Big, no, huge news hit the gaming world last week. Microsoft has bought Zenimax Media for 7.5 billion USD. This includes Bethesda Game Studios and all contained therein.
So what does this mean? Well it means that Microsoft now owns The Elder Scrolls, the Fallout franchise, Id Software and their DOOM and Quake, Arkane Studios and their Dishonored and Prey series, Machine Head and their Wolfenstein games and a bit more.
I for one am not a fan in general of mega-corporations buying up everything in sight, but Microsoft has been incredibly pro-consumer with their gaming division the last couple of years. Their Game Pass for PC and Xbox is great value for money and it seems like they aren't too keen on all the excessive monetization garbage some of the other AAA developers love so much.
So on that front I'm more than willing to give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt and here's why.
Bethesda has changed a lot during the last five years or so. The pay for mods debacle, how Fallout 76 has been managed, constant bait and switch and so on. It is entirely possible that these decisions have come from higher up on the corporate ladder, leaving the folks at Bethesda to weather the storm of angry players. If so, things should get better under Microsoft.
On the other hand, it could be that these anti-consumer ideas originate from Bethesda themselves, and in that case there is the possibility that Microsoft will rein them in.
For me the biggest relief concerns Bethesda's credibility, or lack thereof. When Fallout 76 was being announced they promised (and I don't use that word lightly) many things, and within a year those promises were broken and trampled on.
Pete Hines, their VP of Public Relations and Marketing was later interviewed and he said that they hadn't lied or broken any promises but that “plans had changed.” He likened their decision to start selling items with game changing effects on their in-game store to saying “I said we'd go get pizza on Friday, but then I got sick so, sorry, buddy. Plans change”.
That is not even vaguely comparable, but never mind. What really stuck in my mind was when Bethesda then stated that Fallout 76 was just an experiment and that both the upcoming Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6 are going to be a return to form. How can I trust that statement? How can I believe that they won't change the game six months after release and just say “sorry buddy, plans change”? I can't, that is the sad truth, but under Microsoft I have much greater faith in the future of franchises I love. This is the main reason I'm cautiously happy about this acquisition.
There are also a few other aspects to consider, and the first is the games themselves. As the owner of IP's like say Fallout, there seems to be nothing to stop Microsoft from putting another studio in charge of making a new Fallout game while Bethesda keeps working on Starfield. This could mean more games than once per ten years.
Another aspect is that Microsoft also bought Obsidian Entertainment a couple of years ago. Obsidian are the developers of sequels like Kotor 2 and Fallout New Vegas. Sequels that are arguably better than the originals. Fans immediately began hoping and praying for a New Vegas 2, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one but it is possible.
Obsidian recently announced a new sandbox open world RPG in their popular Pillars of Eternity world. This game could have been a very serious competitor to Elder Scrolls and now Microsoft owns them both. This could be good or bad, we'll see.
As for the console wars, this could get heated. Bethesda had two games in the pipeline for PC and Playstation; Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo. Microsoft has stated that they intend to honor the timed exclusive, but that future games on console will be decided on a “case by case basis”. This could mean that gamers who play exclusively on Playstation will be left out in the cold on future Fallout and Elder Scrolls titles, as there is no reason for Microsoft to release them on their biggest console competitor. Then again, it would not only mean more money but it would be a chance to poke Sony in the eye. Apparently Microsoft has a good working relationship with Nintendo, so it could also mean that they intend to leave the Playstation isolated and alone while Microsoft parties with Nintendo. Time will tell, but it is important to remember that Microsoft is very pro PC if you don't want to own two consoles.
It is far too early to say anything with any kind of certainty but as I said I'm cautiously optimistic and in any case, things likely can't get worse under Microsoft than under Zenimax's old management, can they?
That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great week and stay safe!
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