ZeniMax Media
Encyclopedia
ZeniMax Media Inc. is an American media company that develops
and publishes
computer and video games through its subsidiaries. ZeniMax is known as the owner of id Software
(developer of DOOM and Quake
), Bethesda Softworks
(developer of The Elder Scrolls
and Fallout), Arkane Studios
(developer of Arx Fatalis
and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
), Tango Gameworks and Machinegames.
and Robert A. Altman
. Weaver's vision was to use Bethesda Softworks as a hybrid-media company which would create cross-media properties for a diverse range of different platforms. Weaver brought Altman on board as CEO, contributing his stock in Bethesda Softworks so that the new shell company, named ZeniMax Media, would be able to obtain funding. Weaver moved to a non-operational role in 2002.
In 2004, ZeniMax Media acquired the Fallout franchise from Interplay Entertainment
. Bethesda's Todd Howard
said in January 2007 that "We started work on Fallout 3
in late 2004 with a few people. We only had about 10 people on it until Oblivion
wrapped, but most of our staff is on it now." Fallout 3 was released in October 2008.
On June 24, 2009, it was announced that ZeniMax Media had purchased independent developer id Software
.
In September 2009 ZeniMax Media acquired rights to the Prey video game franchise.
In December 2009 ZeniMax Media acquired publishing rights to the id Software game Rage
. The game was to be published by Electronic Arts
.
On August 12, 2010 Zenimax Media acquired independent developer Arkane Studios
.
On October 6, 2010 Zenimax Media received $150 million private investment in convertible preferred stock from Providence Equity Partners
. Earlier in October 2007 Providence also invested $300 million in Zenimax convertible preferred stock.
On October 28, 2010 Zenimax Media acquired Shinji Mikami
's Tango Gameworks studio.
On November 5, 2010 Zenimax Media acquired independent developer MachineGames, which had been founded by developers who left Starbreeze Studios
.
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
and publishes
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
computer and video games through its subsidiaries. ZeniMax is known as the owner of id Software
Id Software
Id Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
(developer of DOOM and Quake
Quake (series)
The Quake series is a line of first-person shooter video games produced by id Software.-Overview:The Quake series is somewhat unusual in that its focus changes frequently; the story of Quake II has nothing to do with Quake, and Quake III Arena has little to do with either of its predecessors...
), Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks, LLC, is an American video game company. A subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, the company was originally based in Bethesda, Maryland and eventually moved to their current location in Rockville, Maryland...
(developer of The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls is a role-playing video game series developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.-History:...
and Fallout), Arkane Studios
Arkane Studios
Arkane Studios is a video game developer based in Lyon, France. It was founded in 1999, and released its first game, Arx Fatalis, in 2002. Arkane Studios opened an Austin, Texas-based office in July 2006....
(developer of Arx Fatalis
Arx Fatalis
Arx Fatalis is a partially open source first-person role-playing video game for the Xbox and PC, released on November 2002 by Arkane Studios, a video game developer based in Lyon, France....
and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, additionally subtitled Elements on Xbox 360, is a first-person action game developed by Arkane Studios and Floodgate Entertainment. Kuju Entertainment developed the multiplayer mode...
), Tango Gameworks and Machinegames.
Development Studios (Chronological Order)
- Bethesda Game Studios, acquired in 1999.
- ZeniMax Online StudiosZeniMax Online StudiosZeniMax Online Studios is a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media Inc. specializing in the development of a massively multiplayer online game. The company is in the process of developing an unannounced game.-History:...
(MMOGMassively multiplayer online gameA massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
development), created 2007. - Vir2L Studios, created 2008.
- id SoftwareId SoftwareId Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
, acquired in June 2009. - Arkane StudiosArkane StudiosArkane Studios is a video game developer based in Lyon, France. It was founded in 1999, and released its first game, Arx Fatalis, in 2002. Arkane Studios opened an Austin, Texas-based office in July 2006....
, acquired in August 2010. - Tango GameworksShinji Mikamiis a Japanese video game designer best known for creating the seminal survival horror series Resident Evil. He also contributed to some of Capcom's most popular post-32-bit era franchises, including Viewtiful Joe, Devil May Cry, and Ace Attorney, where he served as an executive producer...
, acquired in October 2010. - MachineGames, acquired in November 2010.
Publishing
- Bethesda SoftworksBethesda SoftworksBethesda Softworks, LLC, is an American video game company. A subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, the company was originally based in Bethesda, Maryland and eventually moved to their current location in Rockville, Maryland...
- ZeniMax Asia KK
- ZeniMax Europe Ltd.
- ZeniMax Germany GmbH
- ZeniMax France SAS
- ZeniMax Benelux BV
History
ZeniMax Media was founded in 1999 by Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher WeaverChristopher Weaver
Christopher Weaver is a software developer, innovator and entrepreneur, and the founder of Bethesda Softworks. He spearheaded the development of the first physics engine for realtime sports simulation, culminating in the creation of the original John Madden Football for Electronic Arts, as well as...
and Robert A. Altman
Robert A. Altman
Robert A. Altman is the current chairman and CEO of ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Softworks, LLC.-Career:Altman is a lawyer. He became part of the company BCCI. During his time there he was accused of helping the business buy an American bank and lying to US regulators about it. In...
. Weaver's vision was to use Bethesda Softworks as a hybrid-media company which would create cross-media properties for a diverse range of different platforms. Weaver brought Altman on board as CEO, contributing his stock in Bethesda Softworks so that the new shell company, named ZeniMax Media, would be able to obtain funding. Weaver moved to a non-operational role in 2002.
In 2004, ZeniMax Media acquired the Fallout franchise from Interplay Entertainment
Interplay Entertainment
Interplay Entertainment Corporation is an American video game developer and publisher, founded in 1983 as Interplay Productions by Brian Fargo. The company had been a quality developer until they started publishing their own games in 1988, like Neuromancer and Battle Chess. The company was renamed...
. Bethesda's Todd Howard
Todd Howard
Todd Howard is an American designer, director, and producer. He is currently Game Director and Executive Producer for Bethesda Game Studios, where he has led the creation of Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls video game series. GamePro magazine named him to the Top 20 Most Influential People in Gaming...
said in January 2007 that "We started work on Fallout 3
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 is an action role-playing game released by Bethesda Game Studios, and the third major installment in the Fallout series. The game was released in North America, Europe and Australia in October 2008, and in Japan in December 2008 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
in late 2004 with a few people. We only had about 10 people on it until Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a single-player action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive subsidiary 2K Games...
wrapped, but most of our staff is on it now." Fallout 3 was released in October 2008.
On June 24, 2009, it was announced that ZeniMax Media had purchased independent developer id Software
Id Software
Id Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
.
In September 2009 ZeniMax Media acquired rights to the Prey video game franchise.
In December 2009 ZeniMax Media acquired publishing rights to the id Software game Rage
Rage (video game)
Rage is a first-person shooter video game by id Software which was released on October 4, 2011 in North America. It uses the company's new OpenGL based id Tech 5 engine. The game was first shown as a tech demo on June 11, 2007, at Apple's WWDC, and was officially announced on August 2, 2007, at...
. The game was to be published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
.
On August 12, 2010 Zenimax Media acquired independent developer Arkane Studios
Arkane Studios
Arkane Studios is a video game developer based in Lyon, France. It was founded in 1999, and released its first game, Arx Fatalis, in 2002. Arkane Studios opened an Austin, Texas-based office in July 2006....
.
On October 6, 2010 Zenimax Media received $150 million private investment in convertible preferred stock from Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners
Providence Equity Partners is a global private equity investment firm focused on media, entertainment, communications and information investments...
. Earlier in October 2007 Providence also invested $300 million in Zenimax convertible preferred stock.
On October 28, 2010 Zenimax Media acquired Shinji Mikami
Shinji Mikami
is a Japanese video game designer best known for creating the seminal survival horror series Resident Evil. He also contributed to some of Capcom's most popular post-32-bit era franchises, including Viewtiful Joe, Devil May Cry, and Ace Attorney, where he served as an executive producer...
's Tango Gameworks studio.
On November 5, 2010 Zenimax Media acquired independent developer MachineGames, which had been founded by developers who left Starbreeze Studios
Starbreeze Studios
Starbreeze Studios is a video game development studio founded by members of the demo group Triton, based in Uppsala, Sweden.-History:The company was founded in 1998, under the name O3 Games. In 2000, O3 Games merged with the smaller company Starbreeze Studios which was then based in Härnösand, Sweden...
.