Xbox leaks: Microsoft wanted to buy Nintendo and Valve. No "Elder Scrolls 6" for PS5

Microsoft's takeover of Activision Blizzard is now considered certain. The US regulatory authority, the FTC, has strongly opposed this. In the resulting court case, countless sensitive documents have come to light. The latest revelations are particularly explosive. They relate to the tech giant's specific purchase intentions and future exclusive titles.

Nintendo for the second time

Microsoft apparently wanted and would still like to buy Nintendo. We are not talking about the failed attempt 23 years ago, when Steve Ballmer was still head of the company. Back then, Nintendo representatives literally laughed at Microsoft. The proposal for a joint venture, which would see Mario and co. appear on the Xbox, obviously did not convince the Japanese games manufacturer. More recent takeover plans have now emerged in the dispute with the FTC. Xbox boss Phil Spencer wrote in an email from August 2020: "Nintendo is THE most important resource for us in gaming [...] unfortunately Nintendo is sitting on a pile of cash [...I don't see any possibility of an amicable merger between Nintendo and Microsoft any time soon and I don't think a hostile takeover is a good idea, so we're playing for time." After the exhausting process with Activision Blizzard, Mario is unlikely to be hopping around on the Xbox for the time being.

Together with Nintendo, Spencer also lists Valve. The company behind Steam has also been considered. Should a takeover opportunity arise, the Microsoft board would be behind it.

In the same email, Warner Brothers is also considered. However, because the company does not own any trademark rights to its games such as "Batman", "Lego" or "Harry Potter", this would be an obstacle in the long term. We are also talking about Zenimax, the parent company of Bethesda. As is well known, this takeover was completed for 7.5 billion US dollars. "Fallout", "Starfield", "Doom" and co. have belonged to Microsoft since 2021.

"Fallout 3" remake and "The Elders Scrolls 6"

The leaked documents also contain internal presentations on a new Xbox with controller as well as release dates for upcoming Bethesda games. Various dates, such as for the new "Indiana Jones" game, have already passed. The remakes of "Fallout 3" and "The Elder Scrolls Oblivion" stand out. Both open-world games are to be re-released. DLC for "Starfield" is less surprising, but the ambitious sales target of over 900 million US dollars is more so. The assassination adventure with magic influences "Dishonored" will receive a third instalment and "Ghostwire: Tokyo" will also be continued despite a moderate response.

It has also been confirmed that "The Elder Scrolls 6" will not be released for the PS5. According to the documents, Bethesda's "Skyrim" successor will be released for PC and Xbox in 2026 at the earliest.

Three titles in the documents are still completely unknown: Project Kestrel, Platinum, and a licensed game.

Microsoft has completely underestimated "Baldur's Gate 3"

In an email from May 2022, Microsoft lists potential games for the Game Pass. The extremely successful "Baldur's Gate 3" is rated there as an unremarkable Stadia re-release. The game also appeared three years ago in Early Access for Google's streaming service. Microsoft assumed that Larian Studios would demand USD 5 million for inclusion in the Game Pass. For "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor", EA was expected to demand USD 300 million - a "crown jewel" for Microsoft. The company has since taken countermeasures. Normally, games on the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X must offer identical features. Because the split-screen co-op mode of "Baldur's Gate 3" turned out to be too demanding for the weaker Xbox, Microsoft is deviating from its own performance promises for the first time.

In the meantime, it has emerged that Microsoft is itself to blame for the leaks. Whether by mistake or intentionally remains open. <p