Deathloop looks as though it is finally set to release next month. The game was initially intended to release last year, however delays saw this pushed back twice to May 21, and finally September 14. While Deathloop has faced heavy delays, fans are still very excited to see what the future of Arkane Studios holds. This will be the first next-gen offering from a developer famed for titles such as Dishonored, and if the trailers are reflective of the in-game experience, Deathloop could be a great one.
This launch is rather unique in that Deathloop is a timed PlayStation exclusive. This is despite the fact ZeniMax Media and Bethesda was acquired by Microsoft, whose Xbox Series X/S is in direct competition with Sony’s PlayStation 5. It may seem odd that a Microsoft-owned IP is debuting first on a Sony system, and as such there exists some confusion around the release of Deathloop. However, Deathloop’s timed PlayStation 5 exclusivity has had much discussion, and answers are known.
Deathloop's PlayStation 5 Exclusivity
Deathloop is set to release on September 14. It will be a timed PlayStation 5 console exclusive, meaning while it will also be released on the PC the same day, the PlayStation 5 is the only console where the game will be available. This will likely provide a good boost to the PS5, because as is often the case within the first year of a console’s release, fans want more exclusive next-gen experiences. While it may not be a huge system seller, Deathloop has been one of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year, so its timed exclusivity could be a big deal for both Sony and Microsoft.
This isn’t all bad news for Xbox, however, as it does stand to benefit from Deathloop. For starters, Deathloop is expected to launch on PC via Game Pass, which would likely draw a lot more attention to the popular service. This hasn’t been confirmed and it’s possible that the exclusivity agreement with Sony could prevent this, but if it isn’t possible at launch, it may still be down the line. Sony’s timed exclusivity agreement is set to last one year, allowing for a release on other platforms on September 14, 2022. It’s unknown whether Deathloop will be coming to Xbox at the end of this period, but it would make sense.
Bethesda's Xbox Partnership
Bethesda was acquired by Microsoft in a move that sent shockwaves across the gaming world. What this could mean for the future of gaming is that Bethesda titles will one day be entirely Xbox and PC exclusives. Fans were surprised to learn of Starfield’s Xbox exclusivity earlier this year, and this has PlayStation owners concerned for series such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Starfield is a new IP so perhaps its exclusivity shouldn't be that surprising. However, its existence has been known since its announcement at Bethesda’s E3 2018 conference.
It is unlikely that future titles like The Elder Scrolls 6 will be Xbox exclusive for the same reason that Deathloop is launching as a PS5 exclusive despite Microsoft’s Bethesda acquisition. Microsoft has stated its intention to respect any existing deals Bethesda has with PlayStation, and has expressed that it will allow Bethesda to continue making games the way it always has. What this could mean is that while Bethesda may make new games exclusive to Xbox, existing franchises that have been cross-platform could remain cross-platform. The future of titles like Fallout 5 and The Elder Scrolls 6 may still be unknown, but Deathloop’s timed exclusivity is hopefully a good sign for PlayStation fans going forward.
Deathloop launches September 14 for PC and PS5.