Microsoft just made what is probably their largest game-related purchase. They've just bought Zenimax and in one fell swoop, bought Bethesda (Fallout and Elder Scrolls franchise) and id Software (Quake, Doom, Wolfenstein and their proprietary idTech engine), Arkane Studios (Dishonored, Prey) all for a cool 7.5 Billion.
https://kotaku.com/microsoft-buys-bethesda-parent-zenimax-media-for-7-5-b-1845127153
Part of me doesn't really know what to think at this point. I'm still processing it, but it's potentially got to have a large impact on the industry as a whole. Right off the bat, MS now owns some of the world's biggest game IP's that have been around for a good length of time. They currently say nothing will be changing and that they'll still be crossplatform titles, but as expensive as this is for them, I don't think they'll allow that to be the case longer than they feel is necessary, given that I feel they really need more varied exclusives for their console. And it's interesting to note that, Morrowind was console-exclusive to the XBox and it was only with Oblivion going forward that the series also came to the Playstation.
So, Microsoft gets more shooters, but also an engine with a long legacy, which I'm sure they'd be tempted to use as an in-house engine for use with their other slate of titles. Along with Obsidian which they purchased last year, they've now also got Bethesda, giving them a strong lineage in experience with RPGs, and frankly, I do think they need a bit more of a varied lineup of exclusives.
https://kotaku.com/microsoft-buys-bethesda-parent-zenimax-media-for-7-5-b-1845127153
Part of me doesn't really know what to think at this point. I'm still processing it, but it's potentially got to have a large impact on the industry as a whole. Right off the bat, MS now owns some of the world's biggest game IP's that have been around for a good length of time. They currently say nothing will be changing and that they'll still be crossplatform titles, but as expensive as this is for them, I don't think they'll allow that to be the case longer than they feel is necessary, given that I feel they really need more varied exclusives for their console. And it's interesting to note that, Morrowind was console-exclusive to the XBox and it was only with Oblivion going forward that the series also came to the Playstation.
So, Microsoft gets more shooters, but also an engine with a long legacy, which I'm sure they'd be tempted to use as an in-house engine for use with their other slate of titles. Along with Obsidian which they purchased last year, they've now also got Bethesda, giving them a strong lineage in experience with RPGs, and frankly, I do think they need a bit more of a varied lineup of exclusives.
