Bethesda

Bethesda parent ZeniMax Media bought id Software. id Software is responsible for Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein and will release Rage under Bethesda.

Bethesda will publish all of id’s games going forward except for games that are already signed to other studios. Activision has Wolfenstein and EA has an unnamed game.

The studio will still be run by John Carmack who released this statement today, “No changes will be made in the operations of id Software in the development of its 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.”

Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, added: “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.”

Carmack himself said: “This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward. 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.”

[source mcvuk]