Bethesda bought by Microsoft:
The company behind Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Doom… has been acquired by Microsoft for a reported $7.5 billion.
Like an atomic bomb, this news has shaken the gaming industry on this Monday…
While die-hard ESO and Fallout fans may fear a negative fallout from this MEGA deal bomb, Xbox fans are excited about possible exclusivity in future games.
What an incredible deal!
Gamepass
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is thrilled with Bethesda’s incredible portfolio and sees the games as a further enrichment for the Xbox Game Pass.
It is considered certain that Bethesda’s games will be included in the Xbox Game Pass for console and PC in the future. This is already the case for some, but it also applies to new games – especially the space game Starfield. Of course, Microsoft now also has full access to the powerful id-Tech engine (Doom), on which new games could be developed. The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, DOOM, Dishonored, Quake, Starfield, and others are now joining Team Xbox.
Xbox chief Phil Spencer writes in his company blog:
“Bethesda is the world’s most critically acclaimed, privately held game development and publishing company. Bethesda is an incredibly talented group of 2,300 employees worldwide who bring together some of the most successful creative studios in our industry at Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, including id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios.
These are the teams responsible for franchise companies such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, DOOM, Dishonored, Prey, Quake, Starfield, and many more.
Bethesda’s games have always had a special place on Xbox and in the hearts of millions of players around the world. Our teams have a close and storied history of working together, starting with the amazing first DOOM and its id Tech engine, through innovative games on PCs, to Bethesda bringing its first console game to the original Xbox, the groundbreaking The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
Over the years, I have had many intense conversations with the creative leaders of Bethesda about the future of gaming, and we have long shared similar visions for the opportunities for developers and their games to reach more players in more ways.”
With the proven, successful game developers and publishers of Bethesda, Microsoft has now gained a very good starting position for the upcoming battle for console gamers through this not-so-cheap move.
The future
In the official press release from Bethesda, they explain why this move was made with an eye on the future. Vice President Pete Hines and Game Director Todd Howard justify the decision with the possibility of developing better games for the fans. Nothing will change at Bethesda itself for the time being.
They are particularly excited about Microsoft’s new focus on content, community, and cloud. Microsoft’s subscription service, the Xbox Game Pass, is also highly praised, and the Bethesda games will be available in the Microsoft Game Pass. There, for the monthly subscription fee, you can play Wolfenstein, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and more as much as you want.
Sony is likely not quite as pleased about this deal.
The Fallout in the community
But in forums and communities worldwide, it’s going crazy as if there’s no tomorrow…
Many fear that there won’t be any more Bethesda games for PlayStation after this deal.
The deal also affects id Software and franchises such as Doom and Quake, Machine Games with Wolfenstein, Arkane Studios with Dishonored, Deathloop, and studios such as Tango Gameworks and Alpha Dog – all now fully owned by Microsoft with the completion of the deal. But what would such a mega-deal be without speculation about not so far-fetched projects right away…
The rumor mill is churning.
Fallout: New Vegas 2 could be coming: Obsidian and Bethesda are now part of the same family after years of separation. There is theoretically nothing stopping a sequel to Fallout: New Vegas. Obsidian is already playing with the idea on Twitter.
So, it’s going to be exciting.
We’ll keep you updated.
What do you think: does the sale bring advantages or disadvantages?
