Microsoft acquires Bethesda/Zenimax

[oddech_wymarlych_swiatow]

https://screenrant.com/xbox-doesnt-need-bethesda-games-ps5/

Xbox Head Confirms Microsoft 'Doesn't Have To' Release Bethesda Games On PS5
The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, has confirmed that the newly-acquired Bethesda won't need to release games on PS5 to recoup the cost.

Xbox head Phil Spencer has clarified Microsoft's position on bringing games developed by its newly-acquired gaming giant Bethesda to other platforms like PlayStation 5 – stating that the company doesn't have to bring titles like Elder Scrolls VI to other platforms to turn a profit.

 

[LESS T_T]

Phil cannot say: https://www.gamereactor.eu/phil-spencer-on-exclusivity-monetisation-and-game-development/

So the Bethesda deal was monumental and took most of us by surprise. What do you hope to gain from this long-term, and I'm talking more broadly here than simply Bethesda titles making it to Game Pass on launch day?

First of all, I would like to say that we haven't acquired ZeniMax. We have announced our intention to acquire ZeniMax. It is going through regulatory approval and we don't see any issues there. We expect early in 2021 the deal will close. But I say that because I want people to know, I'm not sitting down with Todd Howard and Robert Altman and planning their future. Because I'm currently not allowed to do that, that would be illegal. Your question is completely inbound, but I get a lot of questions right now: "is this game exclusive? Is this game exclusive?" And right now, that is not my job in regards to ZeniMax. My job is not to sit down and go through their portfolio and dictate what happens.

In terms of what I want long term. I want those amazing studious to create the best games they ever created. That's when Todd and I sat down and had a discussion. Todd and I have known each other for years and years, and we talked about this partnership. We looked each other in the eyes and we said, 'okay, what are we really gonna do here?' And he said, 'I wanna build the best games that I've ever built and I want the support of Microsoft to be able to do that.' And I say the same thing about the studios at Arkane and id Software and Machine Games. I want them to do the most amazing work and support them in doing that.

 

[Infinitron]

Will Game Pass save Arkane's immersive sims? https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-10-28-todd-howard-the-next-generation-is-about-access

Todd Howard: "The next generation is about access"
Bethesda Game Studios' director discusses the Microsoft acquisition, cloud gaming, and how Game Pass could boost IP that struggles at retail

Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda parent ZeniMax Media came as a surprise to most of the industry -- including, according to Elder Scrolls and Fallout director Todd Howard, a lot of people at the company.

At over 2,000 employees, the developer and publisher is perhaps Xbox's largest purchase to date. It ends Bethesda's decades of independence, although Howard tells us the deal doesn't actually close until next year "so there's some time before it feels real."

"Once the shock wore off, there was just huge excitement given the relationship we've had [with Microsoft] and what the road looks like ahead -- not just for us but the gaming industry," he says of the internal reaction to the news.

"We're very much aligned, and have been for a long time, with the same vision as to where gaming is going and how we can be ambassadors and drive that forward."

Howard is speaking to us ahead of his Develop:Brighton 2020 keynote next week, which will be hosted by GamesIndustry.biz. This hour-long session will explore the director and executive producer's 26-year career as he prepares to receive the Develop Star Award, so naturally our one-on-one conversation focuses primarily on the biggest games acquisition news of 2020.

In addition to the overall shock, external reactions ranged from Elder Scrolls fans committing to getting an Xbox out of fear that PlayStation may no longer receive Bethesda games, to a campaign urging Sony to acquire Konami as some sort of counter-attack. As daft and perhaps unreasonable as these reactions might seem, it speaks to the magnitude of the deal -- something Howard didn't fully appreciate being so "in the weeds" on actually arranging it.

"I grossly underestimated the impact in the larger gaming community," he says. "I was naively surprised at how big it landed and what it meant in the larger context of games, but I was happy with the feedback we saw. A lot of people saw it as a big positive thing, the same way we do."


Todd Howard, Bethesda

There were also industry critics who, while intrigued by the acquisition, also expressed concerns around industry consolidation, observing that larger companies merging is not always a positive trend in the long run. Howard, however, does not share these concerns, and points to the long history between Microsoft and Bethesda as indication that this is a more fitting partnership than some people might think.

"I don't know that it portends some other big consolidation. In other industries, that happens from time to time," he says. "All of the games I've done we've partnered with Microsoft in some way. So as we come to Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6, I guess this is partnering in a bigger way."

Compared to Microsoft's numerous other acquisitions over the last few years, Bethesda still holds a degree of autonomy. At the time, Bethesda's Pete Hines said the company will still be publishing its own games -- a stark contrast to Double Fine Productions, which, according to Gang Beasts developer Boneloaf, is winding down its own publishing operations now it's part of Xbox Game Studios.

This perhaps explains what Howard means when he tells us Bethesda is "giving up very little," adding: "[Microsoft is] very creator-driven, we're still going to get to be who we are. We're a subsidiary, but we're still running our games and pushing everything the way that we have.

"We felt very strongly about their view of access; games for everybody that we can bring to anybody regardless of where they are, what devices they're playing on. We're very, very passionate about that, and at the end of the day we're convinced we'll make better products and get them to more people easily by being part of Xbox as opposed to being just a third party."

As with all acquisitions Xbox has made in the past couple of years, it's hard not to imagine that it's been at least partially driven by the desire for must-have content on Game Pass, its disruptive and rapidly growing subscription service. Indeed, Microsoft has already confirmed that new Bethesda titles -- including Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 -- will be available through Game Pass at launch.

But it's the potential for the rest of ZeniMax's IP that is perhaps most intriguing. Franchises like Prey and Dishonored are both understood to be on hold having struggled to meet sales expectations -- despite critical acclaim for their most recent outings. But Game Pass is about delivering a variety of content that people want, not just raw sales. Even id Software co-founder John Carmack commented at the time that the deal may lead to the revival of older franchises.

Howard certainly sees an opportunity: "Game Pass and things like it allow titles to be successful where the economics of the business, and having to sell things at retail to sell X amount of copies... That works against some games. Just like in other avenues -- let's take television or movies. Certain types of comedies or big budget dramas went away. TV went to the cheapest thing they could make for a long time, reality television, which I could equate to a free-to-play match-three game. What brings eyeballs? What's cheap? Right, let's get it out.

Spoiler

The Elder Scrolls 6 will be available through Game Pass at launch, but will it be on other consoles? Howard says the details are yet to be defined

"Subscriptions came along and now you see the quality and investment in dramas or historical fiction series. That's where creators are able to go and create these things people want and it makes sense for everybody: the people paying the bills, the people creating it and the people consuming it. That's what we see happening with games with things like Game Pass.

"The IPs you mentioned -- I can't speak to the ones I don't personally work on -- or even other people's... But take classic adventure games, they now have real life inside a service like that. Those are games that really don't make a lot of economic sense at $60, or maybe even at $30 if someone's going to play it for five or six hours, but in a system like that it makes complete sense. It drives a lot of people saying 'Hey, I got to experience that and I wouldn't have any other way,' and the creators got to make it without the burden of 'Will this be successful? Will we get to make another one?'

"I'm extremely optimistic about what something like Game Pass brings, not just to people playing it but to creators being unbridled in terms of what they can create."

The implication is that the subscription services like Game Pass could move the industry away from using sales figures as the core metric for success -- something certainly in line with Microsoft's strategy, having not released sales figures for the Xbox One in several years. All other forms of entertainment have been shifting towards subscriptions, and Xbox's focus on Game Pass certainly suggests the platform holder is pushing for an industry where day one or week one success is less important than it was previously. But Howard believes there's a balance to strike.

"I don't think there's one way, and there never should be one way, of gauging success," he says. "Going back to TV and movies, there are certain ones of those that are going to go to the theatre -- things like Avengers. Then they're going to come to rental, and eventually to some sort of subscription or streaming service. And then there are the ones that go straight to television and have ads, and they're successful that way.

"My hope -- and you're seeing it happen, which gives me great joy -- is that all of those avenues are starting to be successful. It's the subscription and streaming ones that gaming hasn't had, and it's coming now and very quickly being proven successful, but that doesn't mean the other ones should or will go away.

"The next generation, the next five or ten years, is really about bringing access to games very easily to everybody, no matter where they are in the world or what devices they like to play."

This is certainly a leaf out of the Microsoft playbook, which has been positioning Xbox as more of a games ecosystem than a platform in the traditional sense. Game Pass subscribers are able to access a library of games -- including all first-party titles, which Bethesda's games will be when the deal closes -- through their Xbox console, PC, or even other devices via its Project xCloud streaming technology. Cloud saves mean players continue where they left off, no matter which device they shift to next.


Dishonored is a prime example of a franchise that suffers at retail, but earns enough acclaim that it could thrive on Game Pass

Microsoft is one of several companies pushing in this direction, with Google driving its Stadia service and Amazon recently announcing its own cloud gaming offering, Luna. Even main rival Sony has the PlayStation Now service, built on cloud gaming pioneer Gaikai, which it can mobilise when needed.

For Howard, this represents a much more interesting future for games, rather than constantly striving for beefier hardware to power shinier graphics: "People always chase that, and that's going to open up some things like scale and fidelity. But if you cast back over games, the fidelity part doesn't move the needle in terms of how people feel about gaming. The ease of access [does].

"There might be games you want to try where just the time it takes to install it, set up a thing, do X, Y and Z -- that limits your access. That's friction to you trying something, and trying it now. Being able to quickly get into your games and try something... Streaming has that ability, and on any device that's where it's opening [up] access, as opposed to a clock cycle-type, graphical fidelity bump.

"If I see something like Untitled Goose Game, that looks like you should be able to jump right in. But maybe you've got to get back home, then you've got to download it, and by then maybe you've forgotten. Or if your friends are playing something, 'Hey, join me, join me now.' Well, are they going to play tomorrow? It's a very solvable problem. I'd say it's virtually solved; it's just a bandwidth access issue, that a lot of hardware and some good software is going to make even better."

The biggest obstacle, of course, is infrastructure. As Stadia has demonstrated, access to frictionless cloud gaming depends on where you are in the world, the strength of your broadband connection, and myriad other aspects of a system so heavily reliant on the internet.

But, as Howard observes, the same was true for movies when they first started streaming. And, as with the need for multiple metrics of success, there will always be the need for multiple distribution channels. Some users will always prefer to download a game or purchase the disc in order to run it natively. Others may favour a combination, with an app that handles some of the work -- such as interface or effects -- to reduce the amount of data being streamed.

"There's lots of flavours of it, and I think over the next five years [streaming is] going to become more and more popular, and after that maybe it's the main way people play," says Howard.

Despite the many entry points to the Xbox ecosystem, there are still concerns that all future Bethesda titles will be restricted to channels the Microsoft controls. Xbox boss Phil Spencer said at the time that Bethesda's games continuing to be multiformat will be judged "on a case-by-case basis" -- and Howard reiterates that the details of the deal are still being finalised. When it comes to such releases, he says, "We haven't gone through all of that, to be honest."

"We do view it, and always have by ourselves, on a case-by-case basis," he says. "We'll do that as part of Microsoft as well. They've been pretty open on other platforms and not just within Xbox. This is an outside perspective, but if you go back ten years at Microsoft, you wouldn't expect them to have a full Office suite on an iPhone either.

"I can't really project where things will be except to say we've done those sort of exercises ourselves as an independent. If you look at every Elder Scrolls game, there has been some exclusivity on Xbox or with Microsoft. We've partnered with every game. Morrowind was basically a console exclusive, Oblivion was a long timed exclusive, Skyrim's DLC was exclusive for a long period of time. We'll decide what makes the best sense for our audience when the time comes, and I can't really project today what that looks like."

Microsoft has already said it will honour the previous PlayStation exclusivity deals for Ghostwire: Tokyo and Deathloop, and has shown over the years it's not averse to some Microsoft-owned titles releasing on other platforms. Minecraft is perhaps the most obvious example, but even the Ori titles and Cuphead made it to Nintendo Switch.

Ultimately it's hard to imagine that, despite the power Microsoft now has over Bethesda, it could restrict The Elder Scrolls 6, for example, to its own platforms -- especially given the running joke that its forebear Skyrim is available on every device imaginable, including Alexa.

"I would agree that is hard to imagine," Howard smiles, but offers no more on the matter.

We'll have a full write-up of the highlights from the keynote session with Howard on Monday, November 2.

 

[Star Citizen]

Man, at least I don't have to buy any Beth games anymore. Can play them and then pretend to hate them.

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...billion-zenimax-deal-by-march-5-idUSKBN2A11YK

EU to rule on Microsoft's $7.5 billion ZeniMax deal by March 5

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators will decide by March 5 whether to clear Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the U.S. tech giant’s biggest gaming acquisition to better compete with Sony Corp’s PlayStation.

Microsoft requested European Commission approval for the deal on Jan. 29, a filing on the EU executive’s website showed.

The EU competition enforcer can clear the deal with or without concessions during its preliminary review or it can open a full-scale investigation if it has serious concerns.

ZeniMax, parent company of Bethesda Softworks, has developed hits including Fallout and Doom. The gaming industry has soared, boosted by demand from users stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

ZeniMax, parent company of Bethesda Softworks, has developed hits including Fallout and Doom

it's surprising how very little it takes to rewrite history.

 

[Dishonoredbr]

it's surprising how very little it takes to rewrite history.

Could be worse.. They could've said CREATED hits like Fallout and Doom like so many other articles.

 

[Shitty Kitty]

it's surprising how very little it takes to rewrite history.

Could be worse.. They could've said CREATED hits like Fallout and Doom like so many other articles.

I mean, if you ask Todd I'm sure he'd tell you he did just that and then try to sell you Skyrim again.

 

[DeepOcean]

ZeniMax, parent company of Bethesda Softworks, has developed hits including Fallout and Doom

it's surprising how very little it takes to rewrite history.

History is a series of lies agreed upon.

 

[fantadomat]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...billion-zenimax-deal-by-march-5-idUSKBN2A11YK

EU to rule on Microsoft's $7.5 billion ZeniMax deal by March 5

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators will decide by March 5 whether to clear Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the U.S. tech giant’s biggest gaming acquisition to better compete with Sony Corp’s PlayStation.

Microsoft requested European Commission approval for the deal on Jan. 29, a filing on the EU executive’s website showed.

The EU competition enforcer can clear the deal with or without concessions during its preliminary review or it can open a full-scale investigation if it has serious concerns.

ZeniMax, parent company of Bethesda Softworks, has developed hits including Fallout and Doom. The gaming industry has soared, boosted by demand from users stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is interesting how only the EU is pushing back on the kwan tech corps.

 

[RobotSquirrel]

I still want the deal to go forward because Microsoft has a tendency of mismanaging studios. (examples being Access Software and Lionhead Studios)
A leash around Todd's neck will be a good thing. Microsoft is where studios go to die... well that or EA either one.

The gaming industry has soared, boosted by demand from users stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And yet the quality has been worse than its ever been. The whole pandemic has only proven how complacent people are in their politics, obedience to the state and willingness to put up with the absolute worst in quality. I tried to use the government mandated app, stupid thing crashed on my phone so how the hell is it my fault if I'm noncompliant? how about make better software?! this was using a burner phone btw. My actual phone is a boomerphone because my industry history was in J2ME so I'm still rocking a J2ME phone.

Zenimax taking credit for things they didn't do as per usual I mean hell even the Elderscrolls wasn't their doing remember Zenimax didn't exist! and all the people involved with founding the franchise don't work there anymore so I don't see how they can even claim that. Its just typical corporate suit bs where they don't have the ability to make anything so they buy something with credibility and tear it down so they can make more money. That's why they're perfect for Microsoft!

 

[Nano]

It is interesting how only the EU is pushing back on the kwan tech corps.

"Pushing back", lmao. The EU isn't gonna do anything to oppose this.

 

[User was nabbed fit]

lol, well they may do something but not for the reason anyone thinks. They're only piping up against US big tech in hopes of collecting more fines and/or taxes to further their globohomo pork barrel projects. They don't give a shit about their people.

 

[The_Mask]

I still want the deal to go forward because Microsoft has a tendency of mismanaging studios. (examples being Access Software and Lionhead Studios)

Lionhead was all Molineaux.

 

[Shitty Kitty]

I still want the deal to go forward because Microsoft has a tendency of mismanaging studios. (examples being Access Software and Lionhead Studios)

Lionhead was all Molineaux.

Molyneux certainly put most of those nails in Lionhead's coffin with his huge, unfulfilled promises but Microsoft put it in the ground I think

 

[RobotSquirrel]

Lionhead was all Molineaux.

ok then explain what happened after he left LOL cause I recall the studio made some terrible games and went nowhere. I mean at least now Microsoft seems to be interested in reviving the studio but it could still backfire. I mean Microsoft's dumbest move was putting him in charge of the Kinect games research lol. What I'm more impressed by is how he somehow had a worse career as an executive at Microsoft than he did at EA that's pretty impressive because he despised being an executive at EA. I never understood why he went back to that role at microsoft.

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/...led-vault-to-merge-with-fallout-maker-zenimax

Microsoft creates a new subsidiary called Vault to merge with Fallout maker ZeniMax
Bunker down.

Microsoft has created a new subsidiary called Vault to merge with ZeniMax as part of its proposed takeover of the company.

A document posted on the European Commission's website reveals Microsoft's plan to secure approval for its $7.5bn acquisition of ZeniMax:

"The concentration is accomplished by way of a merger pursuant to which a newly created Microsoft subsidiary ('Vault') will be merged with and into ZeniMax."

The use of the name Vault for this subsidiary is surely a nod to Bethesda's Fallout series, which contains a raft of vaults meant to protect people from nuclear destruction. (Spoilers: the vaults aren't always what they appear to be.)

Of course, Microsoft would retain sole control of the whole of ZeniMax, which also makes and publishes the likes of The Elder Scrolls and Doom.

The creation of subsidiaries to house bought companies is a common tactic in the corporate world. In fact, EA has recently done the same thing, creating a subsidiary called Codex Games Limited that will become the owner of Codemasters once that deal finally goes through.

The Commission's antitrust regulators have invited interested third-parties to submit their observations on Microsoft's ZeniMax deal to the Commission by 15th February 2021. The EU will make a decision by 5th March.

It sounds like this one will likely go through, though. "On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation," reads the note. "However, the final decision on this point is reserved."

(lol at "Codex Games Limited")

 

[fantadomat]

Good job infi,your jewish tricks had expanded our influence even over microsoft. Achieving our dream goal of world domination is not that far off. Don't forget brothers,illuminate et es. Aurora novo nobis .

 

[Shitty Kitty]

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/...led-vault-to-merge-with-fallout-maker-zenimax

Microsoft creates a new subsidiary called Vault to merge with Fallout maker ZeniMax
Bunker down.

Microsoft has created a new subsidiary called Vault to merge with ZeniMax as part of its proposed takeover of the company.

A document posted on the European Commission's website reveals Microsoft's plan to secure approval for its $7.5bn acquisition of ZeniMax:

"The concentration is accomplished by way of a merger pursuant to which a newly created Microsoft subsidiary ('Vault') will be merged with and into ZeniMax."

The use of the name Vault for this subsidiary is surely a nod to Bethesda's Fallout series, which contains a raft of vaults meant to protect people from nuclear destruction. (Spoilers: the vaults aren't always what they appear to be.)

Of course, Microsoft would retain sole control of the whole of ZeniMax, which also makes and publishes the likes of The Elder Scrolls and Doom.

The creation of subsidiaries to house bought companies is a common tactic in the corporate world. In fact, EA has recently done the same thing, creating a subsidiary called Codex Games Limited that will become the owner of Codemasters once that deal finally goes through.

The Commission's antitrust regulators have invited interested third-parties to submit their observations on Microsoft's ZeniMax deal to the Commission by 15th February 2021. The EU will make a decision by 5th March.

It sounds like this one will likely go through, though. "On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation," reads the note. "However, the final decision on this point is reserved."

(lol at "Codex Games Limited")

sue for infringement, it'd be funny

 

[Infinitron]

Turns out it's not permanent: https://twitter.com/luskao_sp/status/1359436079993151489

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/...-to-acquire-zenimax-approved-in-the-us-and-eu

Microsoft's $7.5bn acquisition of ZeniMax approved in the US and EU
No fallout expected.

Microsoft's $7.5bn deal to acquire ZeniMax has been approved in the US and EU.

The acquisition required approval from the European Commission as well as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission before it could be completed.

As we reported in February, Microsoft created a new subsidiary called Vault to merge with ZeniMax as part of its proposed takeover of the company.

The use of the name Vault for this subsidiary is surely a nod to Bethesda's Fallout series, which contains a raft of vaults meant to protect people from nuclear destruction. (Spoilers: the vaults aren't always what they appear to be.)

"The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of ZeniMax Media Inc. by Microsoft Corporation, both of the US," the European Commission said in a statement issued to Eurogamer.

"The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the combined entity's limited market position upstream and the presence of strong downstream competitors in the distribution of video games. The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure."

Once the deal is complete, Microsoft's list of first-party studios will grow substantially to include the likes of Doom developer id Software and The Elder Scrolls maker Bethesda. Other developers brought under Microsoft's banner include Dishonored studio Arkane, Wolfenstein developer Machine Games, and The Evil Within maker Tango Gameworks.

Microsoft aims to boost its first-party Xbox offering while better competing with console rivals Sony and Nintendo. It has yet to say whether future Bethesda games will be released on rival consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.

 

[catfood]

If you can afford the 7.5 bln transaction you can afford the few million bribe for the EU commissars.

 

[Borian]

First, discs disappeared. Downloads were really convenient.
Then, downloads disappeared. Streaming was really convenient.
"Only pirates are interested in purchasable games. As a studio, we have no incentive to release our games for permanent download."

My true thoughts below.

Spoiler

I also want to point out that simultaneous changes occurred in both media and ownership each time. When physical died, so too did video game ownership. We enter upon an agreement of morality, that we buy a game from a service provider and are allowed to use it only so long as that provider both allows us to use it, and so long as that provider still exists. There hasn't been much of a problem with this, yet. Only only need to look at the deluge of dead online-only games to know what that could look like. I would also look towards the aging mobile console shops. Some day, service for those shops will end, and no doubt there will be extensive loss of access to shop exclusives. With game streaming, that day is likely to be very soon.

When physical died, we started leasing exclusive, permanent ownership within a corporate ecosystem.
What will happen when downloads die? The synonyms will change, I think. A purchasable game will be a rebellion against the system, but also a scapegoat for its own demise. As always happens when a power rules absolutely: Subversive rhetoric is created by corporations to combat backlash against the change. It's very early for movie streaming, but the waters seem pretty clear to me. Games are going that way, and what that way means is that games will be entirely exclusive to a corporate ecosystem, much the same way movies are, now.
To illustrate my point, notice this:
"When physical died, so too did video game ownership." After saying this, I then went on to say
"When physical died, we started leasing exclusive, permanent ownership within a corporate ecosystem."
What really happened is that the word itself shifted to accommodate the environment. It still essentially resembles ownership, even if it truly isn't ownership. I don't own my Steam games and Valve will not offer me any support should they go out of business. I will never be able to access those purchases again. In fact, the actuality is that the ecosystem will make it not only economically nonsensical to offer permanent ownership, but literally impossible.
The thread of continuity ends when games become a service. There truly will be nothing like ownership. Todd Howard poignantly clarified the tangible benefits it will give developers and the trickle-down positive effects that will have upon consumers. What wasn't said was that Netflix cancels shows after 3 seasons and that shows are already adapting to tell a story within that expectation. I need not say more. Please explore these implications on your own to fully comprehend how different the future will be. I can surmise by speculating that big releases like RDR2 will instead be a singleplayer server accessed via the Rockstar portal through a regular payment plan.
Obviously, I talk only about major publishing trends. The importance here is that things will change no matter what. Other venues will exist and traditional games will be made.

 

[Infinitron]

https://venturebeat.com/2021/03/08/bethesda-xbox-presentation/

Xbox and Bethesda will talk this week about what the acquisition means

Regulators in the United States and Europe approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Zenimax Media, and that means Bethesda is now an Xbox studio. But what does that mean for the companies involved and for fans of games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls? Well, Microsoft is going to start answering those questions with a video presentation on Thursday, March 11, according to sources familiar with the plans.

Microsoft is unlikely to get into the specifics about Bethesda’s upcoming projects. Details about the previously announced sci-fi role-playing adventure Starfield will likely come this summer, so Xbox and Bethesda won’t talk about that now. Instead, they will explain what the deal means for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

In particular, a number of Bethesda games should make the leap to Game Pass soon. Microsoft will also use this time to reiterate that any future (and contractually eligible) game from under the Zenimax umbrella will hit Game Pass at launch.

Xbox and Bethesda are also not planning to mash together their summer showcases. Both companies are preparing announcements for around E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show), but they will hold them separately. Microsoft, however, may try to present them back-to-back as part of a one-two punch for Xbox.

Finally, it’s still unclear whether Microsoft and Bethesda will address the question of platform exclusivity. PlayStation fans want to know if Bethesda releases like Starfield, Indiana Jones, or The Elder Scrolls VI will also launch on PS5. The Thursday presentation may provide a black-and-white answer, or it might keep things gray — especially if its plans are more nuanced and conditional from game to game.

Microsoft will likely confirm the event in the next day or two.

 

[Infinitron]

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/03/09/officially-welcoming-bethesda-to-the-xbox-family/

Officially Welcoming Bethesda to Team Xbox
Publisher of iconic gaming franchises will expand Xbox’s diverse portfolio on Xbox Game Pass

This is an exciting day for Xbox. Today we officially complete the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Softworks. It’s an honor to welcome the eight incredibly talented development studios – Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios – and their passionate global communities to the Xbox family. Now that everything is official, we can begin working together to deliver more great games to everyone. At every step building toward this moment, I’ve been inspired and motivated by the creativity, insight, and community-first approach of the talented people at Bethesda. Our goal is to give these teams the best foundation for doing their greatest work and to learn from them as we continue to build Xbox into an inclusive platform for all players.

This is the next step in building an industry-leading first party studios team, a commitment we have to our Xbox community. With the addition of the Bethesda creative teams, gamers should know that Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass will be the best place to experience new Bethesda games, including some new titles in the future that will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players.

As we shared previously, it’s vitally important that Bethesda continues making games the way it always has. We look forward to empowering Bethesda’s creative teams to reach even more players around the world, helping make future Bethesda titles the biggest and most popular games in their history. Xbox and Bethesda have long shared a common vision for the future of gaming. Both as fans and as creators, Bethesda understands the potential of Xbox Game Pass.

We would also like to honor the life and memory of my close friend Robert A. Altman, founder of ZeniMax Media. Robert believed deeply in the power of gaming and we are privileged to be able to continue his work by joining forces with the teams he built and led for many years. I will miss the opportunity to work directly with him on the future of our combined teams but I know that his spirit will live on in the shared work we do and motivate us to make this partnership all he envisioned.

Thank you to all our players for joining us on this incredible journey and to the millions of Bethesda fans around the world. Now that we’re one team, we can start working together on the future ahead. We will have more to share about what’s next for our teams later this year. In the meantime, to properly celebrate this special moment, we are bringing additional Bethesda games into Xbox Game Pass later this week. Stay tuned for more details!

https://bethesda.net/en/article/193piE646914YSCGpeYxGC/bethesda-xbox-just-getting-started

BETHESDA + XBOX: JUST GETTING STARTED
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Bethesda Softworks as part of the Xbox Team at Microsoft.

While you might have thought this already happened following last year's announcement, it is only now becoming official as the deal has passed the requisite regulatory approvals and been signed. If you haven’t had a chance to read what Phil Spencer, Todd Howard, and I wrote in our posts when we announced our plans last year, you should take a moment to read them each, as well as Phil’s Xbox Wire post today.

First, let me say that we’re not making any landmark announcements or changes right now. As we’ve all shared, the expectation is that Bethesda Softworks and our studios will continue as we have in the past, just with more support and resources than we’ve ever had before. Obviously, Game Pass has been an important initiative for Xbox, and we’ll be working on putting even more of our games into Game Pass than ever before. Beyond that? Stay tuned, we’re just getting started together.

Second, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that it is a bittersweet day given that our founder, Robert Altman, passed away last month. Among his many admirable qualities was the incredible spirit of family and loyalty that he shared with all of us. I will be forever grateful for his efforts to find the perfect place for ZeniMax, Bethesda, and our studios and employees to continue their excellent work going forward.

I’d also like to thank Phil Spencer and all the folks at Xbox and Microsoft who have been such a pleasure to work with as we prepare for this new chapter. The collaboration, mutual respect, and support they’ve shown to us during this process has been extraordinary. I’m pleased to continue the great relationships we’ve built together over the past few decades, first as partners and now as colleagues in the same company.

And of course, I want to say thanks to all of you for your support. It is not something we ever take lightly or for granted. This year marks 35 years since the original creation of Bethesda Softworks. Reaching a milestone like that, while also going through a historic occasion like this acquisition, puts in perspective just how far we’ve come in that time. A journey that wouldn’t be worth it without all of you to share it with.