The latest release from Arkane Studios is Deathloop, a PlayStation 5 console exclusive. The time-looped, immersive sim FPS is coming to PC as well, but is not launching on Xbox, even though Microsoft owns the development studio. Microsoft bought out Zenimax, Arkane’s parent company, earlier this year, putting the Xbox company in the odd position of launching a game exclusively on the competition’s system.
Those looking to play Deathloop on Xbox – or even those hoping it’ll come to Game Pass for PC – will have to wait. The stylish FPS is a timed exclusive for the PS5, and the deals to make that happen were already in place when the Microsoft acquisition of Zenimax transpired. Deathloop follows Arkane’s other immersive sim games – Dishonored and its sequel, and Prey. Big fans of the genre may have to make the switch to Xbox (or PC) in the near future, since such unique games would make an attractive addition to the Xbox exclusive line-up.
For now, though, it’s Xbox owners who are left waiting. Deathloop‘s PS5 exclusivity ends in September 2022, so those with a Series X or S will have to wait at least a year before it becomes available, though there hasn’t been word of an exact date. This is rather unfortunate, since the new generation has been a bit light on dedicated games, but the wheels of Deathloop‘s PS5 exclusivity were likely in motion long before it was announced. Deathloop launching on Xbox could’ve eased the wait for other Xbox titles like Halo Infinite or Forza Horizon 5.
Will Deathloop Launch On Xbox Game Pass?
It’s impossible to know for sure, but at this point it seems very likely that Deathloop will launch on Game Pass whenever it finally comes to Xbox. Microsoft seems increasingly dedicated to get as many Xbox and PC players as possible to subscribe to Game Pass, and part of the strategy is to bring marquee titles to the service day one. For instance, the highly anticipated Starfield is coming to Game Pass on launch, and its planned release is still over a year away. Game Pass is gradually becoming the one-stop-shop for Microsoft’s video game properties, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Deathloop on there when the PlayStation exclusivity deal is over.
Deathloop is being published by Bethesda, which was another company involved in the Zenimax buyout, and only adds to the possibility of a Game Pass launch next year. Following the Zenimax buyout, plenty of Bethesda titles were added to Game Pass, including Arkane’s other games that were also published by the Elder Scrolls developer. Although the PlayStation exclusivity deal is keeping Deathloop off of Xbox consoles, it might be preventing it from landing on Game Pass for PC until the exclusivity window is over.
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