Microsoft finalizes its deal to acquire Bethesda/ZeniMax with a roundtable, while a new Switch-like competitor from PC gaming is rising in popularity with this week's gaming news. Game Rant has compiled some of the biggest gaming news stories from this past week together into a concise post for fans and enthusiasts to stay up to date on the most important events in the industry per week. Highlighting the most relevant stories, this list is not inherently and totally objective, and will not contain every news story this week. Rather, this is intended for gaming fans who want a quick rundown on the largest/most impactful stories that occurred in the last week in games.
With this week's roundup of gaming news, Microsoft and Bethesda join together for a roundtable discussion regarding Xbox's relationship with Bethesda games. Square Enix prepares a showcase for several big reveals, including the next Life is Strange game. 343 Industries responds to several specific questions regarding Halo Infinite's worlds, systems, and gameplay. In spite of the console's consistent scarcity, Sony's PlayStation 5 has broken early sales records for the United States. Capcom finds itself embroiled in controversy in the wake of a whistleblower report on the company's working conditions. All that and more in this week's round of gaming industry news.
Bethesda-Xbox Roundtable: Game Pass and Xbox-Exclusive Games
This week, after the announcement by Microsoft to acquire Bethesda/ZeniMax Media in September of last year, the acquisition was made official this week. During the Xbox-Bethesda roundtable, executives from Xbox like Phil Spencer and Aaron Greenberg sat down with Bethesda's Pete Hines, Erin Losi, and Todd Howard to discuss what the acquisition means for both companies.
One of the biggest announcements to come from the "Bethesda Joins Xbox" roundtable was the announcements of 20 Bethesda titles coming to Xbox Game Pass, all available now as of March 12. Franchises old and new, including Dishonored, Prey, Wolfenstein, Rage, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Doom are now available on Game Pass.
What's garnered the most buzz from this roundtable was a statement made by Xbox's Phil Spencer regarding Bethesda game exclusivity. Noting that many had asked what the exclusivity situation would be like in the wake of the acquisition, Spencer stated that the acquisition is about "delivering great exclusives games... that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists."
Square Enix Showcase Coming Next Week, Life is Strange 3 Reveal
Square Enix has some exciting announcements planned for next week, including news on the Life is Strange series. Hosting a new "Square Enix Presents" showcase next week, the publisher intends to bring news for several upcoming new projects, including the reveal of the next Life is Strange game. Additionally, many of the Square Enix-published games will provide updates for Marvel's Avengers, Tomb Raider in the wake of its 25th anniversary, among titles like Outriders and more.
New Details Unveiled On Halo Infinite's Mechanics and World
Tons of news regarding Halo Infinite came out this week, thanks to the latest developer Q&A by 343 Industries. Multiple fan questions were answered regarding the many systems influencing gameplay on the Halo ring like dynamic weather and day/night cycles, as well as the sandbox open world in the campaign. 343 Industries' developers also answered several specific questions, like how co-op in the campaign will function, will there be playable elites, as well as whether or not dual-wielding makes a return.
PS5 Is Fastest-Selling Console in U.S. History, Still Tailing Nintendo Switch
Despite the console's consistent scarcity, Sony's PlayStation 5 sales have broken a new record in the U.S. According to the latest report by the NPD Group detailing inaugural console sales, the PS5 is now the fastest-selling new video game console in U.S. consumer history. Within this span of four months, it's also worth noting that the Nintendo Switch continues to be the best-selling console in both unit and dollar sales. That marks 27 consecutive months of the Nintendo Switch selling the most consoles.
Destiny 2 Forsaken Content Heading to DCV 'At Some Point'
Along with the implementation of the Destiny Content Vault, eventually, more legacy content in Destiny 2 will be retired from the main game. The next expansion to be vaulted will likely be the Forsaken content, according to Bungie general manager Justin Truman. In an interview with Eurogamer, Bungie confirmed that "at some point" Forsaken content would be vaulted due to the now-conflicting storylines of Uldren Sov/The Crow, all to improve the on-boarding for new players.
Capcom Insider Report Shows Employees 'Forced' to Work In Office During Pandemic
According to a whistleblower within Capcom, the Japanese company is now falling under controversy. According to an insider report from the Business Journal of Japan, employees working at Capcom were required to work in-office during Japan's Covid-19 state of emergency in January. This was apparently due to the cyberattack that Capcom suffered last year in November, and that the company needed to maintain information security to prevent another breach.
Capcom supposedly did not violate any standards or guidelines set by Japan's Labor Standards Act, despite the Covid-19 state of emergency at the time. Employees had required temperature checks, staggered shifts to prevent personnel exposure, as well as mask requirements at all times. That being said, the Business Journal of Japan's report indicates that employees were allegedly "forced" to come to work in spite of the pandemic and infection concerns.
Aya-Neo Handheld Gaming PC Sells Out On IndieGogo
Even as the Nintendo Switch continues to break sales records, it's not the only portable video game console making waves. After going viral with its "Founder's Edition" earlier this year, the Aya Neo is a new portable gaming console powered by Windows, built with PC gaming hardware inside. Immediately selling out after surpassing its funding goal on IndieGogo, the Aya Neo is a $6,120 HKD ($789 USD) portable PC in a Switch-like form factor. The console features AMD processing and graphical components, tons of connectivity with USB-C, a 7-inch touchscreen, among other Switch-like features.