Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ; MSFT) announced its plan to purchase ZeniMax Media and its game publisher Bethesda Softworks for $7.5 billion.
The price tag acknowledges that Bethesda owns some intellectual properties that are well-known and very popular in the video game marketplace. Bethesda is the creator of critically acclaimed and best-selling gaming franchises including The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
Microsoft aims to “empower the more than three million gamers worldwide”
The acquisition is the third-biggest in Microsoft’s history. The $7.5 billion costs to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda is similar to the price tag of GitHub and is less than the amount it paid for LinkedIn and Skype.
In a statement, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, “Gaming is the most expansive category in the entertainment industry, as people everywhere turn to gaming to connect, socialize and play with their friends.”
“Quality differentiated content is the engine behind the growth and value of Xbox Game Pass—from Minecraft to Flight Simulator. As a proven game developer and publisher, Bethesda has seen success across every category of games, and together, we will further our ambition to empower the more than three billion gamers worldwide,” added Nadella
