Pete Hines, VP for marketing at Bethesda, shares insights on Xbox exclusivity and the advantages of developing for a limited number of platforms.
The highly anticipated game Starfield is scheduled for release on September 6th after a long development cycle. However, according to Pete Hines, the VP for marketing at Bethesda, the game might have faced further delays if it had been developed for additional platforms.
During the ongoing trial involving Microsoft/Activision and the Federal Trade Commission, Hines was asked about the development of Xbox exclusives like Redfall and Starfield. He stated, “We would not be putting [Starfield] out in nine weeks if we were supporting an entire additional platform, in my opinion.”
In Hines’ view, developing for fewer platforms allowed the Starfield team to conduct more rounds of quality assurance and testing, reducing the overall risk involved in the development process.
However, Hines expressed surprise at the exclusivity of Starfield, considering that titles like Call of Duty from Activision remained cross-platform. He stated, “it was the opposite of what we were just asked — told — to do with our other titles”. Apparently, Bethesda was not given advance notice about the decision to keep Call of Duty available on PlayStation platforms, leading Hines to expect an explanation from Phil Spencer in an interview regarding the divergent restrictions for different titles.
The Microsoft/Activision acquisition has sparked controversy, with the CMA initially blocking the deal, followed by the EU approving it shortly after the UK government’s blockage. The controversy stems from concerns about Microsoft gaining a monopoly in cloud gaming.
In response, Microsoft has made curious moves, such as offering a 10-year Call of Duty contract to PlayStation and pledging to make the FPS series available on the Nintendo Switch, despite the lack of evidence supporting its feasibility.
If you’re interested in upcoming Xbox Series X|S titles, now is a great time to check out the most anticipated ones.