawn]

I see why Magog mad now. He wanted the game

[SICKINDIVIDUAL]

Magog clearly in your head 🤣😂.

[Othegamer5]

- magog

[PhillyDonJawn]

Yeah he be on starfield articles so much I now associate starfield with him lol. Can't think about Starfield without magog 😂 speaking of Magog. Where's he at? It's not like him to not be on starfield article. Someone check on him I'm worried. I'm sure he'll show up, his mom probably just finished making his supper or something

[The3faces]

Funny how the FTC never mentioned that Sony was trying to buy permanent exclusivity for Starfield before MS purchased Bethesda, along with timed exclusivity for Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo.

[jonny897]

Is there any evidence that it was permanent exclusivity?

[giovonni]

@jonny897 https://www.videogameschron...

So are we gonna accept the truth, move the goal post, change the narrative, or straight up act like this site isn’t credible?

[Crows90]

@giovanni

Alas you can't read can you?
You said permanent...and yet the article you direct us to say timed ...hmmm

[S2Killinit]

Again, there is a difference between getting any sort of exclusivity on a single game project and buying a publisher…

Especially harmless is when the exclusivity comes through collaboration on a project and not by means of blocking off another platform for a game that would otherwise be multiplatform.

[PitbullMonster]

"FUN NOTE: Sony had been negotiating timed exclusivity on Starfield"
Where does it say permanent exclusivity?

[giovonni]

If you click on the link it’s right there in bold

[giovonni]

You don’t even have to scroll

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Timed for Sony means lifetime

[Crows90]

These guys read headlines...not articles...they only get the info from headlines so they obviously don't know.

These Xbox "fans" are experts at changing narratives...they literally pretend an article says something it doesn't..

[shinoff2183]

You got a link for Sony trying to buy permanent starfield exclusive. Cause I'm calling bs. Sony bought two timed exclusives so I'm suppose to believe the 3rd game was to be permanent. Sure thing Lil buddy

Hey gio

No where in there does it say permanent lol wtf. It says timed right in your own link.

He added: “FUN NOTE: Sony had been negotiating timed exclusivity on Starfield as recently as a few months ago. Going to guess either those talks are done or the price suddenly went way, way up.

[S2Killinit]

What a shit move by MS.

[Profchaos]

Water is wet games been in development for a decade now according to Todd Howard every release they did was multiplatform back then

[bleedsoe9mm]

Sony was trying to buy exclusivity for Starfield, they got Ghostwire and Deathloop before MS stepped in and purchased them . Don't cry when MS buys Square.

[shinoff2183]

Timed timed timed

Huge difference.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Just like Final Fantasy is timed? Yes timed indefinitely

[tay8701]

Lmao there is absolutely 0% chance MS buys square. They will be lucky to even get any multiplat games in the future. If square is up for sale, it will definitely be Sony that buys them.

[S2Killinit]

Sounds like you are already crying because you can’t play Final Fantasy 16. Suck it.

[shinoff2183]

We know this already

[Crows90]

All these people that used to claim that it was never planned...now...they pretend they never made such claims ..

This whole ordeal with the acquisition has been very very entertaining.

[chobit_A5HL3Y]

literally everyone knew this lol

[Deathdeliverer]

I just cannot see how people defend Microsoft and their double talk. Hell, triple talk. I always get every system day one as I am one that doesn’t like to miss a big title. Xbox one was the most disappointing system I’ve had in a long time. With Series X I felt like Microsoft was heading in the right direction. Especially when they added individual devs to their fold like obsidian. First part development would definitely give them bigger budgets and even better quality. This buying publishers stuff though? This lying, misleading, and it’s for the greater good with a knife behind your back courtroom antics bs is just too much. Buying parent companies is too much. Series X has potential to be the best Xbox, but this is the worst and most despicable Microsoft I’ve ever seen.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

No way….

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Microsoft scummy moves as always.

[mastershredder]

That’s alright. Keep it.

[wiz7191]

LOL it was only planned because Sony tried to make it an exclusive first and failed miserably …

https://www.videogameschron...

[InUrFoxHole]

Great to hear!

[Nuclearmoon]

And this is why any sequel will be worse and this game will be Bethesda's last of this scale and ambition. This was developed on a multiplatform budget with the investment based on millions of retail price sold copies. That is almost completely gone now

[wesnytsfs]

Why would Microsoft continue to fund development on a game that was 3 years away from releasing on a rival platform.

[klarnet76]

But it would be downgraded to 60fps

[Richhard1]

Sony will buy Frontier, then redevelop elite dangerous into a true to life multi universe masterpiece. Bring in collabs with lucasfilm and marvel universe as dlc.

[GoodnessGreatness]

Would've played better on the PS5..

[neomahi]

I mean, as much as I hate Microsoft, they bought Bethesda, it's theirs to do what they want to do with it, just as Sony could potentially acquire Squaresoft. Sony shouldn't have to allow anything further from Bungie and WHY SHOULD MLB THE SHOW have to be on competing consoles as well. Why is MLB The Show on Xbox AND given away for free on Xbox Game Pass. Phil Spencer didn't fight to defend Sony from being jerked around by the MLB, so why should Sony want to defend Microsoft from the FTC