Bethesda Is Showing Its Strength in Microsoft's Portfolio and That's Really Encouraging - Spencer

Phil Spencer is really encouraged by the strength that Bethesda is finally showing in Microsoft's portfolio this year.

[-Foxtrot]

But…these were games being developed before MS bought them so it’s not like they influenced anything

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Translation: We are so glad to have kept these games off competing platforms so that we can say that our portfolio is looking really sharp. Hopefully the FTC and EU allows us to further compete so that we can continue to take credit for games such as diablo and call of duty as we again remove them from competing platforms.

[ravens52]

Forspoken is a timed exclusive, just an FYI for people using it for this topic.

[Christopher]

This isn't about Sony and Nintendo whataboutisms. This is about Spencer's own words. Let's try and stay on topic rather than devolving to the same arguments that distract from Spencer's words being reported.

[Alexious]

He's not taking credit for them. He's just saying that Bethesda is finally pulling its weight after the $7.5 billion acquisition and showing it was worth the price.

[gangsta_red]

Why does that matter. MS bought them and now their games are apart of the MS catalog.

I'm not even understanding this logic. Do you and others expect the games already in development to be scrapped and then started all over again under the MS umbrella?

[Godmars290]

Maybe because they've just laid off some of Bethesda? That the studio itself has a history of bugs when launching new titles. Any title.

And then there MS's growing(?) policy for hiring contract workers who are then let go every four months. Something like that impacts game development on several levels, including the fostering of talent.

[gangsta_red]

@godmars

"Maybe because they've just laid off some of Bethesda?"

You mean what the majority of the tech industry is going through at the moment?

"That the studio itself has a history of bugs when launching new titles."

What does that have to do with MS now having Bethesda's games under their portfolio?
Does Hi Fi Rush have a lot of bugs?

"And then there MS's growing(?) policy for hiring contract workers who are then let go every four months."

Every tech company hires contract workers, this is nothing new to the industry. Bethesda has a large number of full time employees and I'm sure they have their own policies they kept and follow, even under MS.

"Something like that impacts game development on several levels, including the fostering of talent.

No, you're grasping at straws now. And if Bethesda games has a history as you pointed out then what does MS policy have anything to do with Bethesda's development?
But three points for force feeding the word "fostering", even when your whole comment doesn't seem to actually make or point or is related to the subject.

Let's try again...

Why does it matter that MS is reaping the benefits of games that were in development before their purchase?

[Godmars290]

They're letting part of the workforce currently making games. How does that not impact the making of that/those games? Nevermind that layoffs are happening on suspicion of a recession which these layoff are likely to cause if not make worse.

Meanwhile, Bethesda published the Japanese title the Xbox camp is currently fawning over where, again, Bethesda themselves have a record for putting out bug ridden open world titles. With Starfield being their most ambitious "open world" game yet.

And going back to the layoff/contract worker situation, how are you missing the collation of a migrant workforce and loss of creativity in gaming? The best of the NES/SNES/PS1/PS2/early PC gaming eras happened because testers coders and artist were given opportunities to advance. That's not happening when you're letting people go ever few months on project that now take upwards to a decade to finish. Is likely much of the reason games are taking so long to make, if that's becoming standard among the industry.

And sure, blow off what I'm saying like you always do, but at least wait until the games you're trying to hold up in defense are out. I'm past tired of having this discussion, much less later ones where you're making excuses for them not delivering.

[gangsta_red]

@godmars

"They're letting part of the workforce currently making games. How does that not impact the making of that/those games? "

Starfield is pretty much in the late stages of development. It's been in development for a good four to five years. I doubt recent layoffs would greatly impact the game at this point.

Also, we're discussing how Bethesda's games are now boosting MS games portfolio and how it doesn't matter when they were purchased. I know I mentioned this before, but you seem to not comment on that.

"Bethesda themselves have a record for putting out bug ridden open world titles."

And yet their titles are some of the most influential, high scoring and played games to this date. Skyrim which is pretty much one of the pinnacles of fantasy RPGs. Fallout that has an interesting and rich lore and now Starfield is set to possibly do the same. But yeah, lots of bugs, sure.

"And sure, blow off what I'm saying like you always do,"

I'm not blowing it off, I'm just not interested, because as usual, it has nothing to do with anything here.

"but at least wait until the games you're trying to hold up in defense are out."

Hi Fi is already out and getting great reviews, Starfield is highly anticipated. I always get a kick out of people who tell others to not get excited, especially those with an extreme bias.

How about you just stop commenting (or at least replying to me) if you have nothing to add to the topic?
But I'm sure you'll make up more exaggerated layoffs and "MS doesn't foster or "nurture" their talent" tall tales while ignoring that the line up they currently have in the works looks incredible.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

They move the goalposts constantly.

[Crows90]

He is encouraged means he is enjoying that he has made games available on less platforms and excluded over 60% of all gamers.

[Elda]

Exactly.

[Jin_Sakai]

“But…these were games being developed before MS bought them so it’s not like they influenced anything”

Yes but games like Hi-Fi Rush, Redlfall, Starfield, and ES6 are exclusive to Microsoft therefore making their portfolio strong.

[Panhandler]

Are you going to play these on Playstation? Xbox acquired Zenimax in September of 2020 but MS was in the works of the acquisition long before. Won't matter soon enough you'll enjoy master chief brought to you by sledgehammer or treyarch so no matter to me.

[agnosticgamer]

Right. But Phil Spencer never said anything about that. They are 1p games and in Xbox’s portfolio. MS did fund additional development time delaying both games a significant amount of time to hopefully release more polished titles than they normally do.

[neutralgamer1992]

And this is why their acquisition of Activision shouldn't be allowed. They bought zenimax and made their games exclusives. So much for wanting more gamers to play and experience games "Phil Spencer"

[Julion0715]

Yep that’s for any studio did you say the same for Nintendo and Sony acquisitions?

[Lightning77]

I was just thinking that. It's no secret that Bethesda and MS has had a great partnership in the past 20 years. So a buy out makes sense to me because they've had close ties for awhile despite being a multiplat title. Bethesda will be the saving grace for MS, if everything goes accordingly of course. MS internal Studios is seemingly dragging while Bethesda is carrying. It's not a bad thing it's just what it is.

Which brings me to my question. Why buy ABK? Bethesda is helping Xbox allot and like I said Bethesda is a good fit not so much ABK that's just weird imo.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

"Which brings me to my question. Why buy ABK?"

To increase GP subscribers. If the deal goes through, in theory it should be enough to get their subscriber count to where they ideally want it to be.

[Lightning77]

They can do that with Bethesda or their internal studios like NT, Compulsion, undead labs etc. They have the studios already. They can grow GP with out ABK. All it's doing is stalling MS and MS can't stall anymore.

[Imalwaysright]

Why? Because they need a steady stream of content to put on gamepass and because Activision shareholders want to sell the company. If it wasn't MS it would most likely be Tencent and of the two, I guess it's up to each one of us to decide who would be the lesser evil.

[Godmars290]

Given example of the Bethesda layoffs in the face of MS's promise to be hands off, would dare say Tencent would be the more promising option. If they had ever been one.

[Godmars290]

MS is interested in building things at this point, making new IPs, they just want sure things to increase brand influence and GP subs. That's what Activision promises to given them even more so than Bethesda.

[CBaoth]

That doesn't make any sense though. ABK is the most risk aversive corp in the industry. I can't even remember the last new property they tried to create? Seikero maybe but that deal was a 1 off signed by From to gain some experience working with a major western publisher. No plans for a franchise. Bethesda in the past 12 months has released 2 new IPs in Deathloop and Ghostwire. The ABK deal is about securing CoD (GP day 1) and acquiring King (mobile).

[Godmars290]

"MS *isn't* interested in building things. Is not."

Don't why I do that, miss or fail to type words. Or I'll repeat them.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

"They can grow GP with out ABK. All it's doing is stalling MS and MS can't stall anymore."

ABK is instant offense and will put them over the top far more quickly then waiting for Bethesda games to release. GamePass is Microsoft's last hoorah so to speak which is why they want to get as much subscribers as quickly as possible. Also the double whammy of weakening the competition as well.

[peppeaccardo]

Showing what ? Did i miss anyhting ?

[RaiderNation]

Lol exactly. One decent cell-shaded rhythm game and suddenly all is right with the world with Xbox. Redfall did not look that impressive at all.

[badz149]

didn't you get the memo? if xbox releases 1 game, they are definitely back and it's already the year of the xbox!

[miccasx]

ㅤ

[Elda]

Those were Bethesda titles from the jump. MS/XB needs to impress with their own first-party studios before they bought Bethesda which was always a 3rd party multi-platform publisher/developer.

[derek]

Not hard to look strong when you're surrounded by weakness. Microsofts studio management has been terrible let's hope they don't drag down whoever else they acquire.

[GamingSinceForever]

So he spent $7B acquiring them with an uncertainty that has just now been alleviated?

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

MS had no hand in the development of these games at all and these were games in development before the acquisition. Then you used your pocketbook to buy up a publisher with world renowned IPs under their belt and keep them from competing platforms, then you treat the games as your babies as if you helped with development....cmon.

[GotGame818]

So many disagreeing. Ridiculous! Microsoft puts almost all games on console and PC! I game on both. Playstation owners don't even have to buy an Xbox to play games published by Microsoft. So much disdain towards a company that makes it much easier to play their games.

Accept for emulation, which isn't even legal, unless you own the game you're emulating. How many Sony and Nintendo games get a legit PC release at the same time as its console releases?

Still people complain. Build a PC if you don't have an Xbox and don't want an Xbox! Microsoft is trying to have a stronger 1st party line up. Microsoft also has said games Sony publish are way better at story telling, and they need to step up their game.

Me, I am always going to have all 3 consoles and PC. I wish all 3 companies the best, and PC.

[Crows90]

Xbox could continue doing what you say without making 3rd party multiplatform IP permanently exclusive. They didn't need to go around buying up IP to have a stronger 1st party. Sony doesn't and hasn't done that. They're making it harder for people who used to play these games on PlayStation consoles. They're not adding anything to anyone but only subtracting

[GotGame818]

You have multiple ways to play the games Microsoft publishes! PC, Console, Tablet, phone. They aren't taking anything away from any gamer. You can play on almost anything you own.

Tell me where I will be able to play Spiderman 2. Oh, and I have PS5. No problem for me.

[PrinceOfAnger]

SFV was a permanently ps4 exclusive Sony started making third party exclusives since Ps1 and PS2.

"Chris Deering, who was Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) Europe's boss at the time.
says that the company still wanted to embrace a broad audience, including more mature demographics. One of his core focuses was -- as with the original PlayStation -- trying to nail down as many third-party exclusives as possible.

Chris Deering
We were asking what we could do to make it difficult for Sega or Nintendo to come back," he explains. "We didn't start with a big portfolio of game development studios like Sega and Nintendo had. We were really friendly with third-parties right from day one".

[Crows90]

@prince
Like I said. Sony hasn't gone around buying up IP to form their 1st party. Never said they haven't bought 3rd party exclusivity. Practice some reading comprehension.

@gotgame
Why should you be able to play spiderman2 which is funded by Sony all the way and is a distinct storyline created by their 1st party studio. Blame marvel for giving them the rights...although there is some compocation with Sony owning some aspects of the rights to spiderman. But if you really just know...just wait and youll be able to play on PC.

[DefenderOfDoom2]

Yes WOLFENSTEIN the 3rd installment.

[NINJA5689]

great for bethesda and microsoft. dont know why everyone hating

[SicSemper]

Fanboys don't like it when their imaginary 'enemy' is showing strength.

[MrDead]

Because MS paid 7 billion to remove a publisher full of development studios from competing platforms, these games where always coming to Xbox.
Xboxs library hasn't grown from the Bethesda purchase, everyone else's has shrunk

[2moda5gamer]

What's the chance of these titles coming to Playstation in the future?
I'd normally say none but even though MS can take a massive hit - at the cost of buying the company to the cash they get off GP - it's really not enough. Am I wrong?

[Aussieguy]

Alls I care about is GAMES and im not seeing any of them yet. When you compare games released from MS on Xbox and games released from Sony on the PS5, I wish I owned a PS5 now. But hopefully MS movers their butt and starts pushing more games out, sooner rather then later.

[MrDead]

Bethesda games where already coming to Xbox, the Bethesda acquisition hasn't added anything to Xbox, they've just made competing platforms pool of Multiplatform games smaller.

[BlackTar187]

Xbox has been low on games for over 10yrs yet you still see the brainwashing is strong from them.

[Games1st]

P2W

[MightyHealthy]

I'm eagerly waiting to see the Indiana Jones game

[XiNatsuDragnel]

I think they need to show more games imo.

[anast]

The brawler and RedFall are not that big and not worth the money they paid to get Bethesda.

[gold_drake]

didnt they exist before they were bought out?

the hell is going on lol

[mastershredder]

Is that strength measured in how easily they will sellout and dump their user base for personal gain? That flex on one embattled platform is really impressive :/

[HyperMoused]

Fricken Redfall to buy right now $160...holy moose nuggets, not a chance in hell