We're all somewhat in shock by today's news surrounding the closure of four Bethesda development studios, including the teams behind the likes of Hi-Fi RUSH and Redfall. While it's hard to wrap your head around why Xbox would go out and buy these studios only to shut them down a few years later, Xbox's internal email on the matter does give us some insight as to why Microsoft has made this move.

As per IGN, Xbox's Matt Booty addressed employees about the closures today. Booty said "the changes are grounded in prioritizing high-impact titles" and that it wants to invest in "Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds" - hinting that basically; Microsoft wants to focus on bigger releases and stronger IP over at Bethesda. Here's a bit more of that statement:

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[–] doctortofu@reddthat.com 47 points 6 months ago (11 children)

Great, that means more blockbuster superhits like Starfield and less smaller games like Hi-Fi Rush - can't wait!

Bloody hell, gaming sucks ass recently, and not in a good way either... :(

[–] AlexanderTheGreat@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago (6 children)

To be fair if the blockbuster superhits are actually good that would be fantastic. And focusing more on fewer titles could achieve that. As long as they aren't just laying people off for the hell of it.

[–] VerseAndVermin@lemmy.world 13 points 6 months ago (5 children)

To be fair if the blockbuster superhits are actually good that would be fantastic. And focusing more on fewer titles could achieve that. As long as they aren't just laying people off for the hell of it.

I can't think of a way this is good. Large titles are already happening and we're already getting good games in them.

I don't think less small fish helps. It's not creating some sort of brain drain to also make small titles. I suspect it's your last sentence for a lot of people, just laying people off. Imagine making a killer title like Hi-Fi and then losing your job because a suit needs number go up.

[–] neuropean@kbin.social 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Idk, I it’d be great if we could get a new elder scrolls or decent fallout game every 5 years.

[–] VerseAndVermin@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

While true I don't think these studios deaths are going to make that happen. I think what we are likely to see is other large studios start making those games. I'm betting Obsidian gets another crack at it.

I'm actually more interested in what other studios would do anyways. Fallout 4 is less interesting than New Vegas and Fallout 3 was, while still being very good and fun, not as depth filled as the two before.

I even still think Oblivion, while showing its smaller scale and less resources, was often more imaginative than Skyrim.

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