Microsoft Buys Bethesda's Parent Company ZeniMax

Microsoft recently made a big move in the gaming world by purchasing ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion! ZeniMax is home to smaller companies like id Software, Arkane Studios, and Tango Gameworks, but most importantly, it’s the parent company of Bethesda Softworks and Bethesda Game Studios. This means that The Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles will now be from Microsoft essentially, along with so many others. This would make it very easy for any future titles in those worlds to be Xbox exclusives, timed-exclusives, or just have other perks for Xbox players. We already know that Bethesda’s games are being added to Xbox Game Pass and their future titles will be available on Xbox Game Pass on launch day for both Xbox and PC.

The acquisition of ZeniMax grows Microsoft from 15 to 23 studio teams. This is giving Microsoft more and more power in the gaming world. What do you think of this acquisition? You can read posts from Phil Spencer at Microsoft, Pete Hines of Bethesda Softworks, and Todd Howard from Bethesda Game Studios for more of the picture. It boils down to the fact that the companies have worked so closely for so long that it just kind of happened and they’re all very excited for this.