Thursday morning ZeniMax Media shared some unfortunate news. The parent company of Bethesda confirmed that its CEO, chairman, and co-founder, Robert A. Altman, has died. Altman served as ZeniMax Media's CEO since the company was formed in 1999, a tenure of over twenty years. Altman was 74 years old and is survived by his wife Lynda Carter and their two children.
ZeniMax Media shared a lengthy message on social media regarding the death of Altman. In the message, ZeniMax describes Altman as a visionary, friend, and "believer in the spirit of people and the power of what they could accomplish together." It goes on to say how Altman was an extraordinary leader and an "even better human being." ZeniMax then says that those in the company will continue to share the values that Altman taught them during his time with the company.
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As part of its message shared on social media, ZeniMax also shared that throughout the pandemic Altman would send out an email to employees each week. One such weekly email was shared in tribute to Altman's memory. The letter talks about the "quiet joys" that working from home can bring even amidst the challenges everyone is facing. He also encourages ZeniMax employees to take a break and reflect on the company they've all created together, saying not to "let a day pass without taking a moment to enjoy your remarkable creation."
The email from Altman ends on a somber tone, reading, "Looking forward to being back together. As always, stay safe." The message servers in part as a final goodbye from Altman to his employees and coworkers. The pandemic unfortunately continues and Altman wasn't able to once again greet ZeniMax employees in a return to the office, but his memory will hopefully make that moment that much more meaningful.
Altman saw ZeniMax make massive strives forward in the over 20 years he spent as the company's CEO. Whether it was the early fundraising drives that secured ZeniMax's future in the early 2000s, property acquisitions like that of Fallout in 2004, studio acquisitions like id Software, MachineGames, and Arkane Studios near 2010, or the recent purchase of ZeniMax Media by Microsoft. ZeniMax Media's independent era is synonymous with the leadership of Altman.
Fans, however, may best be served to remember Altman for the games and memories he helped bring into the world. Bethesda's Fallout and Elder Scrolls games, MachineGames' Wolfenstein reboot, id Software's Rage and Doom titles, and so many more games stand out. Altman's legacy in the video game industry will leave a long tail, both within ZeniMax Media and among its millions of fans.