Xbox Clarifies That Starfield Isn’t a Timed Exclusive, Won’t Be on PlayStation Consoles

[Tsing]

Image: Bethesda Game Studios



Microsoft has made it pretty clear that Bethesda’s next RPG, Starfield, will launch exclusively for Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. That hasn’t stopped PlayStation fans from hoping that the game might just be a timed exclusive, however—one that will eventually make its way to Sony’s console and, perhaps, other platforms.



Aaron Greenberg, General Manager of Xbox Games Marketing at Microsoft, cut that hope short today by clarifying over Twitter that Starfield isn’t a timed exclusive of any kind.



“We have tried to be as clear as possible, not a timed exclusive, this is simply where the game is being made,” Greenberg tweeted in response to a user who was clinging to the hope that Microsoft would end up releasing Starfield for other platforms down the line.



The implication seems pretty straightforward: Starfield will only be playable on Xbox...

Continue reading...

 

[Grimlakin]

To clarify... this will never ever no way run on a PS5 no matter what...

Unless you get unix with an windows emulator running.

Find a way to install windows on a PS5

Or we change our minds for money.

 

[Burticus]

...Or we change our minds for money...

ding ding ding, winner!

 

[Denpepe]

ding ding ding, winner!

Given the shortage of consoles they very well may have to change their minds if they want to make some money on this game.

There is what? 10 PS5 for every Series X console sold or something?

 

[xGryfter]

The game of the year edition will be on the PS5 in a couple years, just not this version.

 

[MadMummy76]

Of course it won't be, while that is the economically beneficial stance to hold. Then after XBOX/Windows sales slow to a trickle it will suddenly be on the PS5, out of nowhere, nobody will see it coming.

 

[Armenius]

Anybody who thought otherwise was fooling themselves. What is this, the third time Microsoft had to "clarify" it at this point saying the same thing every time?

Given the shortage of consoles they very well may have to change their minds if they want to make some money on this game.

There is what? 10 PS5 for every Series X console sold or something?

Why do you think it will be exclusive? To sell consoles. Games sell consoles, not the branding or hardware.

Of course it won't be, while that is the economically beneficial stance to hold. Then after XBOX/Windows sales slow to a trickle it will suddenly be on the PS5, out of nowhere, nobody will see it coming.

Not going to happen unless Zenimax has some kind of out in their acquisition deal.

 

[Brian_B]

I think Armenius is right here - The console market profit margin is very nice when your a AAA game, but Zenimax is a Microsoft brand now.

Microsoft may go insofar as to allow games like this to see a Steam/EGS release -- but only if they have a lot of trouble getting traction on XBGP for PC. No way in hell it will go to PS5 unless Zenimax pulls a Bungie and spins back outside of Microsoft. At least on Steam/EGS it is still on Windows, which helps reinforce the Microsoft ecosystem, but MS has only done that when they haven't been able to drive people to Xbox on Windows and they want to eek out a few more sales on the PC.

The Zenimax purchase was entirely to reinforce the Xbox brand, and Microsoft in a larger scope. They would let the studio rot before they allow them to cross-license to Sony.

Case in point - see Halo.

 

[SeymourGore]

It'll come down to sales. If this game ends up not performing that well, I could see MS going the Minecraft route with the game and making it available elsewhere (or even only through a Game Pass streaming service on PS5/Switch).

If this game ends up becoming a system seller (think Halo) for MS, expect MS to clamp down hard on its exclusivity for Xbox and PC. They lost the Xbox One generation to Sony due to their lack of exclusives, and with the way they've been shoring up their first party studios, I don't expect them to make that mistake twice.

 

[Denpepe]

f this game ends up becoming a system seller (think Halo) for MS, expect MS to clamp down hard on its exclusivity for Xbox and PC.

How can it be a system seller, their systems are sold out worldwide here in Belgium one shop has it's preorders up until september 2020 fullfilled nothing more.

Maybe it will sell their series S models that they can't seem to get rid of.

 

[Brian_B]

How can it be a system seller, their systems are sold out worldwide here in Belgium one shop has it's preorders up until september 2020 fullfilled nothing more.

Maybe it will sell their series S models that they can't seem to get rid of.

GamePass for the PC

 

[hubaduba]

I categorically reject anything "XBox". I do not use the Microsoft store. If the game isn't on a non-Microsoft distribution platform, they aren't getting any money from me.