Bethesda PC games launcher retiring, game library moving to Steam
The move brings Bethesda closer to Xbox Game Studios in how PC game releases are handled.
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What you need to know
Bethesda’s PC game launcher is being retired, with Bethesda’s library of games moved to Steam.
Bethesdasharedon Tuesday that player libraries and wallets will be migrated to Steam, with the option opening up starting sometime in April 2022. All games and outstanding funds will transfer over, in addition to most game saves, though a few games may require a manual save file transfer.
The exact details for this player transfer are not currently available but Bethesda writes that more will be shared when the transfer tool goes live. This move comes ahead of the launch ofGhostwire: Tokyo, the next game from Tango Gameworks. Bethesda is also currently planning to launchStarfield, the next big title from Bethesda Game Studios, on Nov. 11, 2022.
While most Bethesda games and add-ons are currently available on Steam, this move will bring the PC pipeline of Bethesda Softworks more in line with Xbox Game Studios, with games launching across PC Game Pass and Steam.
Microsoft finalized the acquisition of ZeniMax Media back in March 2021, adding Bethesda Softworks as an Xbox first-party publisher alongside Xbox Game Studios. Microsoft is currently working to acquire Activision Blizzard, a deal that is slated to close by June 2023. Activision Blizzard currently uses its own PC launcher, Battle.net. We’ll have to wait and see how Microsoft ends up handling that additional launcher once the acquisition is complete.
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Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter@SamuelTolbert.
