Making headlines all across the world over the last week, Microsoft made the announcement that it was acquiring ZeniMax Media, the parent company of video game giant Bethesda. Immediately, talks shifted to what would happen to the publisher’s lineup of big-money franchises, with many speculating that The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, and more would all become flagship Xbox exclusives.
However, in an alternate timeline, these conversations could’ve been very different, with Bloomberg reporting that EA was once in negotiations to buy the parent company of Bethesda. As for when exactly this was and how close to finalization these plans were is not mentioned, but it’s no doubt interesting to consider what would’ve happened had the notoriously disliked company got their hands on ZeniMax Media.
“Much like in Hollywood, franchises such as Fallout and Elder Scrolls remain valuable, as consumers continue to play them online and purchase updates and items within the games,” Bloomberg acknowledges while discussing the 7.5 billion dollar deal between Microsoft and ZeniMax. The publication then drops the bombshell that ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman “considered selling ZeniMax for several years and at one point was close to a deal with rival Electronic Arts Inc.” Had that gone through, EA would’ve had access to some of the industry’s most notable developers, with the likes of Bethesda Game Studios and id Software falling under its banner.
Seen as EA has garnered a negative reputation over the years, it’s likely not a scenario that many video game enthusiasts would’ve been all too pleased about. Although it does have some of the industry’s best developers in its arsenal currently – boasting both Bioware and Respawn Entertainment – many have slammed the publisher for its treatment of players and the extraordinary IPs it holds the rights to. Whether looking at the release of Star Wars: Battlefront 2, which came loaded with microtransactions at launch, or Anthem, which was released before it was ready, the company is far from the safest pair of hands for such a beloved roster of historic IPs.
Regardless, EA failed to acquire ZeniMax and now Microsoft holds the keys to its kingdom, leaving many wondering what comes next. Although fans know that Xbox intends to bring many of the publisher’s biggest games to Game Pass when they release, it’s unknown if Microsoft will look to make some of Bethesda‘s biggest upcoming releases exclusive to the platform. It could decide instead to follow the same route it did with Minecraft developer Mojang, releasing its games on as many systems as possible to maximize their financial potential. It remains to be seen, but there’s no denying it’s a meteoric acquisition which is sure to have huge ramifications on the industry in the years to come.
Source: Bloomberg
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