Microsoft Acquires Popular Game Developer Bethesda Softworks

 

            Console gamers take heed, Microsoft has made a major move in the console arms race. At 6:00 am on September 21st, the company announced via their Xbox Wire publication that they had purchased ZeniMax Media, the parent company of game developer Bethesda Softworks, for 7.5 billion dollars. For perspective, Disney’s 2012 purchase of the ‘Star Wars’ franchise cost them just $4 billion. This acquisition could represent a major shift in the console wars as Bethesda is responsible for major titles such as Fallout, Elder Scrolls, and Doom.

            This purchase brings with it the possibility that all of these titles could become Xbox exclusives in the next generation. This would give Microsoft a huge boost in the exclusive titles battle, which was previously dominated by Sony with PlayStation exclusives like Spider-man, God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us. However, this news does not automatically mean they will be Xbox exclusives, as we’ve seen in the past that Microsoft has been willing to share some of its major properties like Minecraft. The studio stated prior to the deal that The Elder Scrolls: Online would be available for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. We also know that previously announced Bethesda games, Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo, will remain PS5 exclusives, according to Phil Spencer, executive vice president of gaming at Microsoft. Spencer has also waxed poetic in the past about ending the console wars and allowing all gamers to play with anyone. This gives a glimmer of hope for PlayStation diehards who are hoping to play these titles on PS5, but it’s ultimately up to Microsoft to decide how to proceed with these franchises. If they do become Xbox exclusive, many gamers who were previously on team PlayStation could find themselves switching over if they feel these titles, along with other Xbox franchises Gears of War and Halo, outweigh what Sony has to offer. The differences between the consoles themselves are minimal, so the deciding factor for many gamers may indeed be which games are available for each.

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will launch on November 10th, for $499 and $299, respectively. Sony’s PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will be released November 12th, with price points of $499 and $399, respectively. Console gamers will have much to consider this holiday season, as both systems look to usher in the future of gaming.

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