Earlier this year, representatives from Microsoft and Xbox found themselves in a courtroom, seeking legal approval for their colossal $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. As is customary in such legal proceedings, numerous emails, documents, and sensitive materials were kept confidential, away from the prying eyes of the public and the press. However, this morning brought forth a series of leaked documents that have shed light on several intriguing revelations.
Among these revelations is that Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, had once contemplated the idea of acquiring both Nintendo and Warner Bros. Games. Additionally, Microsoft appears to be gearing up for a refresh of the Xbox Series X/S lineup, complete with a new controller, scheduled for release next year. Further insights from these leaked documents suggest the possibility of remastered editions for beloved titles like Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, alongside other potential gaming endeavors.
More specifically, one document labeled the “ZeniMax Management Forecast” outlines a variety of gaming plans, including the aforementioned remasters, and hints at a potential sequel to the 2022 hit, Ghostwire: Tokyo, as well as a third installment in Arkane’s Dishonored series.
The FTC was not responsible for uploading Microsoft's plans for its games and consoles to the court website. https://t.co/MspoQN1exL
— Douglas Farrar (@DouglasLFarrar) September 19, 2023
This document also references well-known games such as Machine Games’ Indiana Jones project, 2021’s Deathloop, and the recently launched Starfield. Additionally, it reveals that The Elder Scrolls VI is slated to release no earlier than 2026 and will not be available on Sony’s PlayStation 5.
It’s crucial to bear in mind that this leaked document is more than three years old, implying that plans may have shifted significantly since then, and this timetable likely does not accurately reflect the current intentions of the company.
One thing is for sure, while we anticipate the forthcoming refresh of the Xbox Series X/S and the introduction of a new Xbox controller next year, Microsoft and Bethesda are having one heck of a lousy week.
