This week held more news for the relationship between Microsoft and Bethesda after the company’s acquisition became official last week. We also got news on the whereabouts of an influential figure in gaming after Google’s Stadia studios closed, displacing many talented people in the industry.
Microsoft Announces Games Coming to Game Pass
Microsoft announced that twenty Bethesda Softworks games would be coming to Game Pass on Friday, March 12th (which means they are playable now!). The games span multiple franchises and generations and show the first steps the two companies are taking to form a united front moving forward. The games (listed below) are a combination of returning titles and games making their Game Pass debut. Some games will be available on Console, PC, and Cloud, while others will be exclusive to some platforms. Additionally, some of the games will also be receiving an FPS boost!
Bethesda Softworks games now on Game Pass:
Dishonored Definitive Edition (PC, Console, Cloud)
Dishonored 2 (PC, Console, Cloud)
Doom 1993 (PC, Console, Cloud)
Doom 2 (PC, Console, Cloud)
Doom 3 (PC, Console, Cloud)
Doom 64 (PC, Console, Cloud)
Doom Eternal (PC, Console, Cloud)
Fallout: New Vegas (Console)
Fallout 4 (PC, Console, Cloud)
Fallout 76 (PC, Console, Cloud)
Prey (PC, Console, Cloud)
Rage 2 (PC, Console, Cloud)
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (PC, Console)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion ((PC, Console)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (PC, Console, Cloud)
The Elder Scrolls Online (Console, Cloud)
The Evil Within (PC, Console, Cloud)
Wolfenstein: The New Order (PC, Console, Cloud)
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (PC, Console, Cloud)
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (PC, Console, Cloud)
Jade Raymond Announces New Game Studio
Jade Raymond is an influential figure in the world of video games and has been behind some of the most iconic franchises to date (Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs). Raymond, who worked for an internal Google Stadia development studio when Google axed Stadia studios earlier this year, announced the opening of a new studio called Haven Studios. The announcement came in the form of a blog post on the PlayStation Blog, where it was also announced that the studio had the backing and support of Sony. Raymond said, “Haven Studios is already hard at work on an unannounced IP,” and with her at the helm, and untold talent joining the studio, there is massive potential for amazing games to come out of Haven.
Smaller News
Nintendo and Epic Games announced a Fortnite-themed set of Joy-Con controllers for the Switch coming this year. The Joy-Cons will feature a blue and yellow color scheme and will feature the face of “Peely” on the right Joy-Con. This is not the first time Nintendo and Epic Games have collaborated on a special edition console/controller iteration. Last year they released a special edition Fortnite-themed console and Joy-Con bundle.
Undertale and Outriders were announced for Xbox Game Pass. Undertale will finally be coming to Xbox Game Pass on March 16th, with Outriders arriving on April 1st which means it will be a day one release for Game Pass. The team behind Outriders, People Can Fly, also made Gears of War: Judgement which was an Xbox exclusive. Undertale will also have exclusive content for the Xbox version, similar to its exclusive Nintendo Switch and PlayStation content.
