Ian Patrick, FISM News

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Microsoft said on Monday it would acquire ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion in cash, strengthening its Xbox video game offering with Bethesda, the studio behind titles such as Fallout and the Doom. ZeniMax is the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, which has also developed hits including The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, and Dishonored.

Microsoft said it plans to bring Bethesda’s future games into its monthly Xbox Game Pass subscription service when they launch on Xbox or PC. Microsoft said that Bethesda’s structure and leadership will remain in place. This deal would mean Microsoft will have more hit titles in its gaming library, a key attraction point for gamers while choosing a console.

Both Microsoft and Sony are launching their next-generation gaming devices in November, with pre-orders for Xbox going live on Tuesday. Microsoft said the ZeniMax deal will close in the second half of the fiscal year 2021 and have minimal impact on adjusted operating income in fiscal years 2021 and 2022

Sourced from Reuters America Wire, edited for brevity