will buy ZeniMax Media, the company that owns well-known video game publisher Bethesda, for $7.5 billion in cash.
It’s the biggest gaming acquisition in Microsoft’s history. The company bought Mojang, the studio behind popular title Minecraft, for $2.5 billion in late 2014. That proved to be a boon to the company as Minecraft continued to surge in popularity, rapidly becoming the world’s bestselling game with more than 200 million copies sold to date.
The acquisition of Bethesda gives Microsoft access to a raft of successful game franchises, including the role-playing game series Fallout and The Elder Scrolls and the Doom shooter franchise.
“Gaming is the most expansive category in the entertainment industry, as people everywhere turn to gaming to connect, socialize and play with their friends,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said.