Microsoft has announced plans to acquire American video game holding company ZeniMax Media, owner of numerous high-profile game publishers, for a reported $7.5 billion.

This includes Arkane Studios (Dishonored, Prey), id Software (DOOM, Quake, Wolfenstein 3D), Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within), mobile game publisher Alpha Dog (Monstrocity: Rampage!, Wraithborne), MachineGames (Wolfenstein: The New Order, Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot), Roundhouse Games, formerly Human Head Studios (Rune, Dungeon Defenders II), and Bethesda Softworks (The Elder Scrolls, Fallout).

The acquisition means an additional 2,300 employees and a sizable list of legendary franchises now under the control of Microsoft. In addition to flatscreen gaming, the company now finds itself in possession of a diverse collection of VR properties, including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, DOOM VFR, Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot, and Fallout 4 VR.

“Bethesda’s games have always had a special place on Xbox and in the hearts of millions of gamers around the world,” stated Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, in an official blog post. “Our teams have a close and storied history working together, from the amazing first DOOM, and its id Tech engine, innovating games on PCs to Bethesda bringing their first console game to the original Xbox, the groundbreaking The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Over the years I’ve had many deep conversations with the creative leaders at Bethesda on the future of gaming and we’ve long shared similar visions for the opportunities for creators and their games to reach more players in more ways.”

Great! I think Microsoft has been a good parent company for gaming IPs, and they don’t have a grudge against me, so maybe I will be able to re engage with some of my old titles. https://t.co/GijQGEL4tZ

— John Carmack (@ID_AA_Carmack) September 21, 2020

“This is a thrilling day for this company, our employees, and our fans. We have enjoyed a close partnership with Microsoft for decades, and this deal is a natural progression of those years working together,” said ZeniMax Media’s Chairman and CEO Robert A. Altman. “The big winners today are our fans. We are continuing to develop our slate of AAA games, but now with Microsoft’s scale and entire Game Stack, our games can only get better.”

According to Microsoft, the deal is expected to close sometime in the ladder half of 2021 and that the “structure and leadership” of Bethesda will remain unaltered.

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