Xbox Thinks Game Pass Could Help Recoup Tens of Millions in Lost Starfield and Indiana Jones Sales

A new court document in its ongoing battle with the FTC reveals how Microsoft thought it could use Xbox Game Pass and console sales to help offset losses it would incur from making platform exclusives to Starfield and Indiana Jones.

In a new document focused on the FTC’s final facts, the FTC cites testimony from Microsoft Gaming Chief Financial Officer Tim Stewart, who stated that Microsoft expected “more than 10 million ‘sales on PlayStation’ of both Starfield and Indiana Jones,” before it said. I decided to make both games exclusive to Xbox.

Microsoft announced plans to acquire ZeniMax back in 2020, and outside of honoring timed exclusivity deals, PlayStation previously signed with ZeniMax for timed console exclusivity to Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo, upcoming projects from developers under The ZeniMax was used as a controller exclusively for Xbox consoles, including the aforementioned Starfield and Indiana Jones.

Various exclusive strategy for Xbox

Prior to the testimony and FTC findings of the fact sheet, we were informed of the Interview with IGN France that Arkane Studios was working on a PS5 version of Redfall before Microsoft acquired ZeniMax. Arkane Studios’ Harvey Smith noted in the interview that the developer was then directed to focus on “Game Pass, Xbox and PC”.

While the FTC argues that making these games would be anti-competitive, during the trial PlayStation president Jim Ryan admitted that in the case of Starfield (and Redfall), both games as Xbox exclusives were not “anti-competitive”.

Meanwhile, Xbox has vowed to keep Call of Duty on as many platforms as possible, which was backed up by nearly a million documents filed with the court.

Earlier this week, the Federal Trade Commission lost its case in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, as the regulator was unsuccessful in obtaining a preliminary injunction against Microsoft as the tech giant attempts to close its Activision-Blizzard acquisition. The Federal Trade Commission announced yesterday that it will appeal the decision.

Taylor is a reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @employee