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Microsoft acquires Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax for US$7.5 billion

Microsoft now owns all Bethesda titles
Microsoft now owns all Bethesda titles (image via Phil Spencer on Twitter)
Microsoft now owns all franchises like Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein, and Fallout thanks to its acquisition of Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax. Several Bethesda, id Software, and Arkane Studios games will be added to the Xbox Game Pass soon.

In a move that has taken the gaming industry by surprise, Microsoft has just acquired ZeniMax, the parent company of several well-renowned publishers like Bethesda, id Software, and more. According to a blog post by Bethesda, Microsoft has reportedly paid US$7.5 billion for the acquisition.

Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda means that it now practically owns a plethora of classic franchises such as Doom, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, and Quake. The transfer of ownership shouldn't affect the present and future availability of existing and upcoming titles on other platforms. However, Microsoft could use this opportunity to develop some Xbox exclusives in the future. Interestingly enough, Jason Schreier says that Microsoft is working on two timed PlayStation 5 exclusives.

Fans will be pleased to know that Microsoft will be adding select Bethesda titles to Xbox Game Pass soon, presumably before the Xbox Series X drops. The additional titles should incentivize confused buyers towards Team Microsoft. A lot of the PlayStation 5's appeal came from its vast range of exclusives. With Bethesda under Microsoft's wing, Sony will have to do a lot more to remain competitive.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 09 > Microsoft acquires Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax for US$7.5 billion
Anil Satyanarayana, 2020-09-21 (Update: 2020-09-30)