Microsoft shook up the gaming world recently when they purchased Bethesda for seven and a half billion dollars. To put this price in perspective, that’s almost twice as much as Disney paid for Star Wars in 2012.
With the two companies now joining forces, many fans are fantasizing about which Bethesda developers could potentially tackle existing Microsoft IPs and which Microsoft studios could take on a Bethesda property. None of the wishes featured on the list are even rumored to be in the works, but gamers’ dreams have become reality before simply through the power of wishing for it on the Internet long enough.
10 Bethesda IP: Obsidian Should Tackle Fallout
Since Bethesda took over the Fallout property, the most celebrated entry in the post-apocalyptic RPG franchise is often considered Fallout New Vegas, developed by Obsidian. With the two now under the same umbrella, many are desperately hoping Obsidian will get a chance to tell another story within the Fallout franchise. Their work on The Outer Worlds proves they are still more than capable of putting out stellar science fiction projects with quirky humor.
9 Microsoft IP: Bethesda Should Develop Fable
While it appears to be a long ways off, a new Fable game is in development by Playground Games, who up until now has only developed the Forza Horizon series. One wonders if Bethesda Softworks would have been a better fit, considering their deep experience with high fantasy crafting The Elder Scrolls series. They play differently, but it would do good to shake up the franchise a bit.
8 Bethesda IP: InXile Should Develop An Elder Scrolls Game
Obsidian already has Fallout in this imaginary universe, so InXile Entertainment will have to take on a different franchise. While their take on Fallout would no doubt harken back to the franchise’s isometric roots, their experience in CRPGs would also serve The Elder Scrolls franchise.
Even if they made it a more traditional first-person RPG, their trademark knack for impactful and difficult decisions would breathe new life into the high-fantasy series. Until this day comes, just keep enjoying Wasteland 3.
7 Microsoft IP: Id Should Tackle Gears Of War
While they play differently, the hellish atmosphere and grimy environments of Gears of War make it a close kin of Doom. To this effect, Id Software should take a crack at the popular Microsoft shooter franchise. Whether they make it an FPS or keep the cover-based third-person shooter mechanics, the creators of Doom and Quake could find a way to make the Gears of War combat even more thrilling and visceral.
6 Bethesda IP: Rare Should Make Wolfenstein
Before they were bought by Microsoft, Rare made Perfect Dark and Goldeneye 007, two of the most celebrated first-person shooters ever released. Why not let them have at the genre once again with Wolfenstein, one of the best narrative-driven first-person shooter franchises. Machine Games has been doing nothing but good things with it since Wolfenstein: The New Order, but surely some at Rare have some ideas for the genre they cannot wait to implement.
5 Microsoft IP: Arkane Should Take On Perfect Dark
Arkane’s games are experienced through the first-person perspective, but they are far from the typical first-person shooter. Their immersive sim style coming from titles like Dishonored and Prey could be just the flavor the series needs to jump back into the mainstream. As a tradeoff, the brand recognition could help elevate the genre and developer past the niche audience they already have, garnering them the appreciation they have always deserved.
4 Bethesda IP: The Coalition Should Develop Doom
While Id is tackling Gears of War, The Coalition would be free to take on Doom. Imagine the gameplay of Gears of War only with an increased focus on constantly pushing forward into the enemies’ faces and using the endlessly creative creature designs from the legendary first-person shooter franchise.
The developer could no doubt come up with a few interesting demons of their own too. The two series already have several elements in common, including a chainsaw which obliterates enemies.
3 Microsoft IP: Tango Gameworks Should Develop State Of Decay
Tango Gameworks was founded by Shinji Mikami, director of the debut Resident Evil title. While the team has already mastered survival horror, imagine what they could do if they took the survival elements a step forward and had players scrounging for resources in addition to avoiding ravenous monsters. People would find out in no time if they ever got the chance to work on State of Decay.
2 Bethesda IP: Playground Games Should Develop Rage
Rage balances post-apocalyptic vehicular combat with visceral first-person gunplay. The second entry in the franchise was met with a decent enough reception, though complaints were lobbied at a sparse and uninteresting open world. Playground Games could remedy this issue, as they have already proven themselves more than capable of crafting exciting open-world environments with Forza Horizon.
1 Microsoft IP: Machine Games Should Develop Halo
While we wish the best of luck to 343 Studios in their efforts to make Halo Infinite the best it can possibly be, maybe Machine Games, who made a name for themselves with Wolfenstein, should get a chance at the series sometime in the future. The haphazard gunplay of the alternate history science-fiction shooter could be just what Halo needs to make fans excited about the series again. They could still keep it open-world, though most would be just as happy with a linear experience.
