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Rumor | UPlay to hit Game Pass, exclusive non-MMO Bethesda titles, Forza Horizon 5, and several other AAA exclusives coming to Xbox; Sega acquisition once again on the cards in 2021

Will Microsoft acquire Sega in 2021? (Image Source: Xbox on Twitter)
Will Microsoft acquire Sega in 2021? (Image Source: Xbox on Twitter)
Word on the street is that 2021 could be huge for Xbox with UPlay rumored to be coming to Xbox Game Pass next year. Several big ticket titles such as non-MMO Bethesda games, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield, Wolfenstein 3, and other AAA games are expected to come to Xbox in 2021. Microsoft's plans of acquiring Sega may also finally bear fruition next year.

After integrating EA Play into Game Pass, Microsoft may have another surprise for gamers in 2021. This time, it may likely be Ubisoft's turn. Rumor is doing the rounds that UPlay will be coming to Game Pass in 2021, though timelines are still unclear at the moment. 

This information comes via @IdleSloth84 on Twitter via Xbox Worlds claiming to have unearthed the top 10 biggest rumors about Xbox next year. From Xbox Worlds in reverse order, 

  1. Inxile Entertainment is currently working on a Steampunk AAA RPG. The game supposedly has the second highest budget for an Xbox game in development aside from Halo (Bethesda/Zenimax not included).
  2. Obsidian is developing 6 projects including three AAA RPGs. Having grown quite quickly and depending on how lightly in development is being used this may be true.
  3. Xbox has secured publishing rights for a big unannounced AAA surprise that will launch in 2021.
  4. Xcloud will be joining several new markets next year including iOS and Samsung TVs.
  5. Several additional titles are launching exclusively to the Xbox ecosystem next year with Forza Horizon 5, Starfield and Wolfenstein 3.
  6. UPlay is going to be coming to Xbox Gamepass subscription just like EA Play did for holiday 2021.
  7. Xbox will be dropping Xbox Live Gold or rolling it into the Gamepass service. Free 2 play games will not require any subscription.
  8. All (non-MMO) Bethesda/Zenimax titles will be exclusives starting in 2021.
  9. Xbox is swinging big again and will be acquiring Sega in 2021.
  10. Xbox has already acquired two additional studios aside from Bethesda/Zenimax with one being large and the other being small."

Assuming this information is true, we could be looking at some big ticket games coming to Xbox soon. These probably include Bethesda exclusives, a new undisclosed AAA title, six new games from Obsidian, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield, Wolfenstein 3, and more.

Microsoft's plans to acquire Sega is actually a 20-year old news. Before launching the first Xbox in 2001, Microsoft contemplated on buying Sega for console hardware but later dropped the plan as Bill Gates felt it lacked the muscle to compete with PlayStation on the hardware front.

In September this year, during the Tokyo Game Show 2020, rumors of Microsoft announcing acquisition of Sega once again started doing the rounds prompting a clarification from the official Xbox Twitter account that no such acquisition would take place during the show.

Now, we are again staring at rumors of a possible Sega acquisition by Microsoft. If it indeed materializes, Microsoft stands to gain a shot-in-the-arm in the Japanese gaming market, which has been traditionally reluctant towards Western-themed games.

The question, however, remains whether Sega is interested in getting itself sold to Microsoft. And more importantly, will Microsoft invest nearly 1/3 of its quarterly Xbox earnings towards acquiring a company? Or, will Capcom turn out to be a more wiser consideration in terms of getting more IPs? Hopefully, we will get to know more in the months to come.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 12 > UPlay to hit Game Pass, exclusive non-MMO Bethesda titles, Forza Horizon 5, and several other AAA exclusives incoming along with possible Sega acquisition
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 2020-12-30 (Update: 2020-12-30)