Daily Management Review

Microsoft buys Bethesda for $7.5B


09/22/2020


Microsoft Corporation announced purchase of game developer and publisher ZeniMax Media.



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ZeniMax's most compelling asset is Bethesda Softworks, the creator of popular games like The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, and Dishonored, as well as the latest Fallout and Doom games. The deal amounted to $ 7.5 billion, the deal is expected be completed in the second half of 2021.

Microsoft said the games released by Bethesda Softworks will be included in its Xbox Game Pass video game subscription, which could boost its popularity among gamers. 

In September, the company announced the release of the new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S game consoles: they will go on sale on November 10 and will cost $ 499 and $ 299, respectively.

Interest in computer games, already high, has increased this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The interest of investors has also grown in this area. Last week it became known about plans to hold an IPO of Guild Esports, which may become one of the first placements of esports companies on the exchange. 

For Microsoft itself, this is the largest acquisition of a game developer since the purchase of Minecraft game developer Mojang in 2014 for $ 2.5 billion.

source: bloomberg.com