The European Commission have approved Microsoft's $7.5 billion acquisition of Zenimax Media, the parent company of Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and Doom developers and publishers Bethesda.
Microsoft's acquisition of Zenimax Media, the parent company of one of the biggest publishers and developers in the world - Bethesda - is now close to be officially finalised. Today, the European Commission have updated the case on their official website, confirming that they have approved the deal without any conditions since it "does not raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market."
The official announcement from Microsoft is now imminent. It's possible that the tech giant will be releasing a PR statement today or tomorrow since the deal has also been approved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Once the acquisition has been wrapped up, all Zenimax studios will join Microsoft's first-party studios list, which will skyrocket to 23, once all Bethesda sub-studios join in.
This is certainly an exciting time for all Xbox fans who will get every single Bethesda game day one on Game Pass. Microsoft are yet to reveal whether these games will stay multiplatform or become exclusive for their Xbox Series X|S consoles.
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Previously, Xbox head Phil Spencer confirmed that some games will indeed become exclusive for Microsoft while others will arrive to other platforms on a case by case basis. We should hear more of Microsoft's plans for Bethesda games on E3 2021.
