While it's increasingly rare for a third-party publisher to release a highly anticipated game exclusive to one platform, that hasn't stopped Sony and Microsoft from trying to secure an edge on the competition. As a result, PlayStation 3 players have seen console-exclusive content for games like Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and Dante's Inferno, while Xbox 360 fans of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Homefront have been able to get early access to the first-person shooters' add-ons.
Microsoft is furthering that approach, as today the company announced timed Xbox 360 exclusivity for Bethesda's upcoming open-world role-playing game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The first two add-on content drops for Skyrim will debut on the Xbox 360 and remain exclusive to the platform for 30 days. Last year, Bethesda agreed to a similar Xbox 360 exclusivity window with Dead Money, the first DLC pack for Fallout: New Vegas.
While it's unclear what will be included in those two packs, the exclusive add-ons are likely to be meatier than The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's notorious horse armor DLC. In a recent interview, Bethesda executive producer Todd Howard said he envisions that Skyrim will welcome fewer but "more substantial" add-ons compared to its predecessor.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is set for release November 11 on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
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