On September 21, a day before theXbox Series X pre-ordersgo live, Microsoft made the shocking announcement that it was acquiring ZeniMax Media, which includes Bethesda as well as all of the studios that fall under that umbrella. For $7.5 billion, Microsoft fixed its Xbox exclusivity problem and added a slew of major, blockbuster IPs to its lineup of games. This is one of the biggest company acquisitions in the history of video games, and some may not even fully realize the scope of what this encompasses.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesdaincludes some of the biggest video game franchises ever, potentially making them Xbox Series X console exclusives. While it’s possible Microsoft will still release some big Bethesda games on PS5, like how it does withMinecraft, one has to imagine that it would be more interested in bolstering the Xbox Series X’s lineup of exclusives.
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Here are all the big game franchises Xbox now owns after the Bethesda acquisition.
Dishonored
TheDishonoredseries successfully put Arkane Studios on the map, with the original standing as one of the most critically-acclaimed stealth games of the Xbox 360/PS3 era.Dishonored 2didn’t quite reach the same heights sales-wise, but it was still a major success with critics. And while Arkane is busy working onDeathloopright now, it’s quite likely that there will benew games in theDishonoredfranchiseat some point down the line.
Doom
Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda means that it also now has the rights to theDoomfranchise, easily one of the biggest “gets” of the acquisition. TheDoomfranchise is one of the most iconic in video game history, revolutionizing the FPS genre and remaining relevant to this day.Doom Eternalis one of the top-rated video games of 2020so far, and this acquisition means it will likely end up on the Xbox Game Pass service sooner rather than later.
Fallout
WhileFallout 76may have soured some fans on Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic franchise, it has produced many more hits than it has misses.Fallout 3,New Vegas, andFallout 4were all critically-acclaimed games, and there’s no doubt still a massive audience for the franchise. Not only that, but Microsoft’s control of theFalloutIP could potentially seeObsidian finally makeFallout: New Vegas 2, as Xbox now owns both Bethesda and Obsidian.
Prey
ThePreyfranchisehas been through multiple periods of development hell, with the original game taking ages to release, and the sequel being scrapped only to be replaced by a completely new, moreBioShock-like concept. While thePreyseries has historically struggled, the resources it now has access to thanks to the Microsoft acquisition could see it make a comeback in a big way.
Quake
WhileDoommay get all the recognition nowadays,Quake’s impact on the gaming industrycan’t be denied either.Quakehasn’t enjoyed the same kind of comeback thatDoomhas, but now that Microsoft owns the IP, there is newfound hope that theQuakefranchise could potentially have a major return to form on Xbox.
Rage
RageandRage 2aren’t regarded quite as highly asDoomorQuake, but the series certainly has its fans. A potential thirdRagegame could address concerns fans had about the previous entries, and better-deliver on the franchise’s potential to be theMad Maxof video games.
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Starfield
Right now,Bethesda is hard at work onStarfield, a new science-fiction IP that is hotly anticipated by the company’s fans. Next to nothing aboutStarfieldhas been shown to date, but we do know that it will be the next game from Bethesda, set to launch at some point beforeThe Elder Scrolls 6. Now thatStarfieldis likely an Xbox Series X console exclusive, it will be interesting to see if its scope and budget increase accordingly.
The Elder Scrolls
Arguably the most important franchise Xbox now owns as part of the Bethesda acquisition isThe Elder Scrolls. Bethesda’s fantasy RPG series is one of the most popular video game franchises in the world, withThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimstill going strong nearly 10 years after its launch. LikeStarfield, not much is known aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6, but we do know that the game is in active development. And if it ends up being an Xbox Series X console exclusive, millions ofElder Scrollsfans will suddenly have a big reason to purchase an Xbox Series X.
The Evil Within
Famed game designer Shinji Mikami, the creator of theResident Evilfranchise and the director ofResident Evil 4, one of the highest-rated games ever, is the CEO of Tango Gameworks, another studio Microsoft acquired with its ZeniMax Media purchase. Mikami’s talent and impact on the gaming industry can’t be understated, and now Microsoft owns the rights to Mikami’s horror series,The Evil Within.
Wolfenstein
Classic FPS series likeDoomandQuakeare now under the Xbox umbrella, and so too isWolfenstein.MachineGameshas done critically-acclaimed work with its most recentWolfensteintitles, and it will definitely be interesting to see where the franchise goes next.
Other Games
Besides the games listed here, there a number of smaller Bethesda titles and franchises that Xbox now owns. It also owns upcoming Bethesda games likeDeathloopandGhostwire: Tokyo, thoughXbox will be honoring those games' PS5 exclusivity agreements, at least for the time being. It’s possible thatDeathloopandGhostwirewill come to Xbox Series X eventually, and it’s even likelier that the games' sequels will come to Xbox Series X as well.
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