It's only been around two days since the industry breaking news confirmed that Microsoft purchased Zenimax Media, the parent company of numerous developers including Bethesda Softworks. With the entire gaming community still shocked by the surprise announcement, it seems Microsoft is already planning ahead.
As numerous figures in some way linked to either company comment on the reported $7.5 billion purchase, one major individual has spoken up on the future of Microsoft with regards to studio expansions. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has made his first public comments regarding the acquisition and gives indication that this may only be the start of bigger purchases.
In an interview with Cnet, Nadella spoke about the significance and importance of content tied to the Xbox brand which includes Game Pass. The CEO explains that it is content that allows for greater access to communities, a sentiment shared by the Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer. With this said, Nadella explained that despite the massive deal, there is always more content. Nadella stated that Microsoft will "always look for places where there is that commonality of purpose, mission and culture." He further elaborated that Microsoft is always looking for new ways to expand "inorganically where it makes sense." The use of "inorganically" speaks directly to acquisitions of developers and properties instead of a building studio approach which Nadella comments on earlier within the interview.
While the Zenimax purchase is one of the biggest within the entire industry, it follows a steady trend of Microsoft building its studio portfolio. Before Zenimax, Microsoft had purchased developers like Double Fine and Obsidian Entertainment, the latter actually being the developer on Fallout: New Vegas as published by Bethesda. Rumors of Microsoft's deeper push for developer acquisition appeared in early August as comments were made in financial reports about studio expansion.
The announcement has continued to send ripples across the industry as developers and publishers come to terms with the massive shakeup. Numerous questions arose once the acquisition was announced with gamers pondering the fate of Sony's console exclusive Bethesda published titles like Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo. Microsoft later confirmed it would uphold those deals for any PlayStation 5 exclusives.
As for the lingering concerns gamers have about exclusivity going forward, Microsoft did provide a vague response to the swirling questions. Microsoft stated that Bethesda titles will be on other consoles on a "case by case basis," which has left more questions than answers. With gamers knowing that Microsoft is always on the lookout for new studios, it should make for a more interesting console generation.