Microsoft has announced game company Bethesda Softworks for US$7.5 billion. According to reports , the purchase also includes Zenimax and all its assets. This means that in the future, all of these franchises will be exclusive to PC and Xbox.
So, for those who don't know, the change means that Bethesda Softworks , Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios are now under Microsoft's control.
Check out the statement from Microsoft:
As one of the largest and most critically acclaimed privately held game developers and publishers in the world, Bethesda is an incredibly talented group of 2,300 people worldwide who comprise some of the most successful creative studios in our industry across Bethesda Softworks and Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios. These are the teams responsible for franchises such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, DOOM, Dishonored, Prey, Quake, Starfield, and many more.
Regarding Bethesda games:
Bethesda games have always held a special place on Xbox and in the hearts of millions of gamers worldwide. Our teams have a close and historic history of working together, from the incredible first DOOM and its id Tech engine, innovating PC gaming, to Bethesda bringing its first console game to the original Xbox, the groundbreaking The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Over the years, I've had many in-depth conversations with Bethesda's creative leaders about the future of gaming, and we've long shared similar visions about the opportunities for creators and their games to reach more players in more ways.
Just as they took the bold first steps to bring The Elder Scrolls franchise to the original Xbox, Bethesda was an early supporter of Xbox Game Pass, bringing their games to new audiences across all devices and has been actively investing in new gaming technologies such as cloud game streaming. We will be adding iconic franchises to Xbox Game Pass for console and PC. One of the things that excites me most is seeing the roadmap with future games, some announced and many unannounced, for Xbox console and PC, including Starfield, the highly anticipated new space epic currently in development by Bethesda Game Studios.
Like us, Bethesda passionately believes in building a wide range of creative experiences, exploring new game franchises, and telling stories in bold ways. Clearly, all their excellent work will continue and grow, and we look forward to empowering them with Microsoft's resources and support to expand their creative visions to more players in new ways for you.