Bethesda's Pete Hines Apologizes to PlayStation Players About Starfield Xbox Exclusivity - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 16 June 2021 / 5,047 Views
Publisher Bethesda Softworks and developer Bethesda Game Studios over the weekend announced at E3 2021 Starfield will be an Xbox console exclusive and it will launch on November 11, 2022 for the Xbox Series X|S and PC.
SVP of global marketing and communications at Bethesda Pete Hines speaking with GameSpot understands the frustration from PlayStation players who want to play Starfield.
"I totally understand if you are unhappy or pissed or whatever," said Hines. "I get it. Those are all real feelings and frustrations. How should you deal with that? I haven't the foggiest idea. I would never presume to say, Here's how you can make it better and feel better.
"I don’t know how to allay the fears and concerns of PlayStation 5 fans other than to say, I’m a PlayStation 5 player as well, and I’ve played games on that console, and there’s games I’m going to continue to play on it, but if you want to play Starfield, [it’s on] PC and Xbox.
"Sorry. All I can really say is I apologize, because I’m certain that that’s frustrating to folks, but there’s not a whole lot I can do about it."
Bethesda Game Studios’ Todd Howard in a different interview said that being able to focus on fewer platforms, since the game isn't coming to the PlayStation 5, will make for a better game.
"Pick a side' meaning… PlayStation? Is that what you mean? Well.. a little bit," said Howard at the time. "You don’t ever want to leave people out, right? But at the end of the day, your ability to focus and say, this is the game I want to make, these are the platforms I want to make it on, and being able to really lean in on those is going to make for a better product.
"By focusing on those platforms, you really get to lean in a lot on making it the best it can be for those systems. [...] And we’re big believers in all of the avenues that Xbox and Microsoft are doing to get games to more people. Whether that’s the integration with the PC, which is huge for us, the cloud streaming and all those things."
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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If there was gonna be a PS5 version of a future Bethesda game, especially BGS, it would've been Starfield. But that's business for you. I read soooooooo many comments from people saying that Bethesda games, especially games like Elder Scrolls VI, were still gonna come to PlayStation and there was nothing you could say that would convince them otherwise.
I hope this is the final nail in the coffin that will make everyone understand that you don't spend $7.5 billion to put your games on other platforms. At least new games.
I actually think Elders Scrolls and Fallout would be the most likely games to stay, since they're already established franchises on PS and thus have the greatest chance of selling well. I still don't think it's very likely that Microsoft will allow this but it's certainly not impossible, especially with a delayed release.
Errr... I would say that that is exactly what makes those games perfect to be exclusives.
Perhaps but it makes them even more perfect to be timed exclusives. Best of both worlds. Just look at what Sony's doing on PC. No one thought that would happen a few years ago.
This isnt the case with the Bethesda buyout. These games are brand pushes, much like how Mario or TLOU push Nintendo and PS ecosystems. Mario and TLOU could easily sell millions more on multi devices but they choose for brand recognition over sales.
If these Bethesda games dont do well on PC and Xbox i can see them considering expanding into multiplat territory but thats another big maybe.
MS already brings thier games to PC to satisfy fans not wanting to buy into the Xbox consoles, so the options are their.
M$ may change their mind when they see how much lower the sales are without PS.
That logic applies to all companies not just MS. Also MS doesn't need to care what other fans think, its as simple as if you want to play the game than they know what to do.
I agree but I still think that out of the big 3, Microsoft is the most likely to bring games to competitor platforms, especially the Switch.
You can keep hope alive but its very obvious that MS is pushing Gamepass and if something doesn't support it then it will not be getting those games. MS is way more focused on making GP a huge success then the money lost not being on PS. With all the ways MS plans on having their games played via GP, there is no way they will let huge system sellers show up on competition system unless they allow GP on those system. MS has never been a charity but most important is that their focus on GP as it shows with this E3 drives everything.
I get that but at the same time, they're still releasing their games on Steam. That's just as much their competition as PlayStation is.
It's a completely different competition. Steam and MS compliment each other because Steam helps sell Windows. Gamers end up getting access to MS services. On the PS platforms, customers cannot access MSs services which is the key part to MSs buisness plans. Hence why they say the games will go where GamePass goes.
True but they could still sell more Game Pass subs if they kept their games exclusive to it. If they're willing to sell them on a competing store like Steam, it's possible they'll also bring them to PS one day.
You are missing the point. The fact that majority of Steam users use Windows means Steam gamers have full access to MS services which stretches far outside of gaming, so potential Steam customers are also MS customers. If a game releases on a PS platform, they are Sony customers not MS, and MS make their money off services, this is why they are driving hard with GamePass. If Sony allows GamePass on the PS5 than 100% all Bethesda games will be playable on PS, that's up to Sony as MS want GP on all platforms.
I wouldn't be surprised if years later the games reach PS however that's not something ill be holding my breath for.
That's what I'm thinking. Most people who are willing to sub to GP to play Bethesda games will do so within a few years of their release so they might eventually come to PS. That way MS would get to have their cake and eat it too. It's not very likely but not impossible.
You still missing the point. People will hold out if they believe a game will come to their platform of choice which is exactly why they will not come to PS without gamepass. MS is service oriented company with the new CEO and everything they do drives the focus of those services. MS does not care about the lost of sales not being on the PS, they care only about how they can extend the reach of GP and the amount of subs. MS do not care about PS only gamers just like Sony doesn't care about Xbox only gamers. The thing is MS do not need PS sales just like Sony does not need Xbox sales.
I get that but if they don't care about sales, why are they selling their games on Steam? Seems like they want the best of both worlds on PC so why not on consoles too? They've already done it on Switch.
Steam helps sell Windows. PlayStation does not. Switch is a portable device which allows Xbox Accounts.
It seems like we actually agree overall. It's not likely that Microsoft will bring Bethesda games to PS but a delayed release is not impossible.
No games are staying unless there is a subscription attached to it or have a contract already with them; that's what they meant by legacy. Seriously, people need to stop with this nonsense. Next Fallout and ES will be Xbox/PC exclusive... Simple as that.
Like I said, I don't think it's very likely but I'm definitely not going to say it's impossible.
Starfield is the last game to come over. No one has played or experienced a starfield game. There is no history among a huge fanbase across multiple systems. Fallout 5 and elder scrolls will eventually release after a year or son.
Is that the same attitude towards Naughty Dogs next new IP?
They won't
No need to apologize honestly.
The Bethesda acquisition was announced before PS5 even released so PS5 owners knew beforehand that they wouldn't get Starfield, Elder Scrolls VI and many other Bethesda games when buying their PS5 console. They decided against those games when making their buying decision so there's no reason to be angry.
That's business...
Why apologise? Its not like Sony put games on Xbox consoles. Those that are upset only see it as a one way street. Basically thinking along the lines of, they should buy a PS to play PS exclusives and it does not work the other way, until other companies do it and they notice exclusives hurt others.
Iv read plenty of posts saying "why buy an Xbox when they have a PC" than they have nothing to worry about.
Its a buisess, if people love exclusives than expect the bad with the good.
Well at least he apologized for the frustration that PS players are going through concerning this game. He didn't have to if we're being honest. However, it was a nice thing to do. Like others said already...this is an Xbox exclusive as others will be coming from Zenimax. Got to move on if you're still hoping for a PS version.
What's there to apologise ? Business is business
As a PS5 owner it’s logic. Microsoft made a business move and its fair. If I want to play Starfield I’m going to have to subscribe to GamePass or get it on PC. That’s how you gain a user base regardless. So if I have time and later in life when I can Subscribe to GamePass or play it on PC then I’ll just wait.
It's a scummy move to be honest. Just shows how imcompetent they are at their internal division , they can't compete with nintendo and sony. " hey we are taking away your beloved multiplats, if you want in come buy our console" I seriously hope their demise comes sooner than later.
You sound like a.... Wait... We've done this already.
Hey am I wrong?
So what exactly makes it scummy. Are you up in arms that you cannot play FF7 or any other moneyhatted game or are you mad that MS decided to get serious when their competitor tries to lock up every multiplate game away from them because they have the market. If you are not going to be pissed about the business model period then do not get all in your feelings when one of the players decided to flex and show the other competitor that if you want to play rough we will see who has the deeper pockets.
I don't know what FF7 is. Final fanasy 7?
It's still a scummy practice. Sony never went a bought a beloved franchise that had many xbox fans playing and took it away. People were pissed about spiderman, but what is the last spiderman game you can remember prior? or any game with a massive following on multiple systems?
It's sad because they pulled that off, to compensate for their lack of first party offerings. compared to sony and nintendo. For xbox fans who were mad at xbox and demanding more games, they are in the same position as before. Getting the same third party games that were heading their way, and still with a lack of first party AAA from their internal divisions. So they have not shown how serious they are about their game output. Infact this 7.5 billion dollar deal just means good things for gamepass, but less games overall had they not purchased zenimax.
Back to being a scummy move, had they kept the games as a gamepass day 1, if possibe, but not console exclusive, or not, i would have bought a series s , or gamepass subscription eventually, and not just for 2 or 3 bethesda games, but i would have wanted to try out the halo series ,gears, among other games i missed ., since i dont care about console war bullshit or picking sides.. but to pull that move of forcing one to come over really like a sour taste, so screw it. My money will be going to nintendo this gen once they release their new console and games.
So whats your opinion on Street Fighter 5 being locked permanently to the PS4? A beloved series that's popular on all platforms?
The concept is the same, it only just starts to hurt you because the company you aren't invested in is retaliating and doing the same thing to counter attack. You are now feeling like all the other gamer's who aren't invested into PS who miss out on SFV, FF7, Spiderman and even Spiderman DLC in other games.
Ff7 was based off a ps1 game. It's not like xbox doesn't get its share of final fantasy games, which started off as nintendo and sony franshises. And more final fantasy games will come to xbox.
Spiderman, like I said earlier, no one remembers earlier spiderman games. The last one I can remember was on ps2, which I didn't play. But that is not on the same scale as some bethesday games. The hype was more around the spiderman movies and avengers going on prior to release that got people excited.
Street fighter 5 may not be as main stream as the other games. Street fighter 4 was supported with dlc 2 years prior to sf5 launched. You can get by fine and get ur fix without worrying about sf5. There isn't much to miss out on, and there are plenty of fighting games. When it comes to bethesda games , you have some very unique titles and single player experiences, that you can't get anywhere else.
For starters, FF was born on Nintendo systems and FF7 was also a PC game. Spiderman has a cult following as his a popular super hero, like Super Man, no one cares about his last game Super Man 64, but people still expect to play his new game. As for SF5.. so its okay to tell people to just play SF4? Remember when Don Mattick said to buy a 360 if you don't like the XB1? That's exactly what you are saying, if you cant play the new one, play the old one. That did not go down well for Don at the time.
That's like me telling you, if you cannot play Fallout 5, go play Fallout 4. SFV might not have been an amazing game but that does not excuse this fact. What if SFV turned out to an amazing game? So if Star-Field turns out to be an average game does that excuse it for being an exclusive?
You need to see this from both sides, not just the side you are sitting on. Bethesda own monster titles, however Street Fighter, Final Fantasy and Spiderman are also massive IPs in themselves. You are now experience the losses as other gamer's have, who had to miss out on some of their favorite IPs due to these business decisions.
Like they say, What goes around comes around. Exclusive deals was never meant to be fair.
It's not the same thing, stop comparing it. A game or two against a whole company and subsidiaries.
Say thor came as xbox exclusive, I might not be too happy about it, but I will just take it as another xbox exclusive like gears or halo. Like spiderman, there may be a cult following, but there isn't anything recent to go off by, since there isn't any kind of history or special pleace in my heart due to recent several experiences such as elder scrolls or fallout, the feeling just isn't the same.
As for street fighter, it's a competitive type game. The story mode is almost non existant and if any, is a terrible effort. And if you ever need that fix, there is the arcades.
Its the exact same thing. This notion of yours that because its only a game or two is because that was all they could afford. Any company that is in the business of paying for 3rd party exclusives is looking to lock out those games from their competitors and uplift their system. Its stupid for any business to let huge franchises like Doom, Fallout, Elder Scrolls just go to another company if the publisher is up for sale and hope things just work out. Really, its like you have absolutely no business sense or you believe that all these companies do this for the love of the consumer. Nothing is stopping you from playing your favorite games but you. You make the decision and choice to be a only PS, Xbox or Nintendo gamer and by your choice you decide what is important to you. None of these companies care about you unless you are using their products.
Kratos, I do not think you understand business very well. First and foremost, in order for MS to purchase a publisher that publisher has to be up for sale. That means at some point Bethesda decided that they wanted to sell their company. Now, what would be stupid of MS is to let their competitors be the ones to actually purchase Bethesda if they have the means to do it themselves. Lets think this though for a second. If Sony purchase Bethesda, would you think all of Bethesda games would remain multiplat. Be honest because I highly doubt anyone would believe Sony would spend that much money to let their competitor have their huge IP.
Another scenario would be Insomniac. Sony purchased them not to long ago. The fact that they were up for sell would be stupid for Sony not to have made that purchase because it would be even worst if MS purchased them.
So what you call a scummy move has nothing to do with such a concept. These companies and publishers were up for sell and whoever can meet the price is the winner. Sony definitely do not care if any Xbox only or Nintendo Only gamer ever plays Insomniac Spiderman or any of their games and if they had the opportunity, you can believe they would have bought Bethesda and made every one of their games exclusive to the PS system and all PS gamers would be praising them for their smart decision.
Yes. I think you have put it best. It was expected and makes sense for MS. And PS5 owners should have known what they are getting into. I am awaiting my PS5 at the moment and know that I likely will not get play any Bethesda games (in the future (excepting those already announced for the PS5) .
most people who bought a ps5 have no idea about the aquisition. I'm sure alot of people on ps4,xbox one, when they buy aps5 they will be in surprise when they see fallout not on there later./
Thats the people's choice. If it comes down to it, they can always trade in their console for the other. There are always options. If they brought the wrong console thats on them. This acquisition was done before these consoles launched so they had plenty of time to decide.
It was expected. Anyhow, MS isn't using it to push XBS at all costs, it made it available on PC too, as long as people play on one of its platforms MS is fine.
About Fallout and ES, it depends: if Sony and Bethesda stroke a deal before the acquisition, they'll be on PS5, if they didn't it will depend on how many profits MS is ready to sacrifice, the larger PS5 user base will become, the higher the possibility of their release on it, possibly after a MS platform timed exclusivity, but it also depends on how many PS players will accept to either buy an XBS too, or a PC, or use a PC they already own to play Bethesda games not ported to PS5.
Anyhow, if I were Sony or a PS gamer I wouldn't hold my breath.
How easily they forget that Sony was in talk to lock down this game to the Playstation eco system. Instead this game is made available to Xbox, PC and eventually Xcloud. If you really cared and want to play this game there will be an option for you to do so.
I think that's exactly why he acknowledged it. PS5 development was definitely something they had in mind and they were likely developing intensive dualsense features like Deathloop and Ghostwire are.
No great loss. Obsidian being bought out actually sucked more than Bethesda being bought out did. Japanese RPGs are more my cup of tea. And hopefully CD Projekt learned something from Cyberpunk.
Not sure why any company would make an apology, that implies that they did something wrong. You do not see any company making any exclusive for any particular platform making apologies for their decision. They all do it for the best of their company.
Do you see Sony apologizing for making exclusive FF7 or the Remake or even Square. We all know once Bethesda was sold, that ever single game they make from here on out can and probably will be exclusive to the MS eco system.
As for MS caring about the lost sales, people really do not understand just how much money MS make on a hold as a company. The lost sales from the PS system is not MS gameplan, they are looking at something way bigger and that is the billion of devices out there and a Game subscription to get people to sub. People need to stop thinking that MS is making Bethesda games exclusive to the Xbox because that is not the real goal. The real goal is that they are going to make it exclusive to their eco system which in turn will be the driving force for GP subs. This is why all Bethesda games will be day one on GP and MS will make it loud and clear, if you want to play these games, get GP. We do not care what device you use as long as GP can be run on it you are good to go.
They're trying to soften the blow of backlash once fallout and elder scrolls releases.
No need for him to apologize. Frustration should be directed towards Microsoft. Buying exclusivity for a single game or even a single studio here and there is one thing, but to buy a whole publisher is pretty extreme money muscling. But business is business and companies are companies.
This overly polite behaviour actually works as throwing salt into a wound. :P
My opinion is that they should not apologize. Is a business decision and time will tell if it was the right one (which I think it is).
everyone is making out this game is going to be the game of the decade without even seeing any gameplay or even much written info about it
Well... Looking at Bethesda track records for single player RPG. I would say that everyone is pretty much on point to believe that ;-)
That was probably the worst teaser I have ever seen. I love how they show nothing and then put out a date of release, being 1.5 years away.
They could have showed something to get excited for, not an environment that looks like the surface of the moon.
I bet that the game will get delayed a few months from launch. Don't think they have much to show yet.
He's full of it. More pr crap. " hey I game on ps5 too" . " you can only play it on xbox and pc".
Thats more options than what the other two offer.
Essay Pro