Following the news that Microsoft has acquired Zenimax Media for $7.5 billion, the holding company of Bethesda Softworks, there has been questions regarding exclusivity of Bethesda-published games.
In an article with Bloomberg, Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, assured fans that they will be honoring any previous Bethesda games that were announced for non-Xbox platforms. Id Software, the developer of the Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, is also now under Microsoft. For Nintendo Switch owners, this means that the long delayed Switch version of Doom Eternal should still arrive on the platform when it is ready.
With regards to future Bethesda games on platforms outside of the Xbox & PC platforms, it will be decided on a “case by case basis.” It seems Microsoft will continue their multiplatform strategy as they still publish Minecraft on non-Xbox platforms despite buying that IP for billions of dollars. They have allowed previous Xbox exclusives like Cuphead and Ori & The Blind Forest to be on Nintendo Switch. They also made dreams come true with Banjo-Kazooie joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Recently, Ori & The Will of the Wisps shadow dropped on the Switch.
Dave’s first Nintendo platform was the GameCube when he was age 7; however, he was introduced to Nintendo through Duck Hunt on NES.