The more than 100 documents that appeared online revealing Xbox’s plans for the future were reportedly Microsoft’s own fault. Jacqueline Scott Corley, the judge in the FTC vs. Microsoft case, which the documents were part of, confirmed that Microsoft accidentally provided the court with version that contained non-public information. The Court has removed the trial exhibits from the internet. The documents shared a lot of interesting details regarding Xbox’s future plans including the revelation that Elder Scrolls VI will not be coming to PlayStation 5, new console hardware plans, Microsoft wanting to acquire Nintendo, Activision being briefed on the Nintendo Switch successor, a potential roadmap of upcoming Bethesda titles, and more.
The full order says “The Court ordered both parties to meet and confer and provide the Court with a secure link to the admitted exhibits with the redactions set forth in the Court’s orders.” Corley said that the files weren’t meant to be made public. The court uploaded the files but were told afterward that the files contained nonpublic information. Microsoft and the FTC will meet and confer, “including with any non-parties, and resubmit the admitted trial exhibits via a secure cloud link by September 22, 2023.”
Following the leak, Douglas Farrar, Director of the FTC’s Office of Public Relations made it clear that it wasn’t the FTC’s fault. Farrar told NBC News that “Microsoft was responsible for the error in uploading these documents to the court.”
Following the news, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer took to social media to express his disappointment with the situation.