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[jm89]

During our Redfall preview session , we had the opportunity to chat with the game's creative director, Harvey Smith (who also worked on Deus Ex and Dishonored 1 and 2). This was an opportunity to ask him the question about the impact of the acquisition of Bethesda by Microsoft in 2021, right during the development of Redfall.

Harvey Smith told us that one of the notable consequences was the immediate cancellation of the PlayStation 5 version of the game.

"We were acquired by Microsoft and it was a change with capital C. They came in and they said 'No PlayStation 5, we're focusing on Xbox, PC and the Game Pass'."

The development of Redfall having started before the year of the takeover, knowing that a version dedicated to the Sony console was planned is not a real surprise, but receiving the official confirmation remains interesting. Moreover, for its creative director, this decision is almost beneficial.

"It's not very serious, it's even a good decision I think. [It helps to] support Game Pass and have one less platform to worry about, one less complexity."

The developer is even going less because, according to him, this takeover could even allow Redfall to be "Arkane's biggest game"

"Game Pass has a ton of players, it could become our biggest game thanks to 30 million, where I can't remember the exact number, of subscribers."

The arrival of Microsoft therefore seems to have been received more as an opportunity than a fatality, and the American manufacturer does not seem to have intervened on other fronts with regard to Redfall.

Source: https://fr.ign.com/redfall/64224/news/oui-redfall-etait-initialement-prevu-sur-ps5

 

[MScarpa]

Does this surprise ANYONE?!

 

[Unknown?]

But Phil said he wanted to bring games to more players!!

 

[Kvally]

 

[ChiefDada]

 

[DeepEnigma]

Harvey Smith told us that one of the notable consequences was the immediate cancellation of the PlayStation 5 version of the game.

“ We were acquired by Microsoft and it was a change with capital C. They came in and they said 'No PlayStation 5, we're focusing on Xbox, PC and the Game Pass'. »

 

[DForce]

I can't wait to see how some people on GAF spin this.

 

[solidus12]

When everybody plays, we all lose.

 

[dem]

Oh really? They were planning to ship on by far the most popular platform?

Who the hell would ever deny this?

 

[Musilla]

Does this surprise ANYONE?!

Yes, Phil Spencer

 

[Unknown?]

Who the hell would ever deny this?

Someone who wants to expand gaming to more players, of course!

 

[NickFire]

Just become some guy who probably works in the mailroom said whatever does not change anything. It was never announced for PS5. So there was no PS5 version to cancel. Or something like that. Derp.

 

[GhostOfTsu]

Does this surprise ANYONE?!

It should. Xbox fans have been trying to convince us since last year.

 

[Kvally]

Oh really? They were planning to ship on by far the most popular platform?

They still are. PC.

 

[Coloress_Kafka]

No sugar coating at all, just point blank this shit got canned directly because of the acquisition. I wonder if like Mikami he has no long term plans to be employed by Microsoft.

 

[Brucey]

But but but it was never announced for the PS5?!?

 

[DeepEnigma]

Imagine their output all the way into 2023 if they didn't buy Bethesda for games they would have had already, just to play takeaway and call them "first party."

 

[Spitfire098]

Just become some guy who probably works in the mailroom said whatever does not change anything. It was never announced for PS5. So there was no PS5 version to cancel. Or something like that. Derp.

Game in development for ps5-> MS cancels it-> there was never a ps5 version

 

[Draugoth]

PS5 owners cant complain because they stole Final Fantasy from Xbox

 

[Brucey]

Could be biggest game thanks to 30 million gamepass subs...maybe after launch he'll share what their revenue is for the gp part of things

 

[balls of snow]

Lets get this party started.

 

[Closer]

Oh really? They were planning to ship on by far the most popular platform?

It is coming to PC but no Switch version, sadly.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Just become some guy who probably works in the mailroom said whatever does not change anything. It was never announced for PS5. So there was no PS5 version to cancel. Or something like that. Derp.

 

[xHunter]

So since Starfield and Redfall are only a few months apart, it is safe to say the same happened to Starfield. Finally we have it confirmed.

 

[Tommi84]

Does this surprise ANYONE?!

Phil should be surprised, as he said he wants to bring games to more players and 'exlusives are bqd for the business' or some other shit b)

 

[DeepEnigma]

So since Starfield and Redfall are only a few months apart, it is safe to say the same happened to Starfield. Finally we have it confirmed.

Pete Hines already confirmed it a year or two ago.

 

[Unknown?]

So since Starfield and Redfall are only a few months apart, it is safe to say the same happened to Starfield. Finally we have it confirmed.

We knew about Star field because Sony was trying to get marketing rights or short exclusivity like Ghostwire.

 

[Thirty7ven]

Exclusives are good back on the menu.

 

[diffusionx]

I know that Microsoft shills deny it but ultimately MS generally and Phil specifically brought the scrutiny on the A-B acquisition on themselves with their bait and switch on the Bethesda deal.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Oh really? They were planning to ship on by far the most popular platform?

Who the hell would ever deny this?

It was never coming to the Switch.

 

[dotnotbot]

But hey, that's not me!

 

[Umbasaborne]

Who cares?

 

[Kusarigama]

Someone might get in trouble for saying this out publicly.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Duh? It was obviously in development before the sale. Glad Sony hadn't already money-hatted it before the deal.

 

[Flutta]

Whoever believed otherwise is a complete moron or a shill. Pick your poison.

Same thing happened with Starfield and prob ES6 and more unannounced games before MS got their dirty hands on Bethesda.

 

[adamsapple]

Less platforms to worry about for focused development *and* working to remove the online only requirement for single player.

They're hitting all the best notes for Redfall in this preview cycle.

 

[solidus12]

I hope the CMA and FTC will take note of this.

 

[Unknown?]

Duh? It was obviously in development before the sale. Glad Sony hadn't already money-hatted it before the deal.

You like moneyhats if you're okay with how things turned out, in fact you're wearing a hat right now!

 

[Pedro Motta]

I'm ok with exclusives, I'm ok with timed exclusives and a few money hats never hurt anybody. But I just can't handle fucking hipocrites. Get bent MS.

 

[Kusarigama]

So since Starfield and Redfall are only a few months apart, it is safe to say the same happened to Starfield. Finally we have it confirmed.

Bethesda had PS5 dev kits and Todd Howard himself talked about having the dev kits prior to the release of PS5 on ign show. It was in development and was cancelled.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Less platforms to worry about for focused development *and* working to remove the online only requirement for single player.

They're hitting all the best notes for Redfall in this preview cycle.

 

[Kvally]

But I just can't handle fucking hipocrites.

Then you better not own a PS or Xbox. Jim and Phil have a bridge to sell ya!

 

[NickFire]

Less platforms to worry about for focused development *and* working to remove the online only requirement for single player.

They're hitting all the best notes for Redfall in this preview cycle.

The irony runs thick and deep when a MS employee talks about less platforms to worry about.

On a more serious note, I wonder if they had a pizza party to celebrate no longer having to deal with PS5's ram configuration. Probably had extra pepperoni to celebrate that.

 

[jm89]

I hope the CMA and FTC will take note of this.

Oh trust me they are.

CMA and FTC will use everything they can. Just need to look at the Provisional Findings and see how far atleast the CMA have gone.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Good guy Phil!

 

[Flutta]

But hey, that's not me!

 

[Elios83]

More games to more players

 

[Snowdonhoffen]

Bethesda had PS5 dev kits and Todd Howard himself talked about having the dev kits prior to the release of PS5 on ign show. It was in development and was cancelled.

They never confirmed any consoles so it wasn't

Spoiler: Spoiler

We all know it was, lol

 

[Ezekiel_]

BuT wAs It PrOmIsEd?

 

[Nydius]

Hopefully the CMA and FTC read this article as it directly proves the point that Microsoft is buying companies with the express purpose to remove access from other platforms. At this point only fools and fanboys believe Microsoft's claims that they have no intention of turning ABK properties into exclusives. You don't spend nearly 70 billion to acquire a company just to maintain the status quo.

Microsoft has a very long history of saying one thing and then doing something else. It's the same kind of behavior that got them in trouble during the Windows/Internet Explore late 90's era.