It was only a few weeks ago when everyone was talking about how Microsoft is planning to buy TikTok’s US operations. This time round, the tech giant has announced an agreement to acquire ZeniMax Media (parent company of game publisher, Bethesda) for around US$7.5 billion—in cash!
Microsoft Acquires ZeniMax Media for US$7.5 billion
For those who may remember, ZeniMax Media is the company who owns Bethesda, the game studio that brought us games like Fallout and Skyrim. The company is also overseeing Arkane Studios, a game publisher well-known for its games such as Dishonoured, Prey and the upcoming Deathloop. Knowing all of this, it seems that Microsoft is increasing its investment when it comes to the gaming market—aside from making the Xbox consoles, of course.
What’s more striking about this deal is the fact that Microsoft will be paying the US$7.5 billion acquisition fee in cash; I wonder how that may look like. Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media may alarm Sony and Nintendo console gamers as it may mean future games from Bethesda and Arkane Studios will be made Xbox exclusives. Even Xbox head, Phil Spencer, stated that future games from publishers under ZeniMax Media will come to other consoles on a “case-by-case basis”—not a very good sign. That being said, PlayStation 5 and PC exclusive games such as Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo will still be honoured according to the Xbox maker.
Those aside, only time will tell if this deal proves to be a massive win for Microsoft. Hopefully, this deal doesn’t turn out to be a significant monopoly by the company—unless it doesn’t mind receiving massive backlash from non-Xbox console gamers, of course.
(Source: Microsoft)