San Francisco (CA)- ZeniMax Media – the parent company of Bethesda Softworks – has bought id Software for an undisclosed amount.
“The acquisition by ZeniMax Media joins together two of the finest, most respected videogame developers in the world, combining the first person shooter (FPS) expertise of id Software with acclaimed role playing game (RPG) developer Bethesda Game Studios – creators of the 2008 Game of the Year, Fallout 3, and the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bethesda Softworks will publish the titles of id Software other than upcoming releases previously committed to other publishers,” id Software explained in a statement.
Id Software, founded in 1991, was responsible for developing a number of legendary FPS (first-person shooter) titles, including Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein and the upcoming Rage. The company will continue to operate as a studio under the auspices of its founder, John Carmack.
“This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward,” said Carmack. “We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them. We will be bigger and stronger, as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am.”
ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman expressed similar sentiments. “We, along with many others, consider id Software to be among the finest game studios in the world, with extraordinary design, artistic and technical capabilities. They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that rare ability to create franchise properties that are critical and commercial successes. Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best – make AAA games. Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand.”
