The Elder Scrolls VI Will Be Microsoft Exclusive, FTC Says; Suggests Microsoft Can’t be Trusted

The gaming industry is all abuzz with news that The Elder Scrolls VI, the upcoming title from Bethesda Softworks, will be a Microsoft exclusive. This news has been met with confusion and frustration from gamers, who have been adamant that one of gaming’s most beloved franchises must remain available to all.

The news was released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that Microsoft has acquired Bethesda Softworks alongside several other gaming studios, including Zenimax Online Studios, MachineGames, IDSoftware, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Games. As part of their statement, the FTC said that Microsoft will have the right to limit the release of any game produced by the studios they acquired to their own platforms.

The news has been met with significant pushback from gamers, who are worried that The Elder Scrolls VI will no longer be available to PC players and that Bethesda’s iconic RPG series will be limited to Xbox platforms. Although some gamers have argued that the exclusivity of the game may benefit players on Xbox consoles, many are angry that the decision was made without their input or consent.

The news also casts doubt on Microsoft’s commitment to giving consumers choice in the gaming market. Microsoft has long touted its commitment to making gaming accessible to all and to giving consumers a choice of platforms. By limiting the release of The Elder Scrolls VI to its own platforms, Microsoft is not only breaking its promise, but it is also effectively forcing gamers to purchase an Xbox console to play the game.

The Elder Scrolls VI will likely be one of the most anticipated releases of the year and the fact that it is being turned into a Microsoft exclusive has created confusion and frustration among gamers. The fact that Microsoft is withholding the game from PC players shows that they cannot be trusted to put the interests of their customers first.

Ultimately, what these developments paint is a picture of a gaming market where one company is increasingly controlling what gamers can and cannot play. As gamers become more frustrated with Microsoft’s tactics and the lack of choice in the market, it seems likely that the gaming industry is headed for a reckoning.