Microsoft Drops PS5 Version of Redfall After ZeniMax Purchase
Arkane Austin, the developer behind the upcoming monster-masher Redfall, has confirmed that the game was initially planned as a multi-platform title but was asked to drop the PS5 edition after Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media in 2020. The news comes as Microsoft faces legal battles over its proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard, with opponents raising concerns over the possibility of Microsoft making some of Activision’s biggest franchises Xbox exclusive brands.
Change with a Capital C
In an interview with IGN France, Arkane Austin’s studio director, Harvey Smith, described the Microsoft purchase as “Change with a capital C“. He noted that any plans for a Playstation edition of Redfall were instantly scrapped by the new owners, who told the studio, “No PlayStation 5. We’re focusing on Xbox, PC, and Game Pass.”
Good Idea, Says Smith
Smith, however, thinks that dropping the PS5 version of Redfall was a good idea. He believes it allowed the studio to focus on one less platform and add further polish to the project. He also points to Xbox Game Pass 30 million subscribers as a solid install base for the multiplayer-focused shooter, which will hopefully provide Redfall with a ready-made community of players.
Microsoft Responds
In response to reports that it canned a PS5 edition of Redfall, Microsoft issued a statement to Eurogamer, saying, “We haven’t pulled any games from PlayStation. In fact, we’ve expanded our footprint of games that we’ve shipped on Sony’s PlayStation since our acquisition of ZeniMax, and the first two games we shipped after closing were PlayStation 5 exclusives. We did the same thing since our closing of Minecraft as we extended the reach of that franchise. All of the games that were available on PlayStation when we acquired ZeniMax in March 2021 are still available on PlayStation, and we have continued to do content updates on PlayStation and PC. We have always said that future decisions on whether to distribute ZeniMax games for other consoles will be made on a case-by-case basis.”
While Microsoft denies pulling any games from PlayStation, it’s clear that the company is focused on promoting its Xbox platform and Game Pass service. The dropping of Redfall on PS5 may have been a strategic decision to ensure the game’s success on Xbox and PC. However, opponents of Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard will likely use this news as an example of what could happen if Microsoft makes some of Activision’s biggest franchises Xbox exclusives. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will play out and what the future holds for the gaming industry.
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