Microsoft buys Zenimax and Bethesda

[flyinghaggis]

https://news.microsoft.com/2020/09/21/microsoft-to-acquire-zenimax-media-and-its-game-publisher-bethesda-softworks/

 

Wow, that came out of nowhere!

Edited September 21, 2020 by flyinghaggis

[ZeroHour]

Big play by microsoft, at least means I wont need to buy a Bethesda game again thanks to game pass for pc.

[flyinghaggis]

It would be handy if Bethesda were on Gamepass. It's great when a new game you want to play is available on it at launch!

[JJonas]

Interestingly this means Deathloop the Bethesda PS5 exclusive is now owned by Microsoft

[paulkerton]

Interestingly this means Deathloop the Bethesda PS5 exclusive is now owned by Microsoft

 

I wonder if it'll suddenly be dropped from being one of the centrepieces of PS5 promotion now?

MS have said they're honouring that deal, but I'm sure Sony aren't best pleased.

[JJonas]

Even so it is unlikely it will be a PS5 exclusive for long

[paulkerton]

Even so it is unlikely it will be a PS5 exclusive for long

It was always a timed exclusive I believe.

[admars]

This means the missus will want us to shift to XBox from PlayStation, as the only games she played on ps3 and ps4 are the skyrim and fallout games, and since the new ones of those are quite some time off, they're bound to be PC and XBox only

[aicrd]

Actually I wouldn't think so. Microsoft have been pretty relaxed when it comes to acquiring companies. GitHub for example has had pretty much 100% autonomy from Microsoft.

 

Microsoft's strategy really seems to be cross platform everything nowadays. .net core, net5, Msoft Studio games coming to PC, etc.

[admars]

I would have though one of the main reasons for the purchase would be to get some AAA exclusives well in advance. "nice" of the them to honour the already announced games.

 

Bit like when they bought Bungie

 

plenty of time to find out anyway

[paulkerton]

I think they'll pick and choose their poison when it comes to exclusivity. I think Deathloop and Ghost Wire Tokyo will come to Xbox as soon as the exclusivity period with Playstation is over.

 

If they don't reboot Quake and make it PC and Xbox exclusive I'll be absolutely gobsmacked. 15 years since Quake 4 (which was Xbox exclusive) and as a franchise it's become a niche arena shooter since.

Ripe for going back to the beginning and rebooting to the original Quake, ditching the Quake 2 sci-fi and going full Lovecraftian again.

 

If they don't make Starfield Xbox exclusive I'll be surprised too.

 

Plenty of pickings for franchises to use. Commander Keen, Fallout, Prey, Brink, The Evil Within... Elder Scrolls 6 already announced. Wolfenstein and Doom are already big hits since rebooting.

 

Hexen and Heretic were published by id, but they're Raven Software games, so do Zenimax own those or Activision-Blizzard?