Id Software Partners with Bethesda Softworks

One of gaming’s most revered game studios is about to press START on a new level of their illustrious history. ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of acclaimed game publisher Bethesda Softworks, announced today that they had completed an acquisition of the legendary id Software. From now on, Bethesda Softworks will publish the titles of id Software, save for upcoming releases already committed to other publishers.

The developers at id Software have come out with some of the industry’s most famous and game-changing titles over the years, including DOOM, QUAKE, Wolfenstein, and the upcoming RAGE. The folks at Bethesda aren’t slouches either, creating the highly acclaimed fantasy RPG Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and the equally decorated post-apocalyptic adventure Fallout 3.

See? This fair knight is ecstatic about the news, so why aren’t you?

Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, has this to say about the acquisition: “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. 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.”

Those curious about how this team-up will affect staffing will be happy to hear that id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack. Apparently, ZeniMax is taking a hands-off approach, as no changes will be made in how id Software operates or how they develop their games. All the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles developing games at the studio.

“This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward,” says 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.”

id Software helped pave the way, so who knows where they’ll go next.

ZeniMax are also extremely happy with the acquisition, as Robert Altman (founder, Chairman and CEO of ZeniMax Media) states: “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.”

This is a truly intriguing team-up, and I’ll be really interested to see how these teams interact and what sorts of titles will start to come down the pipeline in the near future. One of the premier RPG developers now has the chance to work hand-in-hand with the company that pretty much wrote the book on FPS’s and helped foster the birth competitive gaming thanks to QUAKE. Who knows what kind of electronic love-child will emerge from this partnership, but the future is definitely looking bright for all involved.