Microsoft has agreed to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Doom and Fallout studio Bethesda Softworks, for $7.5 billion in cash.
The acquisition follows earlier Bethesda games coming to Xbox Game Pass on console and PC, and it gives Microsoft control of upcoming games like the space epic Starfield. Microsoft says future Bethesda games, including Starfield, will launch Xbox Game Pass the day they come to Xbos or PC.
The news comes as Microsoft is gearing up to launch two new consoles, the Xbos Series X and the Xbox Series S. The companies have not confirmed how this might affect the launch of specific future Bethesda games across different platforms, including the Bethesda-published Arkane game Deathloop, which was once announced as a times PlayStation 5 and PC exclusive.
Microsoft plans to launch its next-generation consoles on November 10, and pre-orders open on September 22.
This acquisition brings the company’s total list of internal studios to 23, following the addition of Bethesda sub-studios like Dishonored developer Arkane, Wolfenstein studio MachineGames, Doom male id Software, and The Evil Within studio Tango Game works. However, Microsoft says Bethesda will retain its existing leadership.
