Highlights
Todd Howard stated that Xbox console exclusivity made Starfield a "better product" by allowing developers to concentrate their resources and deliver a higher quality game.
Exclusivity has been a longstanding element in the gaming industry, and Howard affirms that linking particular brands to specific platforms can yield tangible advantages.
Moreover, Howard contended that Bethesda's affiliation with Microsoft proved advantageous, despite the exclusivity compromise, as Starfield is anticipated to have the most momentous release in the studio's history, largely owing to its availability on Xbox Game Pass.
Bethesda Executive Producer Todd Howard claims that making Starfield exclusive to the Xbox console resulted in an improved product. In a recent interview, Howard discussed the advantages of platform exclusives from a developer's standpoint and defended the decision to omit Starfield from the PS5. Following Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media, it became evident that Starfield would not be available on the PS5. Bethesda went so far as to apologize to PS5 players for the game's exclusivity to the Xbox.
Two years later, Howard stated that the exclusivity had proven advantageous for Starfield, primarily because it allowed the developers to focus their resources. According to the Bethesda official in a recent interview with BBC, this "ability to concentrate" on a smaller number of platforms typically results in a superior product. Furthermore, Howard highlighted that exclusives have been a longstanding aspect of the gaming industry, emphasizing the significant benefits of the association between certain brands and games. As an example, he pointed out that when people think of Zelda, they immediately associate it with the Switch console.
While exclusivity deals may limit accessibility, Howard argued that being part of Microsoft's corporate structure was still a significant advantage for Bethesda. Expanding on this, the official disclosed that the studio predicted Starfield would have the largest player base of any of their releases. This is likely due to Starfield being available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, a subscription service that Microsoft announced had exceeded 25 million subscribers by late 2022.
Although some PlayStation fans may think that Howard's support for console exclusivity stems from his higher-ups, it should be noted that the official was not necessarily exaggerating the benefits of focusing on fewer platforms. Bethesda is still a relatively small studio compared to its consistent success since the early 2000s. According to industry insider David Reitman, the developer had a team of "over 500" individuals dedicated to working on Starfield, which is relatively low for a AAA open-world RPG in today's industry standards.
Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios has a similar headcount to Starfield's developers, not including their outsourced localization teams. However, Baldur's Gate 3 had a more problematic launch with bugs, especially in its third act, despite Larian's efforts to prioritize the PC release and even delay the PS5 version. On the other hand, Bethesda had their own confusion about Microsoft's platform exclusivity strategy in the past, but Howard believes that it ultimately benefited Starfield. Currently, Starfield is accessible on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: BBC (Via: LinkedIn)
