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Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

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Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#21

Post by MaximumMadness »

wpdev_63 wrote: post #7

Holy sh!t. Bethesda is huge! Well I was just thinking the other day that Microsoft really doesn't have any first party studio that are really as good as Sony's first party. IMO they didn't release a game 'this' gen that makes picking up a xbox one worth it. This could change that with fallout and doom. Also this allows them to bring the ID tech engine under their stewardship.... I just hope that they don't trash the…

This is right of nose and defines exactly why MSFT pivoted to the Game Pass strategy - there were no console-moving titles (besides Sea of Thieves, that game rocks)

What we could see now is these games coming to Game Pass early, or even getting Xbox exclusive content. Theres a low chance they dont drop on other platforms (Skyrim on your Windows phone?) but still a big chip for MSFT to have on hand.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#22

Post by francis_t_catte »

Soon we'll just have Microsoft, Epic, and a conglomeration of EA, Activision, and Ubisoft after Bobby Kotick forces them all to merge. Facebook will bungle up any chance they have of capturing the gaming market after writing a cryptic paragraph about their legal right to request blood samples from all Oculous users in the TOS. Valve will quietly exit software development altogether, and pivot to building custom vanity knives using their hardware manufacturing experience. Can't wait for the future GAAS market!

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#23

Post by fuball63 »

sitkack wrote: post #11

Microsoft now "owns" Quake? That is ironic.

Can you clarify what you mean? I recently got into developing on the Quake 2 engine, which I think is an amazing piece of software, so I'm kinda obsessed with all things Quake right now.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#25

Post by toyg »

colesantiago wrote: post #14

Seems like a better deal than the vapid fad that is TikTok, in addition to them partnering with Oracle which looks like a marriage made in a hellstew. Well done Microsoft and Bethesda.

TikTok is not an investment in tech, it’s an investment in relations with the US public sector. The fact that it comes with an actual company attached is almost irrelevant for Oracle.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#26

Post by trey-jones »

_the_inflator wrote: post #5

Wow, what a press release! Microsoft is serious about great content for its Xbox/Windows 10 platform. The press note still caused some fear in me. Years ago (FASA?) such a move meant closure, since MS was not really in the gaming industry business content wise.

It's nothing but heebie jeebies for me. Just Anti-Trust issues. I guess in 2020 we don't do exclusivity agreements, we just buy the fuck out of you.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#27

Post by actuator »

wpdev_63 wrote: post #7

Holy sh!t. Bethesda is huge! Well I was just thinking the other day that Microsoft really doesn't have any first party studio that are really as good as Sony's first party. IMO they didn't release a game 'this' gen that makes picking up a xbox one worth it. This could change that with fallout and doom. Also this allows them to bring the ID tech engine under their stewardship.... I just hope that they don't trash the…

If I am not mistaken they have some few PS5 exclusives under development. Is there any new IP that Bethesda is working on, which can be potentially a Xbox/PC exclusive?

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#28

Post by lewisj489 »

als0 wrote: post #18

Microsoft bought the legendary game company Rare some time ago. That acquisition didn't go well, so I hope this works out well for Bethesda.

How did it not go well?

> Kinect Sports Rivals

Great game

> Sea of Thieves

Another great title

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#29

Post by Doches »

wpdev_63 wrote: post #7

Holy sh!t. Bethesda is huge! Well I was just thinking the other day that Microsoft really doesn't have any first party studio that are really as good as Sony's first party. IMO they didn't release a game 'this' gen that makes picking up a xbox one worth it. This could change that with fallout and doom. Also this allows them to bring the ID tech engine under their stewardship.... I just hope that they don't trash the…

Reading this the second time, I think it might be one of the best "we're being acquired by X" announcements I've ever read. Excited but restrained, and it acknowledges (somewhat implicitly, but still) that there's going to be _quite a bit_ of trepidation in Bethesda's fanbase over the change.

"WHEN THE HELL WILL YOU TELL ME ABOUT STARFIELD?" and the rest of that paragraph actually fills me with a pretty high degree of confidence that this will go well. That, and Nadella-era Microsoft's surprisingly good track record in recent acquisitions.

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