Microsoft has finalized its $7.5 billion deal to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Doom and Fallout studio Bethesda Softworks. The finalization comes just a day after Microsoft secured regulatory approval from the EU for the acquisition.
The deal will bring a total of 8 studios -Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, ZeniMax Online Studios, Arkane, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios- under the Microsoft banner.
Bethesda will now be run as a separate business at Microsoft, with its existing leadership. This is the same approach Microsoft has used for its recent big acquisitions, including Mojang, LinkedIn, and GitHub.
Questions had been raised over Microsoft’s plans for Bethesda exclusives on Xbox and PC, and Spencer has made it clear today there will be “some new titles” that will only be available on Microsoft’s platforms. Exactly how many isn’t known yet, but in the meantime Microsoft is bringing more Bethesda games to Xbox Game Pass later this week.