Key information
Microsoft is currently exploring the possibility of making major franchises, including Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Minecraft, exclusive to its own platforms. This potential shift in strategy is being evaluated through a survey distributed to a subset of Xbox users participating in the Insider Program.
The survey asks participants how they would respond if future titles in these series were no longer released on PlayStation or Nintendo consoles. Options provided to users include purchasing an Xbox Series X|S, skipping the games entirely, or choosing not to play the exclusive content.
One survey scenario suggests that every Xbox-developed franchise, excluding Call of Duty, could become console-exclusive. Call of Duty remains exempt due to a 10-year multiplatform agreement signed in 2023, which was established to secure regulatory approval for the $68 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
These inquiries follow statements from CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty regarding a reevaluation of the company's approach to exclusivity. While these plans remain speculative, such a move would represent a significant departure for Bethesda Softworks, which has historically maintained a platform-agnostic release strategy for its major RPG titles.
