The new week begins with a bang. As announced, Microsoft took over Zenimax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks. The purchase price is said to be over $7 billion.
As has been announced, those responsible at Microsoft are continuing their expansion course and took over the parent company of Bethesda Softworks with Zenimax Media. The price of the acquisition is put at 7.5 billion US dollars. Through the acquisition, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane Studios, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios will be integrated into Xbox Game Studios.
At the same time, the takeover of Zenimax Media gives Microsoft access to numerous well-known brands – including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Dishonored, Wolfenstein, and the upcoming role-playing game Starfield. Like all titles from Xbox Game Studios, the titles from the acquired studios will find their way into Xbox Game Pass at launch.
“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,” said Phil Spencer head of Microsoft’s gaming division of the acquisition. “These are the teams responsible for franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, DOOM, Dishonored, Prey, Quake, Starfield and many more.”
It is currently still in the stars how the takeover by Microsoft will affect the two titles of Deathloop and GhostWire: Tokyo, which was confirmed in June for a timed-exclusive release on the PS5. There should also be a big question mark behind the PS5 versions of the previously announced role-playing games The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield.
However, it can be assumed that further details will follow from the official side soon.