Earlier this year, Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, bringing a host of high-profile development studios into its first-party Xbox developer ecosystem. Since then, a wealth of games from those teams have joined Xbox Game Pass, and Phil Spencer pretty much confirmed Xbox and Windows exclusivity for future projects from them.
With E3 on the horizon, fans have been expecting a big presentation that highlights the combined efforts of Xbox's new and old studios. Although previous insider reports spoke of having separate Xbox and Bethesda events, it sounds like the joint event plans have gone ahead.
According to a new interview with Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty by French publication Le Figaro, a joint conference is planned to drop in the summer. Unless the Xbox head is talking about a separate event, E3 is likely where this will happen.
Easily the biggest game currently dealing out hype tickets to fans is Starfield, the next project by The Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchise developer Bethesda Game Studios. If Microsoft wants to take over the gaming airwaves for a while during E3 week, a gameplay trailer drop — and perhaps a launch window announcement — may be the optimal way to do it. While Microsoft has yet to confirm an appearance, Starfield will in fact be at E3 according to insider Jason Schreier.
We also can't forget heavy hitters like MachineGames, id Software, Arkane, and others that are also under the Xbox umbrella now, who probably have new projects of their own to unveil.
In any case, Xbox and PC gamers have a lot to look forward to as E3 looms, from Halo Infinite to Age of Empires 4, and now, everything of Bethesda. This should be especially exciting to Xbox Game Pass subscribers since Microsoft will be putting every one of its first-party games on the subscription platform on day one too.
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