
An email dating 2022 was revealed during the FTC vs. Microsoft hearing, showing that Bethesda's Head of Publishing Pete Hines was confused about Microsoft's promises to keep Activision's games on PlayStation.
Bethesda's titles, including Starfield, will skip PlayStation consoles, however, Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty, the cornerstone of the merge and the multiple block attempts the company has been through, is going to appear on the main competitor's device.
"I'm confused. Is the below not the opposite of what we were just asked (told) to do with our own titles?" Hines asked in the email. "You don't think a journo might find [Todd Howard] and press him on why the below is ok for COD or any Activision Blizzard game, but not TES6 or Starfield?"
Apparently, Bethesda hadn't been informed back then. In court on Thursday, Hines said Microsoft handles exclusivity for each ZeniMax/Bethesda game separately.
The email also suggests The Elder Scrolls VI will be an Xbox exclusive – something Phil Spencer confirmed in 2021 but then took back, saying it's not yet clear what platforms that game will launch on.
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