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Home » Microsoft buys ZeniMax Media, controller of Bethesda Softworks for $ 7.5 billion

Microsoft buys ZeniMax Media, controller of Bethesda Softworks for $ 7.5 billion

Microsoft agreed to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, Doom and Fallout, for $ 7.5 billion in cash. The acquisition gives Microsoft control of upcoming games, such as the space epic Starfield. Microsoft says that future Bethesda games, including Starfield, will be released on the Xbox Game Pass the day they arrive on the Xbox or PC.

The news comes as Microsoft prepares to launch two new consoles, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Bethesda had already announced two exclusive for PlayStation 5 and PC: Arkane’s Deathloop and the title Tango Gameworks Ghostwire: Tokyo. Xbox boss Phil Spencer has confirmed that Microsoft will honor these timed exclusive deals, but future games will arrive on non-Xbox platforms on a “case by case” basis.

Microsoft will launch its new consoles on November 10, and orders will open tomorrow (September 22). This acquisition also raises the company’s total list of internal studios to 23, after the addition of Bethesda sub-studios, such as developer Dishonored Arkane, Wolfenstein MachineGames, maker Doom id Software and The Evil Within Tango Gameworks. However, Microsoft says Bethesda will retain the existing leadership.

“We are still working on the same games from yesterday, made by the same studios we have been working with for years, and these games will be published by us,” wrote Bethesda’s head of marketing, Pete Hines, in a statement.

Microsoft has confirmed it will honor existing PlayStation 5 exclusive offers.