Microsoft's Bethesda deal: Great for Game Pass, troubling for exclusives

Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media is huge news in many ways. It brings renowned studios like Bethesda, id and Arkane into the Xbox family, along with popular franchises including Doom, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. It makes the Xbox Series X and S more compelling, especially given they're launching with a relatively weak lineup. But most importantly, it's yet another win for Game Pass, as Microsoft has confirmed that Bethesda titles are headed to the subscription service over the coming months. When I argued that the Xbox Series S was an incredible next-gen deal, Game Pass Ultimate was a big part of that. For $15 a month, you get access to 100 recent titles on console and PC, first-party Microsoft games, Xbox Live, and EA Play.