Xbox head Phil Spencer noted that the company is not currently planning what it will do with Bethesda titles, addressing community questions surrounding console exclusivity for games as a result of the planned ZeniMax acquisition in an interview with GameReactor Monday.
Spencer clarified where the process currently leaves Microsoft and ZeniMax-owned IP in the interview, which you can read in its entirety here.
“First of all, I would like to say that we haven’t acquired ZeniMax,” Spencer told GameReactor. “We have announced our intention to acquire ZeniMax. It is going through regulatory approval and we don’t see any issues there.”
Spencer then noted that because the ink is not dry yet on the ZeniMax deal, planning for game exclusivity is not happening yet.
“We expect early in 2021 the deal will close,” Spencer said. “… I’m not sitting down with Todd Howard and Robert Altman and planning their future. Because I’m currently not allowed to do that, that would be illegal.”
Spencer stated that he gets asked frequently about which games of ZeniMax’s portfolio might be Microsoft exclusives.
“And right now, that is not my job in regards to ZeniMax,” Spencer said of these questions.
“My job is not to sit down and go through their portfolio and dictate what happens.”
Overall, Spencer seemed enthusiastic about the upcoming acquisition.
“In terms of what I want long term,” Spencer said, “I want those amazing [studios] to create the best games they ever created.”
