Microsoft Agrees to $7.5 Billion Bethesda Acquisition for Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft reveals a massive $7.5 billion deal to purchase ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks. The acquisition brings major gaming franchises like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls directly to the Xbox Game Pass service.
Microsoft announces a massive $7.5 billion deal to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of prominent video game publisher Bethesda Softworks. This historic purchase ranks as one of the largest acquisitions in the video game industry and stands as Microsoft's most expensive gaming buy to date, easily surpassing its previous $2.5 billion purchase of Minecraft creator Mojang.
Through this agreement, Microsoft gains ownership of beloved gaming franchises including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, DOOM, Wolfenstein, Quake, and the upcoming Starfield. The company plans to add these iconic titles to Xbox Game Pass, a subscription-based cloud gaming service that currently boasts more than 15 million subscribers, and intends to release future Bethesda games on the platform the same day they launch.
Bethesda leadership expresses strong enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that the studio remains committed to its existing projects and teams. The deal significantly expands Microsoft's internal development capacity from 15 to 23 creative studios, providing Bethesda with greater resources to enhance its game development. This major announcement arrives just as pre-orders for the new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles prepare to open.