One of the biggest stories in the games industry last year was Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media. This purchase brought a number of extremely talented games studios under the Microsoft umbrella. Besides owning ID Software, Machine Games, and Arkane Studios, Microsoft also now owns Bethesda, the developer behind the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises. However, since being acquired, there’s been no news from the developer on any of its next projects. Both The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield have largely remained outside of the news cycle. According to journalist Jeff Grubb though, that may be changing very soon.
On the GamesBeat Decides podcast, Grubb spoke about the acquisition of ZeniMax Media by Microsoft and what it may mean for this upcoming E3 season. While Grubb insists that Microsoft’s showing will be less than stellar, he said the tech giant will want to show off what Bethesda has been working on.
“I don’t know if it will be a full, Direct-style event,” Grubb said, “but they will make note about it and they will talk about it extensively, explain what it means for everybody and talk about the immediate future of both companies becoming one.”
Grubb touches on something extremely important here: the future of ZeniMax Media and Microsoft “becoming one.” While we know that the leadership at ZeniMax Media and the companies under its umbrella won’t be changing, what we don’t know is how being owned by Microsoft will affect games specifically. One of the most common concerns regarding the acquisition is that games from ZeniMax Media — and by extension, Bethesda — may be exclusive to the Xbox Series X and PC.
