Microsoft: EU approves Bethesda acquisition
Microsoft takes over Bethesda mother Zenimax. (Graphic: Microsoft)
No time right now?
Microsoft’s planned billion-dollar deal can go ahead as planned. This brings the number of Microsoft’s first-party gaming studios to 23.
The European Commission has cleared Microsoft’s $ 7.5 billion acquisition of Zenimax Media. Zenimax Media is the parent company behind the hit game Doom and Fallout creator Bethesda. The gaming studio is also responsible for popular games such as “Skyrim” and “Wolfenstein”.
The deal was approved by the European Union without any further conditions, as the Commission does not believe that it poses a threat to competition in the current market. In the Statement by the Commission states that “given the limited market position of the combined company and the presence of strong competitors in the distribution of video games, the proposed acquisition would not raise any competition concerns.”
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Xbox exclusivity?
One of the questions that kept many gamers busy with this deal is that of exclusivity. As an Xbox manufacturer, Microsoft has the option of offering its games exclusively for its own consoles. An approach with which, for example, the shooter series “Halo” drove well. It is not yet known whether future Bethesda games will only be released for the Xbox. It is clear that Microsoft attaches great importance to the Xbox Game Pass and wants to attract as many users as possible here.
Bethesda employees should be able to work largely autonomously in their studios even after the takeover. Microsoft is currently not aiming for major changes. The Bethesda plans that went into the pipeline prior to the deal also remain unaffected. The exclusivity obligations for the Playstation 5 for “Deathloop” and “Ghostwire: Tokyo” will continue to be met. In addition, games like “The Elder Scrolls: Online” should not be influenced by the fact that Microsoft now has a say.
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