After an uneventful 2022 for Xbox in terms of exclusive AAA releases, Phil Spencer’s hope to reward their fans with two highly anticipated releases. The first will be redfallwhich will arrive on May 2, and the second will be Starfield —the great bombing of those from Redmond this year—, which will be available from September 6.
However, at this time the controversy surrounding the original plans of redfall. It is that from Arkane Studios they have confirmed that the intention was, in principle, to launch a version of his shooter first person on PS5. However, everything changed when Microsoft bought ZeniMax Media, parent company of the studio and its publisher, Bethesda Softworks.
He stated so harvey smithcreative director of redfallin a recent interview with the French edition of IGN. “Microsoft bought us and it was a change with a capital C. They came in and said, ‘No PlayStation 5. We’ll focus on Xbox, PC and Game Pass,’ he asserted.
Whereas the development of redfall Started in 2019, the year before Microsoft absorbed ZeniMax Media, it’s not unreasonable that a version for the latest PlayStation console was at least in the plans. Let’s remember that those from Redmond announced the aforementioned purchase in September 2020, while the PS5 was launched in November of that year.
Arkane had in his plans to launch redfall on the PS5
From the beginning, the acquisition of Bethesda’s parent company raised suspicions about what would happen to its intellectual property. Specifically, if the Redmonds would take advantage of the disbursement of such a bulky amount of money to swell the exclusive catalog of Xbox. Smith’s statements about what happened with redfall make it clear that at least part of the speculations were true.
Despite this, the imposition of Microsoft for the development of Redfall to focus on Xbox, PC and Game Pass it was not seen as a negative within Arkane Studios. Or at least that’s what the game’s creative director now says. “It wasn’t a big deal. I even think it was a good decision. It allowed us to support Game Pass and have one less platform to worry about, “said the manager.
It is clear that PlayStation fans do not lose sleep over not being able to play redfall on the PS5. However, the case gains special relevance for the discussion about the consolidation of studios and publishers that has been installed in the industry; largely because of Sony’s recent protests against Microsoft acquisitions. Not so much because of ZeniMax Media, but because of Activision Blizzard and the effects it could have on the future availability of call of duty.
Of course we are talking about business, and the accusations are not one-way. Let’s remember that those from Redmond also contributed their share of complaints against the Japanese in recent times. Specifically, they accused them of blocking the arrival of games like final fantasy 16 and Silent Hill 2 Remake to Xbox.
beyond everything, in the case of redfall history has been sentenced long ago. He shooter It will be available on Xbox Series X | S and PC starting next May 2, the same day from which it will be accessible through Game Pass.