Microsoft Zenimax

My first experience with Bethesda was through emulation in the mid 2000s playing Home Alone on the NES. The first real experience was in 2011 with Fallout: New Vegas on PlayStation 3. Since then, I've enjoyed the Fallout series, played my share of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Though I've played my share of Id Software games since 1995, I've gotten into most of their properties this generation and their mid-90s releases. Now, Microsoft has acquired Zenimax, the parent company of Bethesda. At 7.5 billion dollars, it's a big risk they are willing to take.

This is a huge gamble with their Xbox Series systems coming out in less than two months. You can speculate all you want on what Microsoft might do. Some online think it could be for Game Pass. I could see it a little bit. To play some of the Xbox One library and have the output they have had since 2013. Comes off a bit attractive. Future titles like Elder Scrolls VI could spike interest in getting Xbox Series compared to PS5 and Switch, though Microsoft can be a little lenient in letting their releases go to competitors. Sony is going that route with some titles as well. The companies Bethesda has can make a hit any time they can.

All that aside, Microsoft could dictate what they want, but let's not jump to hasty conclusions. Bethesda will be in spotlight, but the light will get brighter. When they make games in house, they do have their share of issues. The biggest ones being frame rate issues and locking up titles as you play them. I think the criticism will be a bit bigger. Not to mention the titles. Doom Eternal just released this spring for PS4 and Xbox One. Elder Scrolls VI will come out. The question is when?  I think 2022 or 2023. Wolfenstein 3 is one that is going to come out I believe sooner than later. Could it see release on next generation hardware along with current systems? I wouldn't hold my breath, but New Order got released on PS3 and Xbox 360 along with new generation hardware in 2014.

Take it as you will. Microsoft better not be expecting high expectations. Id is one of the reasons PC got really big in the 90s. Elder Scrolls got its start on DOS. A slow burn should be anticipated.