The Elder Scrolls 6 Exclusivity Leaves Gamers Frustrated

When Microsoft acquired Elder Scrolls 6 developer Bethesda back in 2021, it was naturally assumed that all of its upcoming projects — including the long-anticipated entry in its iconic fantasy franchise — would be Xbox console exclusives. Documents from the Microsoft-FTC suggested as much, too. However, as time has gone on, this feels a bit less likely. Not only has Xbox kept some truly massive titles like Call of Duty multiplatform, but first-party games are coming to PlayStation left and right. While this started as games that “made sense” on PlayStation, like Hellblade 2, Indiana Jones, Hi-Fi Rush, and so on, hell has since frozen over and the most iconic Xbox games will soon be playable on the competition’s hardware.

While Gears of War and Halo coming to PlayStation essentially signals that the console war is over, which could have been enough to have players assuming The Elder Scrolls 6 would be on Sony’s consoles, the latest Xbox port basically seals the deal. After spending a good bit of time restricted to Xbox and PC, the 2023 Bethesda RPG Starfield is now on PS5, which opens the floodgates for an Elder Scrolls 6 PS5 release. Full exclusivity may have been the plan at some point, but with Xbox fully embracing Game Pass and a multiplatform approach, that plan is sure to change. Unfortunately, though, this remains a topic of speculation instead of something concrete to go off of, leaving players frustrated that they’re still in the dark.

The 11-month-old thread above remains relevant, because at nearly the one-year mark, Bethesda fans are still stuck asking the exact same questions. Every few months, a similar thread is posted where curious players wonder whether they’ll need an Xbox or PC to play Elder Scrolls 6, and every time the same kind of responses are provided. Users like Weeaboo20909 will talk about how they “doubt it,” as Elder Scrolls 6 being so likely to launch with Xbox Game Pass would mean Microsoft is losing out on a massive amount of revenue it could be receiving by selling full-priced versions on PlayStation. Apart from “cutting out a market,” users such as SiegeRewards pointed to the multiplatform launch for Oblivion Remastered as further proof of Microsoft’s plans for the series’ releases.

However, it is still possible that The Elder Scrolls 6 has some form of exclusivity to make the Xbox version more appealing to potential buyers. Perhaps it’ll get some exclusive in-game bonuses like armor sets, but beyond that, Big_AngeBosstecoglu’s theory about it being a “timed exclusive” like Indiana Jones would make perfect sense. A wait as long as Starfield is improbable given that it’s an outlier, as that game launched before Xbox had started fully embracing PlayStation ports. Instead, a six-month wait feels the most realistic if The Elder Scrolls 6 does not release everywhere at once. But, again, this is just theorizing from fans, as everyone is still being left in the dark and there’s still no release date in sight.

The frustration comes from plenty of different directions. There are some Xbox fans who are naturally disappointed in the multiplatform approach, as a big exclusive like Elder Scrolls 6 would encourage gamers to buy an Xbox, keeping things competitive and pushing PlayStation to try its best to keep up. Microsoft’s acquisition of huge companies like Bethesda and Activision, yet a lack of using them to strengthen the brand, remains disappointing to those who want to see Xbox thrive. Another issue with the lack of transparency is that gamers should be able to properly plan for the game. If PlayStation fans know they’ll need to get a PC or Xbox, then they could use the extra heads up to begin saving for it. And if they’re told it will eventually come to PlayStation after a timed exclusivity period, then they can decide whether they want to wait. TES 6 is likely the second most anticipated game in the world behind GTA 6, so it’s puzzling how little is known about it after so long.

It May Be a While Before Elder Scrolls 6 Fans Get Exclusivity Answers

Players still asking the exact same questions that they were almost a year ago is reflective of the general annoyance in the wait for Elder Scrolls 6. Revealed all the way back in 2018, there’s a very real possibility that there’s a 10-year gap between this unveiling and the game’s launch. Todd Howard’s recent comments about the early reveal being a mistake and lighthearted suggestion that fans pretend it didn’t happen do little to dissuade concerns that the game is still years away. And if that’s the case, then there’s a danger of The Elder Scrolls 6 exclusivity question continuing to be asked ad nauseam. Even if players are still months away from seeing the game in action, it would be great to see Howard or another member of Bethesda shed some light on whether the game will or will not be Xbox exclusive. Doing so wouldn’t require any kind of flashy reveal, but would create some much-needed, refreshing discussion.