Microsoft’s acquisition deal with ZeniMax Media has spent a lot of time in the limelight since its announcement last year. This has been in large part due to the various legal wrinkles associated with the move: Microsoft has had to prove to various international entities that the purchase of ZeniMax and its subsidiaries doesn’t fall foul of any legislation concerning anti-trust practices and market manipulation. The deal may soon come to fruition, though, following a statement from the European Commission today.
The announcement of Microsoft’s procurement of ZeniMax and the other companies under its umbrella, including Bethesda, Arkane and id Software, came in September of last year. Since then, there has been a whirlwind of speculation about what the decision means for the future of the companies and the franchises in their care. Some fans even wondered if the acquisition was fair or even legal and whether it constituted a monopoly, but today’s ruling from the European Commission seems to snuff out that particular idea.
Following the SEC’s announcement a few days ago declaring the deal “Accepted”, the European Commission has followed suit, approving the proposal and stating that it “does not raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market.” The decision means that Microsoft can proceed with and finalize the merger, bringing all the studios and the IP they own under its purview and allowing them to distribute in the European Union without any legal issues.
The exact effects this will have on the release of ZeniMax properties going forward isn’t yet set in stone, but while it seems likely that a lot of them will end up on Xbox Game Pass in the near future, non-Microsoft users may still be in luck if they want to play the newest Fallout or Elder Scrolls games. Xbox CFO Tim Stuart touched on the subject last November, stating that future games would be “first or better or best” on Microsoft platforms, not necessarily exclusive. Meanwhile, earlier this year Microsoft’s Head of Cloud Gaming James Gwertzman explicitly said that he didn’t think exclusivity was “the answer”, adding: “We’ve been pretty open about trying to support cross platform experiences.”
All this seems to bode well for fans of ZeniMax’s properties, but if anyone still has misgivings, Microsoft will likely attempt to lay them to rest at the Bethesda event it’s rumored to be hosting later this month. Many rumors are swirling concerning the content of the event, but it seems likely that it will at least address the question of exclusivity and lay out exactly how the studios will continue to work within the structure of Microsoft.
It seems the way is now clear for Microsoft to get down to business with its new additions, so don’t be surprised if news starts to emerge about Fallout 5 or Elder Scrolls 6 in the near future. Who knows, perhaps even the ever-mysterious Starfield will get some new details in the coming months.
Source: European Commission
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