“Microsoft needed few dollars”: Microsoft Wanted to Hurt Sony So Bad It Blocked Starfield Despite Data Predicting at Least 10 Million Unit Sales from PS5 Owners

The gaming console companies, Microsoft and Sony are continuously facing legal trouble after all, it is a matter of power. Amid the lawsuit, the court documents have revealed another perspective that would have been a real jackpot for the latter’s Playstation gaming console had it been executed.

Also Read: Xbox Sales Reportedly a Staggering 1.8X Less Than PlayStation Despite Secret Microsoft Deals to Strangle Sony

The new court documents have revealed that the Starfield and Indiana Jones were originally intended to be PS5 versions which would have sold over 10 million copies.

Microsoft’s Forecast for Starfield & Indiana Jones PS5 Version

Also Read: Microsoft Is Dead Sure Sony’s Launching A New PlayStation To Eat Away At Xbox Sales Amidst Starfield Drama

As per court documents, Microsoft had forecast Starfield and Indiana Jones to sell 10 million copies had they been released on Sony’s PS5 before the games became Xbox and PC exclusives. As Xbox CFO Tim Stuart, the forecast of PS5 sales was an evaluation of the impact of making Bethesda and ZeniMax games Xbox console exclusives. It would have determined how these games would perform on multiple platforms rather than releasing them to just Xbox.

The document read,

“Microsoft believed it could offset losses incurred from taking ZeniMax games exclusive through upside to Game Pass and increased console sales.”

Continuing the same, it stated,

“Mr. Stuart testified that Microsoft needed fewer dollars in the short term to make up for the financial impact of exclusivity of ZeniMax games on Microsoft.”

The Xbox CFO’s testimony was associated with FTC’s legal challenge to the Microsoft-Activision merger. It was recently lost and appealed by the agency.

PlayStation Head Was Unpleased With The Titles Becoming Xbox Exclusives!

Also Read: Starfield Was Nearly a Playstation Exclusive Until Sony F**ked Up – Now Salty PS5 Fans Launch Petition, Begging Microsoft for Second Chance

While it was already released last month that the games would be exclusively released on Xbox and PC, PS head Jim Ryan was not much pleased with the announcement. However, he also didn’t consider it as anti-competitive.

However, he mentioned that he was expective these releases to not be exclusive as “pretty much every other Bethesda game had been multiplatform” before Microsoft acquired Bethesda in 2021. Bethesda for the unversed is the creator of huge series like Fallout. After Microsoft acquired the company, Starfield, which is the next big title being developed the company will now become a Microsoft exclusive.

Meanwhile, he is also doing his best to assure that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard won’t get successful. Even the trial is mainly focused on Microsoft’s growing power which could harm the gaming market if the $69 billion acquisition got successful.

Bethesda’s formidable titles were all under Sony’s PlayStation however the upcoming Starfield would rather go to its rival. The latter has been a strong contender in the gaming business but Microsoft started expanding its horizon by acquiring a few gaming studios which included ZeniMax studios as well. The gaming community meanwhile continues to keep a close eye on the ongoing trial.

Starfield is releasing on September 6, 2023, on Xbox Series X/S and Windows.

Source: Eurogamer