This Monday in a press release, Microsoft announced that it would be acquiring ZeniMax Media, the parent company of the game publisher Bethesda, for $7.5 billion. This deal will give Microsoft control over several massive, genre-defining series such as Fallout, Doom, Wolfenstein, and the Elder Scrolls games, and assist in the development of subsequent installments. The inner structure of Bethesda will remain the same with this new change in leadership, but will be overseen by Microsoft. Because of this deal, Bethesda games can be included in the Xbox Game Pass, and could potentially be Xbox exclusive in the future with the release of the Xbox Series X on November 10th, 2020.
Bethesda is joining the @Xbox family.
— Bethesda (@bethesda) September 21, 2020
A note from Pete Hines: https://t.co/i0FNF9bVEO pic.twitter.com/Ur2KJuKnm8
Xbox and @Bethesda have worked together for years. We share similar passions and beliefs. Proud to welcome them to Team @Xbox. Excited how we’ll advance gaming together for players everywhere https://t.co/0BcLULyFYF pic.twitter.com/2aectsejsk
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) September 21, 2020
Microsoft acquired Obsidian Games on November 10th, 2018 (the team behind Fallout: New Vegas). Since Microsoft now owns both Obsidian Games and Bethesda, a sequel to New Vegas a decade after the release of the original game is possibly on the horizon.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ https://t.co/MqyiuNsWS2
— Obsidian (@Obsidian) September 21, 2020
Authors Note: I’m optimistic for the results of what this deal will bring for years to come, but what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
Credits:
Editing: @Thirdkoopa , @Scribe
Graphics: @Zerp