Starfield – well they’re hardly going to say making a PS5 version would’ve made development easier (Picture: Microsoft)
Bethesda argues that Starfield not coming to PS5 is a good thing, as it admits it might not necessarily stick to its exclusivity promises.
The topic of console exclusivity is one of the biggest talking points surrounding Microsoft’s acquisition efforts with Activision Blizzard. Although Microsoft keeps assuring everyone that it will continue to bring Activision games to other platforms besides Xbox, US regulator the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) refuses to take their word for it.
Microsoft’s Bethesda buyout is the FTC’s main piece of evidence. Although the company once made similar promises, every new Bethesda title has only launched for Xbox and PC, with Starfield set to follow suit.
During recent legal proceedings, Bethesda’s head of publishing Pete Hines was grilled about Xbox exclusivity, and he insisted that it’s only been beneficial for Starfield’s development, claiming that it wouldn’t be out this year if it had to launch for PlayStation 5 too.
Apparently, Starfield director Todd Howard has described it as ‘irresponsibly large,’ no doubt referencing to how it features more than 1,000 planets for players to explore.
Hines argued that ‘Focusing on fewer platforms has been a big benefit to that team,’ as transcribed by TweakTown’s Derek Strickland.
‘It’s going to take longer, it’s going to cost more. It’s just a far greater risk in my mind,’ continued Hines.
When asked if Starfield would still launch in 2023 if it wasn’t an exclusive, Hines bluntly admitted, ‘In my opinion, no, this game would not be coming out in nine weeks if we were supporting an entirely different platform.’
If Starfield was not exclusive, would it come out this year?
“In my opinion, no, this game would not be coming out in 9 weeks if we were supporting an entirely different platform.”
— Derek Strickland (@DeekeTweak) June 22, 2023
Howard also made similar statements last year, saying Xbox exclusivity helped them focus their time and resources as well as gain assistance directly from Microsoft.
The FTC is aiming to use Starfield’s exclusivity as ammo for getting the Activision Blizzard buyout blocked, arguing that Microsoft has demonstrated it wants to keep its game exclusive wherever possible.
It’s not an unfounded accusation either. Microsoft has already admitted that the upcoming Indiana Jones game was originally multiplatform until it bought Bethesda and made it an Xbox exclusive.
Microsoft has countered this with the news that there are future Bethesda games planned for PS5 and Nintendo Switch, but it hasn’t specified what those are. So, there’s still no guarantee that the likes of The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 won’t copy Starfield’s example.
In fact, during the recent courtroom session, when Hines was asked, ‘There’s a difference between a public commitment and an internal policy on exclusivity, correct?’ he answered with, ‘I would agree with that generally, yes.’
Q Microsoft’s definitions of exclusivity are different than internal discussions, correct?
I’m not sure how to answer that question.
Q There’s a difference between a public commitment and an internal policy on exclusivity, correct?
I would agree with that generally, yes.
— Derek Strickland (@DeekeTweak) June 22, 2023
That certainly sounds like an admission that any public promises Microsoft may make don’t necessarily reflect their actual intentions, which only helps the FTC’s argument.
As for Starfield, despite its promise of 1,000+ planets, Howard has admitted that only 10% will have any life on them.
Some fans are also outraged that the game will only run at 30 frames per second on Xbox Series X rather than 60, although Xbox boss Phil Spencer has suggested that this was an active choice and not because the console couldn’t handle it.
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Bethesda argues that Starfield not coming to PS5 is a good thing, as it admits it might not necessarily stick to its exclusivity promises.