Ever since Microsoft announced its plans to acquire Zenimax Media, Bethesda's parent company, fans have their eyes peeled for more information. Offering the Bethesda family a sum of whopping $7.5 billion, Microsoft's latest acquisition is undoubtedly one of the biggest the games industry has seen yet. Unfortunately, ever since this new piece of information surfaced back in September 2020, both the companies have been awfully quiet.
The deal hasn't been finalized yet and as a result, there hasn't been much info from either side. Earlier this month it was revealed that European Union will decide on whether this deal will go on as planned by March 5, although Microsoft has yet to reveal anything officially. Interestingly, the latest rumor now suggests that Microsoft is planning to host a Bethesda event once the deal is finalized.
What To Expect
This new piece of info comes from Games Beat's Jeff Grubb, who boasts a good track record when it comes to leaks and rumors. Speaking on the Games Beat Podcast, Grubb discussed the possibility of Microsoft holding a Bethesda event to discuss the future of both companies. While the scope of this alleged showcase is not known yet, Grubb reassures fans that this won't be a huge Nintendo Direct style event. That being said, there's quite the possibility of things that Bethesda and Microsoft could briefly reveal and give an insight on what lies in store for Xbox this year.
Possible Game Announcements
It's been quite some time since Bethesda gave an update on what its many internal studios are working on. While fans are aware of some of the notable titles such as Deathloop and GhostWire Tokyo, most Bethesda studios have yet to announce their next projects. This may very well change with this upcoming event.
For starters, it has been four years since Machine Games released Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus. While fans did get Wolfenstein: Youngblood, a standalone spinoff title, many are still waiting for Wolfenstein 3 to wrap up B.J. Blazkowicz's story for good. It's also important to note that MachineGames is working on a new Indiana Jones game, however, it's likely that it would release after Wolfenstein 3 which may release sooner than many would expect.
While Arkane Lyon's Deathloop won't be available on Xbox devices for quite some time, it won't be surprising to see Arkane Austin's next big game show at this rumored Bethesda event. The Texas-based Arkane Austin is being led by Dishonored co-creator Harvey Smith and is currently busy on its next project. While there's no confirmation on whether this next project is Dishonored 3 or a completely new IP, recent rumors suggest that Arkane Austin is working on a fantasy game. Whether or not this next game is a new IP or a sequel to an existing franchise, it won't be surprising if it's announced at this upcoming event.
Since its release seven years ago, The Elder Scrolls Online has become one of the most popular MMORPGs in the world. With a constant flow of new and meaningful content, ESO continues to grow its player base significantly. However, Zenimax Online Studios is looking to expand its horizon with a new unannounced AAA game that's currently in pre-production.
While there's no concrete info on what this next project is, Alex Tardif, lead graphics engineer at Zenimax Online Studios, confirmed over at Twitter that the studio is "creating a brand new engine" for this game. ESO will remain on PlayStation, however it would be interesting to see if the studio's next game would remain multiplatform or not. The upcoming event could be a perfect venue to give players a glimpse of this next big MMO, which would presumably be available day-one on Xbox Game Pass.
Possible Developer Interviews
Jeff Grubb mentioned over at Games Beat Podcast that Microsoft and Bethesda could take this moment to extensively discuss the aftermath of this deal. As such, developer interviews featuring the likes of Phil Spencer, Todd Howard, Pete Hines and more, could reveal info on how Microsoft's acquisition is affecting Bethesda.
Such interviews could also shed light on how Microsoft plans to handle games exclusivity of Bethesda titles in the future. While Phil Spencer has confirmed in the past that exclusivity will be handled on a case-by-case basis, these interviews could possibly hint whether the future titles in the existing franchise will remain multiplatform, or will be available only on the Xbox ecosystem.
Possible Game Pass Additions
The biggest outcome of this acquisition is that all future Bethesda games will be coming to Xbox Game Pass, increasing the value of Microsoft's rapidly growing subscription service. While Game Pass has some popular Bethesda titles in its library, such as Skyrim and Fallout 76, the newest and most notable addition so far has been Doom Eternal.
Once the deal is finalized, there's no doubt that more popular Bethesda titles will be making their way to Game Pass. Games such as The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, Prey, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, Dishonored, etc. would make for a great addition to the Game Pass library, and it's perhaps only a matter of time before they all will be available there. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft would add all of these titles together, or would make them available over a prolonged period of time. Either way, Game Pass users will be in for a treat. As such, the upcoming event seems like a perfect opportunity to shed some light on future game pass additions.
Focus on Starfield
It's a no-brainer that Bethesda Game Studios' first new IP in over 25 years, Starfield, is one of the most anticipated games of this generation. However, Starfield continues to be shrouded in mystery with fans having so little to go by. Recent Starfield leaks did give an idea of what the game could look like, though there hasn't been any confirmation on whether they were real.
Interestingly, since Microsoft announced its plans to acquire Bethesda, Starfield has been mentioned innumerable times by Phil Spencer. Hence, it makes sense if Microsoft decided to focus on the big elephant in the room and give everyone a first glimpse of this upcoming sci-fi epic. Expecting a full-blown E3 style presentation isn't realistic, however, Microsoft could reveal a short teaser alongside a release window and the platforms Starfield could release on.
As of now, there is no confirmation on whether such an event would actually occur. However, given how excited fans are to see what the future holds for Bethesda at Microsoft, it would make sense if Microsoft decides to go and fuel in the excitement of its dedicated audience. With Halo Infinite releasing this fall, any Bethesda title that decides to release alongside it this holiday window would only be complimenting, what is shaping up to be a big year for the Xbox ecosystem.