Microsoft has announced that they have just acquired ZeniMax Media, which is the parent company of Bethesda Softworks. Altogether, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios are now owned by Microsoft.
"Gaming is the most expansive category in the entertainment industry, as people everywhere turn to gaming to connect, socialize and play with their friends," said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. "Quality differentiated content is the engine behind the growth and value of Xbox Game Pass—from Minecraft to Flight Simulator. As a proven game developer and publisher, Bethesda has seen success across every category of games, and together, we will further our ambition to empower the more than three billion gamers worldwide."
So what franchises does this cover? Well, you can expect games in Fallout, Dishonored, Starfield, Doom, The Evil Within, Prey, The Elder Scrolls, and Wolfenstein to have a big Xbox Game Studios logo on them. Around 2,300 people who make up the aforementioned studios are now under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella, which is such a massive get for Microsoft, even with the $7.5 billion price tag.
And yes, Bethesda's future games will be on Xbox Game Pass the same day they launch on Xbox and PC, which is going to be pretty cool.
If you want to look at Phil Spencer's blog post on the Xbox website, go here. If you want to keep up to date on the latest happenings in the gaming industry, stay tuned to TechRaptor for more details.
What do you think of this news? Do you think that this is a good idea? Let us know in the comments!
