Here’s something you didn’t expect to read today – Microsoft has shelled out $7.5 billion to acquire ZeniMax Media, which owns Bethesda Softworks, id Software, and a few other big studios. Now, the first word to flash in your mind must definitely have been “exclusives,” just as it was in our minds. The future of big games from franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, DOOM, Dishonored and Quake, Starfield on PlayStation (even Nintendo, for that matter) consoles seems bleak at the moment.
There’s a ray of hope though. The company has said that Bethesda’s upcoming games like The Elder Scrolls 6 will launch on Xbox, PC, and “other consoles on a case-by-case basis.” It has also confirmed that the timed PS5 exclusivity of Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo will not be changed by this acquisition. Plus, Bethesda will still continue to publish its own games.
Elder Scrolls and Fallout producer Todd Howard said in a statement “Like our original partnership, this one is about more than one system or one screen We share a deep belief in the fundamental power of games, in their ability to connect, empower, and bring joy. And a belief we should bring that to everyone–regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you play on. Regardless of the screen size, the controller, or your ability to even use one.”
The Xbox Game Pass is the key to understanding Microsoft’s future plans. The Xbox and PC focused subscription service is being given a massive push ahead of the release of the Series X and the Series S. This announcement has also come just a day before pre-orders for the next-gen consoles go live, so that’s an “A” for timing as well.
According to Bloomberg, Microsoft expects the deal to close in the second half of its fiscal year 2021.