The Horrible Truth Behind Microsoft Buying Bethesda

Something Doesn't Feel Right

Looking at the video streaming industry could provide insight into the horrific direction the gaming industry may go down. The original idea behind Netflix was to give viewers more freedom with what they could watch, without being restricted by television schedules. Over the years, however, streaming services became an infuriatingly pricey market where consumers have to shell out extortionate amounts of money over multiple streaming platforms to watch all the exclusive content.

If streaming services like Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Now, and Luna decide to compete via exclusives, they will force players to choose between libraries, rather than what console and system best fit their needs. And with Microsoft currently holding the most lucrative IPs in the gaming industry, they are fast becoming the optimal choice. After all, the streaming services with the best content libraries lead the market.

Microsoft appears to be going down the Disney+ path of having both nostalgic classics and modern-day smash-hits supply its library. They are on track to become the monopoly that swallows promising studios. This is a worrying thought considering Microsoft has been known to quietly shut down studios they don’t need.

While the Xbox Game Pass is well-priced now, with more titles added to its library and less consumer choice, price-hikes are more than likely. You only have to look at the US's Standard Netflix price that has risen four times in the past eight years. With Microsoft getting a stranglehold on the market, it isn’t a stretch to believe they will increase prices, and even have players fork out more money for “premium” games, akin to Disney+ subscribers having to pay an additional £19.99 to watch the live-action reboot of Mulan.