In September 2020, Microsoft announced that Xbox would be acquiring ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Game studios and others. With the $7.5 billion deal finally about to go through, Bethesda Softworks has released a video celebrating a new chapter in the storied developer’s history.
Bethesda Softworks is the publishing company that espouses studios like MachineGames, Arkane Studios, and Bethesda Game Studios. The latter is known for landmark titles in the industry such as Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, and now that the U.S. and E.U. have approved the Microsoft acquisition, these all belong to Xbox.
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The celebrate the official partnership, Bethesda Softworks has released a short video that reflects on the journey the company has had so far. From the humble beginnings working in a garage to the international gaming powerhouse it has become, Bethesda salutes its games, employees, and fans that have gotten it to where it is now with an optimistic “here’s to the journey.” The video is accompanied by a classic AC/DC track and narrated by Bethesda marketing executive Pete Hines.
The video also showcases the host of recent IPs on which the publisher has made its name. The Elder Scrolls is arguably the series most synonymous with the Bethesda name, so viewers are treated to clips from games like Morrowind and Skyrim. Arkane’s Dishonored and Prey franchises make an appearance, and of course id’s Doom and Doom Eternal are included in the mix. There is even a tiny teaser for Starfield, the next major sci-fi IP from Todd Howard and Bethesda Game Studios.
The acquisition announcement left the industry with a lot of questions, especially about titles that have already been announced as PlayStation Exclusives like Deathloop. While Microsoft has clarified that Xbox will honor current Sony exclusivity deals, many unknowns remain. PlayStation players worry that series like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls will become exclusive to Microsoft's platform, while Xbox players hope this means Game Pass will get a major boost in triple-A titles. Most of these questions remain, though it seems that the industry will be getting answers sooner than later.
A report from VentureBeat suggests that Xbox and Bethesda will be holding a video presentation discussing the future of the companies on March 11th. The industry expects many if not all of Bethesda Softwork’s games to head to Xbox Game Pass, and it seems likely that this is the event in which to do it. The report cautions players against getting hopes too high: it is unlikely that Bethesda will reveal any new information on upcoming titles. While much of Microsoft and Bethesda’s joint journey is just beginning, the industry eagerly awaits the results of this historic partnership.
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Source: VentureBeat