Microsoft and Bethesda made a strong impression at the E3 2021. During the show, one high-quality exclusive followed another. Leya Jankowski thinks: This is what Xbox desperately needed to compete with rival Sony. However, it leaves a bitter aftertaste for the MeinMMO editor-in-chief.
It was quite a celebration to watch the press conference from Bethesda and Microsoft. By now, it is clear that the purchase of Bethesda for $7.5 billion has paid off tremendously for the Microsoft ecosystem.
The big star of the show is Starfield, which was introduced with a hyper-chic trailer. For the first time in 25 years, this is the first major new open-world brand that Bethesda is presenting. It is supposed to become an epic blockbuster adventure set in the distant future, where “you can be whatever you want and go wherever you want.”
The Starfield kickoff sets the tone for the rest of the show:
- Exclusive to Xbox and PC
- Included in Xbox Game Pass from Day One
These two lines are going to be seen often throughout the show – and Xbox desperately needed that.
Strong exclusive games were completely missing from Xbox
Microsoft is pursuing a holistic approach that strengthens their entire gaming ecosystem. It’s not just about Xbox. The concept thus far has been:
- Offering Xbox Game Pass at an unbeatable price – €12.99 per month for over 200 games
- Making Xbox Game Pass available for PC and console
- Offering a small next-gen console with the Xbox Series S, which is only 299 euros, a full 200 euros cheaper than its large X variant
Microsoft doesn’t care whether you play on PC, console, or in the cloud. They try to convince you with affordable offers and good service. I praised that already in a column where I explained why I switched from PlayStation to Xbox.
Why are exclusive titles so important now? The low prices and good service are not enough as the only selling point.
The last few years have shown us that we choose our gaming system largely based on high-quality exclusive titles we desperately want to play. Sony and Nintendo have always been ahead in this regard.
The list of exclusive games for Xbox and PC was noteworthy even without the flagship Starfield:
- Forza Horizon 5 – the open-world game with cars, which even leaves graphic-critics amazed
- Halo: Infinite, which comes with free multiplayer this time and offers 120 FPS
- Redfall as the co-op shooter surprise of the evening, where you fight as vampire hunters with supernatural powers and weapons
- Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl, an oppressive shooter, that promises a dark world like in Metro
These exclusive games are all available in the Game Pass from the release date. If I hadn’t already entered the Microsoft ecosystem, I would probably do so at the latest now.
Another clever move on the side: Microsoft’s pirate co-op game Sea of Thieves is getting the most obvious crossover of all time. Captain Jack Sparrow from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series will soon make an appearance there. Other games like Fortnite are incredibly successful by offering skins for popular franchises from pop and nerd culture.
Exclusive titles are important, but they divide and promote consumption
I understand from Microsoft’s perspective that they urgently need these exclusive games to enhance their market position. I’m also very excited to play this amazing line-up conveniently right away with my Game Pass. That makes me happy as a Microsoft customer, and I followed the press conference with shining eyes.
Generally, from a consumer’s perspective, it still leaves a bitter aftertaste.
I really don’t care if others out there play Starfield on their PlayStation. On the contrary! It just increases my pool of people to talk about cool games with. I have often criticized Sony in recent months for focusing on exclusives and questioned their innovation.
But ultimately, I also own my Nintendo Switch because I want to experience adventures with Pokémon, Zelda, and Mario there. The Sony exclusive title “The Last of Us (2)” will forever be one of my greatest gaming experiences. The new Sony exclusive game “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” is currently a hot topic as THE first true next-gen game (via GamePro).
So yes, Microsoft urgently needed these high-quality exclusive games now. It makes the entire Microsoft ecosystem much more attractive. No criticism from my side that they, as a company, naturally want to achieve this dominant, full power of service and exclusive AAA games. I probably wouldn’t do it any differently.
Still, this does promote that we might end up acquiring more gaming systems than we actually need.
It also fosters the division of the gaming community because we do have friend lists on our systems, especially in the multiplayer area.
After all, gaming is for everyone.
