XBOX BUYS BETHESDA // Microsoft Have Aquired Zenimax Media // Bethesda Exclusive to Xbox? Gamepass?
343XBOX BUYS BETHESDA / Microsoft Aquires Zenimax Media / Bethesda Exlcusive to Xbox? Bethesda Games in Gamepass? What does this MEAN?! - Here's a piece of new that I don't think anyone saw coming, Microsoft have entered into an agreement to aquire Zenimax Media (who are the parent company of Bethesda, ID, Arcane etc...) meaning that technically...TECHNICALLY... Xbox buys Bethesda?! Are Bethesda now part of the Xbox first party studios?! SO MANY QUESTIONS!
Microsoft have been on the warpath when it comes to aquiring first party studios to help leverage and improve their offering in terms of games via gamepass and exclusively to their Xbox console ecosystem and this aquisition is a huge win for Xbox. What it means going for though is still very unclear.
- Bethesda Exclusive to Xbox? - Probably not, titles like Doom, Fallout, Elder Scrolls becoming exclusive to the Xbox platforms seem very unlikely, much like with Microsofts aquisition of Mojang Minecraft still exists on multiple platforms and the same will surely be true here.
- Bethesda Games in Gamepass? - The most interesting aspect of the aquisition will be whether we see Bethesda games land on gamepass day one much like all other first party Microsoft titles. This would be a huge win and a huge draw for potential Game pass subscribers, if every new Fallout, Doom, Wolfenstein, Elder Scrolls etc went straight into the service then thats a huge reason for gamers to sign up and start playing.
Although many of the details remain to be seen Microsoft have aquired zenimax and in one way or another this will mean huge things for the gaming industry and the Xbox platforms. I can't wait to see how all this shakes out!
* All information about the Microsoft Zenimax deal / Microsoft Bethesda deal is brand new and lots of information is still unclear. The Xbox buys bethesda deal looks set to finalise in mid 2021 and we don't know at this point if Bethesda will be one of the Xbox first party studios or whether Bethesda exclusive to Xbox will be a real thing. All opinions in this Xbox Bethesda reaction are my own and are pure speculation at this point *