Sponsored By

Microsoft seals $7.5 billion Bethesda deal, hints at future Xbox and PC exclusives

Microsoft has revealed that some future Bethesda titles will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players, and called the deal "the next step in building an industry-leading first party studios team."

Chris Kerr, News Editor

March 9, 2021

1 Min Read
Game Developer logo in a gray background | Game Developer

Microsoft has completed its $7.5 billion purchase of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media. 

The deal was approved by regulators in the United States and Europe earlier this week, paving the way for Microsoft to officially welcome Bethesda and other developers including id Software, Arkane and MachineGames into the Xbox Game Studios fold. 

Microsoft said its first order of business will be to add "additional Bethesda games" to the Xbox Game Pass library later this week, although it didn't specify which titles will be added to the subscription service. 

Notably, it also revealed that some new Bethesda titles will be exclusive to Xbox and PC players, and called the deal "the next step in building an industry-leading first party studios team."

Xbox chief Phil Spencer said the company would empower Bethesda to "continue making games the way it always has," and explained the Fallout and The Elder Scrolls developer "understands the potential of Xbox Game Pass."

"At every step building toward this moment, I’ve been inspired and motivated by the creativity, insight, and community-first approach of the talented people at Bethesda," continued Spencer. "Our goal is to give these teams the best foundation for doing their greatest work and to learn from them as we continue to build Xbox into an inclusive platform for all players."

About the Author

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

Daily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inbox

You May Also Like