- 'Elder Scrolls,' 'Fallout,' 'DOOM,' 'Wolfenstein,' 'Dishonored,' 'Prey,' and 'The Evil Within' all to join the Microsoft family. Late September, Microsoft announced plans to purchase ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, for $7.5 billion. Bethesda is a household name in gaming, and one of the largest privately-held game.
- Sep 21, 2020 What that means is that however many tens of millions of copies of Elder Scrolls 6 or Fallout 5 end up being sold on PlayStation 5, that's money that's going directly to Microsoft, and it would be.
Skyrim is based in the Elder Scrolls universe, with countries that are not apart of our own. Whereas Fallout is actually based in our reality, but with a plot twist. If I recall correctly, China and America got into a big nuclear war, and fubar'd everything.
Microsoft is acquiring Bethesda Softworks and parent company ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion.
Bethesda Softworks is best known for publishing some of the gaming industry's biggest franchises, including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Dishonored, and Wolfenstein.
Bethesda games will be coming to Xbox Game Pass on console and PC as part of the deal.
Microsoft announced on Monday that it will be acquiring ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion in cash. ZeniMax is the parent company of game publisher Bethesda Softworks, publisher of some of the industry's biggest titles, including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Dishonored, and Wolfenstein. With this acquisition, Microsoft Game Studios grows from 15 to 23 teams, as Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane, and more join the team.
'Bethesda's games have always had a special place on Xbox and in the hearts of millions of gamers around the world,' said Xbox boss Phil Spencer in a blog post on Monday. '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.'
Spencer also notes that Bethesda was among the first studios to bring its games to Xbox Game Pass, and now that the publisher is under the Microsoft umbrella, all of its 'iconic franchises' will be coming to the subscription service on console and PC. This includes the highly-anticipated space RPG Starfield whenever it finally launches.
'With each new console cycle, we evolved together,' wrote Bethesda director Todd Howard. 'From bringing mods to consoles with Fallout 4, now over a billion downloads, to the latest technologies fueling Xbox Series X/S. These new systems are optimized for the vast worlds we love to create, with generational leaps not just in graphics, but CPU and data streaming as well. It's led to our largest engine overhaul since Oblivion, with all new technologies powering our first new IP in 25 years, Starfield, as well as The Elder Scrolls VI.'
Xbox Game Pass has always been a compelling deal for gamers who want access to dozens of the most popular Xbox games for a flat monthly fee, but the value has grown significantly in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that EA Play, which features more than 60 of EA's biggest titles (FIFA, The Sims, Mass Effect, Battlefield), will be included free with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate this fall. Add the huge library of Bethesda's back catalog, and it's hard to see how any company will be able to compete with Xbox Game Pass in the near term. Can i watch cable on my computer.
Microsoft plans to launch its next-generation Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles on November 10th, and the preorders for both consoles are set to open on September 22nd at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET.
]]>Microsoft has agreed to buy the company behind hit games such as Fallout, Doom and The Elder Scrolls in a $7.5bn (£5.8bn) deal.
The acquisition of ZeniMax will help Microsoft strengthen its Xbox video game offering as competition with rival Sony heats up ahead of Christmas.
Gaming has been boosted by growing demand at a time when consumers have been stuck at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Microsoft and PlayStation 5 maker Sony are launching their next-generation gaming devices in November, with pre-orders for the Xbox going live on Tuesday.
ZeniMax is the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, whose titles include Wolfenstein and Dishonored.
Microsoft plans to make Bethesda's future games available on its monthly Xbox Game Pass subscription service - which currently has more than 15 million subscribers.
Its latest acquisition will mean it has more hit titles in its gaming library - a key selling point for gamers choosing a console.
More from Microsoft
Microsoft said gaming was the 'largest and fastest-growing form of entertainment in the world', expected to be worth more than $200bn (£154bn) in annual revenue in 2021.
Chief executive Satya Nadella said: 'Gaming is the most expansive category in the entertainment industry, as people everywhere turn to gaming to connect, socialise and play with their friends
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'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.'
The ZeniMax deal comes shortly after Microsoft's bid to take over the US operations of TikTok was rejected by the video app's Chinese owner ByteDance.
Skyrim Elder Scroll Quest
Gaming has been boosted by growing demand at a time when consumers have been stuck at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Microsoft and PlayStation 5 maker Sony are launching their next-generation gaming devices in November, with pre-orders for the Xbox going live on Tuesday.
ZeniMax is the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, whose titles include Wolfenstein and Dishonored.
Microsoft plans to make Bethesda's future games available on its monthly Xbox Game Pass subscription service - which currently has more than 15 million subscribers.
Its latest acquisition will mean it has more hit titles in its gaming library - a key selling point for gamers choosing a console.
More from Microsoft
Microsoft said gaming was the 'largest and fastest-growing form of entertainment in the world', expected to be worth more than $200bn (£154bn) in annual revenue in 2021.
Chief executive Satya Nadella said: 'Gaming is the most expansive category in the entertainment industry, as people everywhere turn to gaming to connect, socialise and play with their friends
:: Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
'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.'
The ZeniMax deal comes shortly after Microsoft's bid to take over the US operations of TikTok was rejected by the video app's Chinese owner ByteDance.
Skyrim Elder Scroll Quest
Elder Scrolls And Fallout Same Universe
TikTok is instead looking to enter into a partnership with Oracle and Walmart.
