Microsoft Will Continue to Buy Game Studios after Bethesda Acquisition

Microsoft’s deal with Bethesda came as a surprise to everyone, especially PlayStation fans. This deal means that Microsoft now has control over two PlayStation timed exclusives. Even though they mentioned that they will honor the studios’ deal with Sony, this was a brilliant acquisition. But they have no plans to stop acquiring more studios just yet.

In an interview with Cnet, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, “You can’t wake up one day and say, ‘Let me build a game studio. The idea of having content is so we can reach larger communities.”

Additionally, Cnet also wrote, “That’s why Microsoft will consider buying even more video game companies in the future, he said, and why it continues to invest in its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.”

This paints a rough sketch of Microsoft’s strategy where they have given up on the console-first approach. Their prime focus for this year’s next-gen launch was always the Game Pass and xCloud. So the decision to keep looking for more studios to acquire is not surprising. Sony has done it in the past too and is still on the lookout to buy more, so why would Microsoft hold back?

Bethesda Acquisition was a great move for Microsoft

Before the ZeniMax Media Inc. acquisition, the Xbox Game Studios had 15 gaming studios under it. With the addition of 8 new ones, including Arkane, Bethesda, Tango etc. the tally is now up to 23. Sony currently houses 15 different studios, and Microsoft’s acquisition has left it behind in the race to have more first-party studios.

The Bethesda acquisition put a lot of power in Xbox’s hands. Games like DOOM Eternal, The Elder Scroll, Fallout, Dishonoured, etc. will possibly be available to Xbox and PC users first in the future, which put Sony at a further disadvantage. Microsoft’s strategy in recent years has been focused on making games more accessible to everyone. Eventually, they hope this will end the ‘console war’ for good.

Obviously, this was a planned move by Microsoft, considering they spent years trying to match Sony’s impressive exclusives. This acquisition, and many more to come, will definitely be fruitful and will give Microsoft a major boost for future game titles.