Today, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer announced via a dedicated post on Xbox Wire that Microsoft has acquired ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks. Having spent $7.5 billion on this acquisition (a figure confirmed by Bloomberg Video Games News Reporter Jason Schreier) Microsoft now owns all of the studios behind Fallout, Wolfenstein, DOOM, Dishonored, Prey, Quake, Starfield, and more. Below are a few quotes from the official statement.
As one of the largest, most critically acclaimed, privately-held game developers and publishers in the world, Bethesda is an incredibly talented group of 2,300 people worldwide who make up some of the most accomplished creative studios in our industry across Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios. These are the teams responsible for franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, DOOM, Dishonored, Prey, Quake, Starfield, and many more.
Bethesda’s games have always had a special place on Xbox and in the hearts of millions of gamers around the world. Our teams have a close and storied history working together, from the amazing first DOOM, and its id Tech engine, innovating games on PCs to Bethesda bringing their first console game to the original Xbox, the groundbreaking The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Over the years I’ve had many deep conversations with the creative leaders at Bethesda on the future of gaming and we’ve long shared similar visions for the opportunities for creators and their games to reach more players in more ways.
This major announcement comes one day before Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X pre-orders are expected to begin. It will be very interesting to see if this news has any long term impact on console sales or timed exclusivity deals for Microsoft.
What do you think of Microsoft’s latest acquisition? Please feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
Source: Xbox Wire
