Rockville-based
ZeniMax Media, parent company of
Bethesda Softwworks, added
id Software, legendary game studio behind "DOOM," "QUAKE", "Wolfenstein" and other games, to its gaming roster in June. Bethesda Softworks will publish the titles of Texas-based id Software except for any upcoming releases already committed to other publishers.
The marriage of the two companies is being heralded for combining the first-person shooter expertise of id Software with the role playing game prowess of ZeniMax Media's Bethesda Game Studios, the team behind "Fallout 3," the 2008 Game of the Year and "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion," the 2006 Game of the Year. The cost of the acquisition was not made public, but media reports have placed it at around $105 million.
"This was a unique opportunity to team with a smart, sophisticated publisher like Bethesda Softworks where the interests of the studio and the publisher will be fully aligned in the development and marketing of our titles," says id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead. "In addition, we will now have financial and business resources to support the future growth of id Software, a huge advantage which will result in more and even better games for our fans."
id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack, and no operation changes will be made in the development of id Software games. All id Software principals have signed long-term employment contracts stating they will continue in their roles at the studio. Carmack, a member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, says he relishes the opportunity to "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."
Writer: Lucy Ament
Source: Todd Hollenshead, id Software