Xbox Head, Phil Spencer, discussed the potential exclusivity of Elder Scrolls 6

After the release of the game Starfield this week, Bethesda Game Studios is gearing up to unveil a new chapter in the highly anticipated fantasy RPG series.

The game Starfield is already accessible on Xbox Series X/S consoles and on PC via Windows and Steam, as well as through the Microsoft Game Pass subscription service, allowing gamers to enjoy it on various devices, including mobile phones and select smart TVs.

This release signifies a first for Bethesda Game Studios following its acquisition by Microsoft's parent company, ZeniMax Media, in 2021. It's crucial to note that the game Starfield is not available on PlayStation consoles, and a similar scenario is expected for the game Indiana Jones, which will be published by Bethesda Softworks.

Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, was questioned in an interview with Bloomberg this week about the potential exclusivity of Elder Scrolls 6 and the criteria Microsoft employs when determining such a strategy for game releases.

"We assess each game on a case-by-case basis," he replied. "Our aim is to make our games accessible in diverse locations, spanning Xbox consoles, PC, and through cloud services, providing players with the flexibility to play on nearly any device with internet access.

"We consider the feedback of the millions of players who will gain access to Starfield and other projects from Xbox Game Studios. Our objective is to offer players the freedom to choose how they want to play and construct their gaming collections."

In November 2021, during one of his interviews, Phil Spencer appeared to hint that Elder Scrolls 6 would not be accessible on PlayStation, asserting that the exclusivity strategy is not punitive towards other platforms.

Nevertheless, in July, amidst Microsoft's legal dispute with the Federal Trade Commission, Spencer was ambiguous regarding his prior statements that the game would be exclusively available on Xbox.

"With the release of Elder Scrolls 6 still so far in the future, it's challenging to predict what platforms will be like... We're discussing a project that won't see the light of day for at least five years," he underscored (according to Stephen Totilo of Axios).

Prior to Microsoft's finalization of the deal with ZeniMax, Todd Howard, the head of Bethesda Game Studios overseeing the development of Elder Scrolls 6, mentioned that it was difficult to envision the game becoming an exclusive solely for Xbox consoles.

However, in an interview published this week, Howard pointed out that the decision to make Starfield exclusive to Xbox consoles contributed to the creation of a higher-quality product.

The head of Bethesda's publishing division, Pete Hines, disclosed last month that the development of Elder Scrolls 6 is in its "early stages," and fans should not anticipate updates about it "for several years" following the release of Starfield.