Bethesda parent company buys id Software
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Jun 24th 2009 at 12:02PM } 
Despite the acquisition, ZeniMax expects id Software to continue operating as before. "No changes will be made in the operations of id Software in the development of its games," the press release states. "id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack ... All the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles developing games in the future." In other words, don't expect major folks at id to jump ship.
A large emphasis is being placed on how id will benefit from ZeniMax resources. "Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand," said Robert Altman, founder and CEO of ZeniMax Media. "Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best – make AAA games." Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, also agrees that the acquisition will result in better financial security for the team: "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."
While it appears id has much to gain from the merger, we're more intrigued by what Bethesda can gain. While Fallout 3 has earned heaps of critical praise, many will agree that graphics tech is far from Bethesda's strong suit. With Carmack and idTech now owned by ZeniMax, future Bethesda titles are sure to benefit. See John Carmack's statement after the break.
"This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward," said John Carmack, who will continue to serve in his current role as Technical Director. "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."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Akrid @ Jun 24th 2009 12:12PM
I dislike this trend of forming massive mega companies. Curse you, capatilization!
copa @ Jun 24th 2009 12:38PM
I don't know what choice id had. What exactly has been their source of revenue for the last half decade? Back sales of Doom 3?
When the current console generation started, id was better positioned than any other company to own the engine space. They had all of the resources and experience to build a development toolset that could compete with, even crush, Unreal Engine.
What happened? Four years after the launch of the XBox 360, and not a peep from these guys. Why did they hand this market over to Epic?
Well, the consequences of farting around for a few years is that they now take orders from a new boss. Hope they can pull themselves together...
Joel @ Jun 24th 2009 12:49PM
Geez, enough with the cursing...what do you have against uppercase letters, anyway?
Ellianth @ Jun 24th 2009 1:13PM
why? the employees from the companies always leave and form their own studios where awesome stuff gets put out.
WiredKnight @ Jun 24th 2009 1:36PM
Yes, god forbid we give AAA studios more money so they can make their games even better.
Ghen @ Jun 24th 2009 3:55PM
Just think about it. Rage already looks freaking awesome graphically... Just imagine that now with Fallout 3 money backing it.
onetrueping @ Jun 25th 2009 2:37PM
"Curse you, capatilization!"
What, they changed the name to ID Software? Curse them!
goboColossus (LIVE, PSN - gobopop) @ Jun 24th 2009 12:08PM
And now all that is left on the mainstream independent PC developer front is Valve. Don't go changin' id :(
I at least hope this means id will never, EVER, again outsource development to Ravenvision.
Captain Planet @ Jun 24th 2009 12:28PM
We still have Crytek and Epic Games...oh wait, they both release more tech than games.
Damnit id!!
Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 24th 2009 1:58PM
More bad news for PC gaming? : (
MuToiD_MaN @ Jun 24th 2009 2:20PM
"More bad news for PC gaming? : ("
My first instinct is to say yes.
smak @ Jun 24th 2009 4:41PM
They've already changed! Look at Carmack's statement. Ever seen more bullshit bingo buzzwords in an official statement?
"This will extend our synergy all franchises leveraging our capabilities enabling forward looking research bigger stronger best talent landmark games ever."
GMAFB.
AoE @ Jun 24th 2009 7:10PM
You all are talking like ZeniMax/Bethesda are a huge evil company like EA. Do I really need to remind you all that Bethesda is an old-school, primarily PC developer whose been around since the mid 80's? Need I remind you that ZeniMax was created/spun out of Bethesda in the mid-90's?
You all are acting like ZeniMax is a monolithic evil corporation and Bethesda is just some souless cog in a massive machine. I regret to inform you all, but this is not the case. Bethesda is arguably just as independent as Valve, the fact that their parent company now owns 2 studios instead of 1 doesn't make them into the great evil you all seem to be predicting.
genaldar @ Jun 25th 2009 6:09AM
Maybe I'm alone in this AoE, but I don't think of EA as a evil company...any more. Yeah, they milk franchises, but every does that. Activision on the other hand strikes me as the new incarnation of what to hate in gaming.
relaxeder @ Jun 24th 2009 12:11PM
"With Carmack and idTech now owned by ZeniMax, future Bethesda titles are sure to benefit." The Elder Scrolls V on idTech5, anyone?
Wow, very unexpected news. Next to Valve Software, id have always been one of the premiere independent games studios out there. Hopefully this acquisition won't lead to anything along the lines of dictating their development routine.
ECVOICE @ Jun 24th 2009 7:50PM
Total surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Considering Bethesda's recent track record and id's tech proficiency, I can only pine even more for the next Elder Scrolls.
Teph @ Jun 24th 2009 12:13PM
Holy freaking hell. This caught me way off guard. I've been trying to process it for 10 minutes and I'm still not sure what to do with it.
I guess it's not TOTALLY out of no where, if you consider that SplashDamage (a dev very close id with excellent relationship) is working with Bethesda on Brink.
Sounds like the 3 devs could move forward with a very healthy (and exciting!) relationship.
I love id games and the technical aspects they bring to the gaming industry, I love WolfET and think it's one of the best online team multiplayer games ever, and the Morrowind games and Fallout 3 have all been top notch, so all the devs are quite good and could probably pump out some wonderful games together.
I just hope the business side of things stay straight and no one gets screwed in the end.
F1shBone @ Jun 24th 2009 1:01PM
Thats a great point about splash damage. Id has been struggling to get a team together for Doom 4. Maybe they will be better able to draw talent in this position.
JXCgunrunna @ Jun 24th 2009 2:48PM
by marrowind games we will all assume you actually mean elder scroll games
Teph @ Jun 24th 2009 4:50PM
Lol. Yeah, Elder Scrolls.
Brain fart there.
Preston @ Jun 24th 2009 12:14PM
"Far from Bethesday's strong suit" is a bit of an understatement. They don't seem to know how to properly animate something as simple as 3rd person PCs walking, as anyone who played FO3 or Elder Scrolls games knows. :)
Lennoko @ Jun 24th 2009 12:16PM
That looks like an engine problem, more so then an Animation problem.
JoeTheBlow @ Jun 24th 2009 12:35PM
I can haz dynamic lighting and shadows plz?
kthxbai
WiredKnight @ Jun 24th 2009 1:40PM
@lennoko
Mmmmmmmno. Game engines don't really affect animation like that, unless you're using them for animation blending and behavior (like with euphoria or havok, which Bethesda doesn't do), but you still need good animation data to start with.
JXCgunrunna @ Jun 24th 2009 2:58PM
I actually agree with it being the engine. Their games seem to have the character model be stationary and let the world render around it in such a way that in third person it looks so bad.
greatslack @ Jun 26th 2009 1:04AM
I seem to remember everyone's PCs straining to handle both Elder Scrolls 3 and 4 when they came out.
Einhanderkiller @ Jun 24th 2009 12:14PM
I don't think I like this.
NaeemTHM @ Jun 24th 2009 12:15PM
OH SHIT! Carmack+Bethesda=Gaming Bliss
Does this mean I'll get a Doom RPG with the Fallout 3 engine!
I'm so excited for the next game these two great companies produce.
evilspoons @ Jun 24th 2009 1:10PM
LOL
I think you've got that backwards. Doom storyline with Bethedesa tech? RAWESOME!
JXCgunrunna @ Jun 24th 2009 3:00PM
you mean Bethesda RPG elements with id engine and shooting
Rollins @ Jun 24th 2009 12:16PM
Over 80% of computer gaming's creepy-looking faces are now under one roof! Excellent.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 24th 2009 12:38PM
Uncanny Valley videogame confirmed.
WiredKnight @ Jun 24th 2009 1:41PM
At least id's faces are meant to be creepy...
R (XBL: Esoteric Lord) @ Jun 24th 2009 12:16PM
Wow. Did not see this coming. To be honest though, I dont see it being that big of a deal. ID was big back in the day, but its been awhile since they did anything remarkable. The newer Quake games were fun, but nothing special. The same applies for Doom 3.
Still, having new talent and brainpower for the next Elder Scrolls game is a good thing.
(if anyone from bethesda is reading this, seriously, ES:V needs to be less oblivion, more morrowwind)
Petebot330 @ Jun 24th 2009 12:27PM
ES:V needs the environment of Morrowind (in detail and originality, not the same location), the journal and map of Oblivion, and the character and mission variety of Fallout 3. Their games have grown by leaps and bounds every time. I just started my 3rd playthrough of Fallout 3, and I am just as obsessed as I was the first time.
As far as the leveling system, that’s up for debate. I think that the Elder scrolls levelling system is a bit of a mess and they need to address that.
Joel @ Jun 24th 2009 12:58PM
@ Petebot
Oblivion had way more mission variety than Fallout. Mage, Fighter, and Thieve's guilds made for a huge variety of quests. And there was nothing as cool as the Dark Brotherhood in Fallout 3. Not even close.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 24th 2009 12:17PM
Finally the next Fallout and Elder Scrolls can have better animations. Love this move, and hopefully Rage benefits from it too.
-Vexx- @ Jun 24th 2009 12:19PM
Holy shit out of the blue.
Old Professor Zertoss @ Jun 24th 2009 12:22PM
I can't wait to see id grow a superego out of this.
rickjamess04 @ Jun 24th 2009 12:51PM
I see what you did there--very nice +1
Tim @ Jun 24th 2009 12:23PM
Talk about dropping a bombshell!
baby sea tuna @ Jun 24th 2009 12:46PM
Or perhaps...a Megaton?
Sorry, been playing too much Fallout 3 lately.
godsentdeath @ Jun 24th 2009 12:25PM
I wonder if this will translate into better Bethesda support for the PS3. Carmack is an outspoken supporter of the PS3. Maybe he will push for better support of it.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 24th 2009 12:30PM
Reply fail, that was meant for sprinkles.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 24th 2009 12:29PM
In this case the bad economy is good for us. This combination is going to produce probably the best games western development can offer.
Kattleox @ Jun 24th 2009 12:37PM
"By the nine divines! You must be the grand champion of the Quake Arena!"
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 24th 2009 12:46PM
"He is gonna kill us!"-The demons said.
The cyberdemon said-" I will kill him" and then the cyber demon fired his rockets but they couldn't stop this force.As the man kept walking to cyber demon he only said 5 words to him:
John:-"Stop right there criminal scum".
For the first and last time in his demonic life the cyber demon had experience the true terror.
(you should all be upvoting this man).
LordToastington @ Jun 24th 2009 1:13PM
YESSS!!! Now we need a John Freeman game.
LordToastington @ Jun 24th 2009 1:16PM
Sorry, should have elaborated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHxyZaZlaOs
Horrible fanfiction is so amazing.
Havok @ Jun 24th 2009 2:35PM
And then John was a zombie.