Microsoft acquires Zenimax/Bethesda

Mikeha

https://twitter.com/Xbox/status/1308028874962337793

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/09/21/welcoming-bethesda-to-the-xbox-family/

kitarad

 I didn't even realise there were negotiations.

Cuddleheart

Woah...This changes a lot for me.  I wasn't even considering an Xbox because I figured I could just play the new Fable on my PC.  Elder Scrolls was one of the determining factors in me buying the original Xbox.

Came here from other gaming sites and they haven't picked this up yet.  Thanks for the post!

Mikeha

Microsoft aint playing. A real power move. 

Sovrath

wtf?

Part of me wonder if this was necessary but then I think "money."

Iselin

You beat me to it

They paid $7.5 billion for it.

Cuddleheart

Mikeha said:

Microsoft aint playing. A real power move. 

Yeah, what more can you say?  Hopefully this works out better than other acquisitions given that Bethesda are actually peaking currently and not just a shell with some IPs like Rare ended up.  It puts a lot of pressure on them too. MS isn't knocking it out of the park lately with Crackdown 3 being a disaster and Halo being received so poorly in that presentation.  A lot will be riding on ES6 now. 

I still think MS needs one more strong move to prop up the Xbox enough that Sony wont run away with this generation, but this narrows the gap by a lot in my opinion.

*edit* Totally forgot that they bought Obsidian, too.  Still see Sony firmly holding this gen on the strength of existing customers in the ecosystem, but I can definitely see the groundwork being laid for Xbox pulling ahead in the long game.  Good stuff...

Abscissa15

I didn't realize that Bethesda was composed of that many studios. It wouldn't be surprising to see MS engineer some way to make you use Edge in order to communicate with game servers - forgive the conspiracy theory.

Nanfoodle

Odd move for ESO to be on Stadia at the moment. Wonder if that will last? 

Iselin

Abscissa15 said:

I didn't realize that Bethesda was composed of that many studios. It wouldn't be surprising to see MS engineer some way to make you use Edge in order to communicate with game servers - forgive the conspiracy theory.

Bethesada isn't. It's just one of the studios owned by Zenimax Inc. which is what MS bought. It includes ID, Arkane, Bethesda and several others.

kitarad

Lonesols said:

Abscissa15 said:

I didn't realize that Bethesda was composed of that many studios. It wouldn't be surprising to see MS engineer some way to make you use Edge in order to communicate with game servers - forgive the conspiracy theory.

Its not a conspiracy Microsoft is well known for doing s like that. If it's not that it will be some other garbage. Like forcing you to use cortna the dumpster hoe all the time to play the games. I would not be surprised if they deleted them all from steam, and made you buy them at mircrosoft store.

Can they do that? I have Fallout 3, New Vegas and 4 on steam. I'd be fit to be tied if they do.

xpsync

Iselin said:

You beat me to it

They paid $7.5 billion for it.

At first i thought is that all? Minecraft sold for 2.5, Star Wars sold for 4, now i'm feeling that was a little over the top.

Well at least it'll all be free on game pass.

xpsync

Iselin said:

Abscissa15 said:

I didn't realize that Bethesda was composed of that many studios. It wouldn't be surprising to see MS engineer some way to make you use Edge in order to communicate with game servers - forgive the conspiracy theory.

Bethesada isn't. It's just one of the studios owned by Zenimax Inc. which is what MS bought. It includes ID, Arkane, Bethesda and several others.

update my post above, that's making more sense in the value

Akulas

So the next version of windows will have a 12 month waiting period to be usable and require a user mod to work properly purchased through the Microsoft store.

Nanfoodle

https://bethesda.net/en/store/catalog

xpsync

Nanfoodle said:

https://bethesda.net/en/store/catalog

OK wow that's a lot of games, and all coming to game pass for FREE! Woot! Stadia and that type of BS is toast gamepass was MS retaliation to that tech, i'd say they are winning and this is helping ensure victory, or one of the top players no doubt.

I mean seriously Stadia or Gamepass, is there really a decision, stream bs, or download and f'ing play top tier triple A games. Mentioned before Gamepass is like steam but everything is free.

immoralthang

If there is anyone that can provide the funding to create a replacement for the Creation engine, it’s Microsoft. GamePass is already a great deal and will only get better.

I expect Sony will make a similar power play in the near future. Maybe Capcom? 

Iselin

xpsync said:

Nanfoodle said:

https://bethesda.net/en/store/catalog

OK wow that's a lot of games, and all coming to game pass for FREE! Woot! Stadia and that type of BS is toast gamepass was MS retaliation to that tech, i'd say they are winning and this is helping ensure victory, or one of the top players no doubt.

I mean seriously Stadia or Gamepass, is there really a decision, stream bs, or download and f'ing play top tier triple A games. Mentioned before Gamepass is like steam but everything is free.

They just added their own streaming service last week too

Currently it's only available with their Ultimate Game Pass that includes Xbox, PC and cloud gaming. So not available currently for just the PC game pass but that could change,

xpsync

Responding to cuddleheart "Hopefully this works out better than other acquisitions"

I'm feeling MS knows when not to meddle, they pretty much left MC to do it's own thing, and pretty sure they ain't going to f with this powerhouse either, for lack of better explaining they just want the traffic flowing through them, and more reason for their console and Gamepass which also works on PC.

We all are grateful EA didn't buy them.

klash2def

MICROSOFT isn't playing fair anymore sheesh..

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Wizardry

CEO 
"Our games can only get better"

Yes because it is not about a talented studio that has a clue,it is all about Microsoft,ok yeah I see the big picture now.

I guess we should ask all those OTHER studios how they can possibly manage not being under Microsoft's wing.Those other games can't possibly get better,just no way,this CEO says so.

Dear Microsoft,now that we are under your wing,would it be ok to spend more money and lower profits?
Response Big M....Oh most certainly,that is why we purchased Zeni,we want you to spend more and profit less.Sure take your time with games,add another year,we can handle it,don't worry a few hundred million here or there,it's all good.

I am so glad I don't take part in these goofy console wars and barely support the Intel AMD wars either,i'll buy a new PC when I NEED to and not because I just like wasting money.

CrystallineNM

Well if I wasn't already done with Bethesda by now this certainly would have sealed it.

Quizzical

Abscissa15 said:

I didn't realize that Bethesda was composed of that many studios. It wouldn't be surprising to see MS engineer some way to make you use Edge in order to communicate with game servers - forgive the conspiracy theory.

And don't forget that everything it sends via Edge will do a Bing search.

Nanfoodle

remsleep said:

Nanfoodle said:

Odd move for ESO to be on Stadia at the moment. Wonder if that will last? 

Soon you can add Stadia to the endless list of Googles cancelled projects.

Stadia is dead

I dropped Stadia mostly because even 2 player games, there was no way to play couch coop. I am not sure how this was overlooked. 

CrystallineNM

remsleep said:

I hope MS totally replaces the good ol boys club at the head of Zenimax Media.

Dare to dream. Maybe they'll even replace Todd "It Just Works" Howard