Gaming
Microsoft’s Bethesda acquisition clears a major hurdle
What is European on this matter?
Xbox moves ever closer to fully acquiring the Bethesda gaming franchise empire after clearing a major hurdle recently.
Microsoft successfully attained approval from the EU to go forward in their acquisition of Zenimax / Bethesda. The final major hurdle in the deal is complete. The deal did come with a price tag of $7.5 billion deal, but what Microsoft gets in return could be considered a steal.
The EU Commision concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the combined entity’s limited market position upstream and the presence of strong downstream competitors in the distribution of video games,” says a European Commission statement. “The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure.”
All things going smoothly, this addition to Microsoft’s arsenal would mean the software developer will own 23 first-party studios. Essentially Bethesda’s sub-studios Arkane (known for the game Dishonored, MachineGames (know for Wolfenstein game), id Software (known for the DOOM franchise), and the studio Tango Gameworks (known for The Evil Within game).
As for Microsoft’s plans for the newly-acquired Bethesda franchises? Well, according to Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox gaming, he claims any exclusive releases of games that fall under the Bethesda banner will be assessed and reviewed on a game-by-game basis
.Microsoft is reportedly planning to outline its plans for Xbox later this month in a “future of gaming” event. This event is reportedly expected to roll out come March 23, 2021. So, more specific news potentially could be revealed then.
More as things develop.
