Brett Keane Talks Starfield, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, PS5, Xbox, PC

June 27, 2023


# Brett Keane Talks Starfield, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, PS5, Xbox, PC Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Brett Keane Talks, where I share my thoughts on the latest news and trends in the gaming industry. Today, I want to talk about one of the most anticipated games of 2023: Starfield. Starfield is a sci-fi RPG from Bethesda Game Studios, the creators of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. It is set in a vast and detailed universe where you can create your own character and explore with unparalleled freedom. It is also the first new IP from Bethesda in over 25 years, which makes it even more exciting. But there is a catch: Starfield is not coming to PS5. It is an Xbox and PC exclusive, thanks to Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, in 2021. This means that PlayStation fans will miss out on this epic adventure, unless they buy an Xbox console or a PC capable of running it. This has caused a lot of controversy and disappointment among gamers, especially those who have been loyal to Bethesda's games on PlayStation platforms for years. Some have even accused Bethesda of betraying their fanbase and selling out to Microsoft. Others have hoped that Starfield will eventually come to PS5 as a timed exclusive or through a streaming service like xCloud. However, both Bethesda and Microsoft have made it clear that Starfield is not coming to PS5 anytime soon. In an interview with IGN, Bethesda's creative director Todd Howard said that Starfield being an Xbox exclusive was \"the best decision for the game\" and that \"it was a hard decision\" but \"it won't be the only one\"¹. In other words, expect more Bethesda games to be Xbox exclusives in the future, including The Elder Scrolls 6. Microsoft's head of gaming Phil Spencer also confirmed that Starfield is \"an Xbox exclusive\" and that \"it was not a difficult decision to make\"². He added that \"the ability for us to focus on our platforms isn't about excluding people. It's about being able to focus our resources on doing the best games possible\"². He also said that Microsoft wants to \"deliver great exclusive games for you that ship on platforms where Game Pass exists\"², which means Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud gaming. So what does this mean for PlayStation gamers who want to play Starfield? Well, unfortunately, it means that they have two options: either switch to Xbox or PC, or miss out on the game entirely. There is no guarantee that Starfield will ever come to PS5, even after a few years. And even if it does, it will likely be an inferior version compared to the Xbox and PC versions. I know this sounds harsh, but it is the reality of the gaming industry today. Exclusivity deals are becoming more common and more important as companies compete for market share and consumer loyalty. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars in acquiring Bethesda and other studios, and they want to see a return on their investment. They also want to boost their Game Pass service, which offers hundreds of games for a monthly fee, including all new Bethesda titles. On the other hand, Sony has also secured some exclusivity deals of their own, such as Final Fantasy XVI, Ghostwire Tokyo, Deathloop, and Forspoken. They also have their own impressive lineup of first-party games, such as God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. They are not going to give up their dominance in the console market easily. So what do I think about all this? Well, as a gamer who loves both PlayStation and Xbox games, I am torn. On one hand, I am very excited for Starfield and I can't wait to play it on my Xbox Series X. On the other hand, I feel bad for PlayStation gamers who will miss out on this amazing game. I wish there was a way for everyone to enjoy it regardless of their platform preference. But I also understand that this is how business works. Companies have to make decisions that benefit them in the long run. And sometimes those decisions come at the expense of some consumers. It is not fair, but it is reality. And we have to accept it or adapt to it. So what do you think about Starfield being an Xbox exclusive? Are you happy or angry about it? Will you buy an Xbox or PC to play it or skip it altogether? Let me know in the comments below. And don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more Brett Keane Talks videos. Until next time, stay awesome! ¹: [Bethesda Game Studios Is Committed to Single-Player Games - IGN](https://www.ign.com/articles/bethesda-single-player-elder-scrolls-starfield-fallout) ²: [Bethesda And Microsoft Respond To Starfield On PS5 Questions - GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-and-microsoft-respond-to-starfield-on-ps5-questions/1100-6495706/)