Microsoft to Purchase ZOS

NewbieOKS · September 2020

Hotdog_23 wrote: »

As a ps4 player this makes me nervous but such is life. Don't see them stopping supporting it on PS but I can see changes being made in the long run.

Hope the dev's here get a nice bonus from this.

I believe Playstation will not be neglected, it still has the biggest market share for consoles as of today

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/console/worldwide

etchedpixels · September 2020

Sylvermynx wrote: »

The one thing that will kill this for me is crossplay when it happens. There's already too many people around for me.... I'll just go back to original Skyrim forever.

I don't see how they'd do cross-play. There are things like characters with the same name on the different servers owned by different people.

One thing you miss though - because almost everywhere in ESO is instanced the number of people you see wouldn't actually change. The number of instances would rise instead.

Norgh · September 2020

Add on's coming to an Xbox near you but not for PS users:)

redlink1979 · September 2020

Sylvermynx wrote: »

Hoo boy. Too bad it's not April.... Can you provide a link to that please?

Another source
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/09/21/welcoming-bethesda-to-the-xbox-family/
https://news.microsoft.com/2020/09/21/microsoft-to-acquire-zenimax-media-and-its-game-publisher-bethesda-softworks/

Oldaraness · September 2020

I saw... I saw... DAoC and Mythic... a great game, in the best time of it... and I saw EA... EA bought Mythic... and after I saw nothing... after a long long time, now I see ESO and Bethesda... and Microsoft...

Pyvos · September 2020

Norgh wrote: »

Add on's coming to an Xbox near you but not for PS users:)

And exactly what mechanism do you think is going to be magically created from thin air with the platform itself to facilitate this seeing as the only extra DLC content available is officially shipped content from the publishers? Other studios like Wildcard (developers of ARK: Survival Evolved) have a community that has wanted console add-ons since forever and it hasn't happened, because the services on these platforms required to facilitate it do not exist.

Kosef · September 2020

Hey.....At least it's not EA....be thankful it's not EA

Thannazzar · September 2020

gatekeeper13 wrote: »

Not sure if this good or bad news...

Hopefully good news, one thing in my humble experience with Microsoft is that they do communicate well with their business customers.

IRL I get regular sessions from Microsoft explaining how they intent to iterate certain applications, what functionality is on their development cycle and seeking feedback on what would be most useful to my organisation and how they could make the application meet the needs of my company.

In essence they find out what is wanted, develop it and recognize their customers are often the best people to give feedback on their work at the early stage, and throughout the development process.

scorpius2k1 · September 2020

Mahabahabtha wrote: »

methinks, after Years of no News for their upcoming Games like Starfield and ES6, they were broke

I am inclined to agree with this. Sure, they are a very wealthy company but at the same time it seems like they have too many IP's and not enough work done on them to sustain investments, etc to provide adequate returns. I have said and had a hunch about this stuff many times in the past. I have also felt it would be a wise choice would be that another company needs to buy out these IP's because, well...just look at the history. It truly speaks for itself, and here we are. One thing is for sure, money WONT be the issue in question this time, at least on the account of availability and investment. The question is, will things change and if so, for the better and moreso for the most important aspect...the PLAYER?

I am genuinely both worried and excited for ESO's future at this point (as well as other Bethesda/Zeni titles I enjoy).

SydneyGrey · September 2020

At least it's not EA.

TineaCruris · September 2020

carly wrote: »

AWESOME!....except for the part that says "...ESO will continue to be supported exactly as it was."

gepe87 · September 2020

Microsoft and Bethesda always had good synergy.
Remember Oblivion release on 360?

Zweible · September 2020

Microsoft tried a persistent MMO in the past. It was called Asherons Call. It was a disaster. Didn't last long.

NewbieOKS · September 2020

It was rumored Sony to acquired Zenimax at the first place.

Quoted in article below that ZeniMax Media was valued at $2.5 billion in 2016

https://segmentnext.com/2020/01/02/sony-rumored-acquisition-zenimax/

TineaCruris · September 2020

KappaKid83 wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't want it to be supported EXACTLY how it was and would like it to be better with better servers, better communication and a better overall experience than the crappy one that has been prevalent for the last 3+ years????

You not the only one.

Mariusghost84 · September 2020

this is fantastic news!

MJallday · September 2020

Do you a think with 7.5billion they might find 50 quid for a new server now?

Pandorii · September 2020

Can someone help me understand the difference between ZOS and Bethasda? Microsoft bought ZOS. Does that mean Bethesda is still it's own thing? What does that mean for Elder Scrolls (Not Online)?

gp1680 · September 2020

Interesting news for sure. Here’s hoping they can hire some devs who don’t make combat changes based on throwing darts at a dartboard.

Norgh · September 2020

Quite a big announcement right before the new Xbox's open on pre order.

Janus_Cruenti · September 2020

I wonder why people here complaining about "microsoft will get all our data now" while most of the uses windows on their pc.

DreamsUnderStars · September 2020

I'd be worried if this was Activision, Gamingo or probably EA buying ZOS.

MJallday · September 2020

Pandorii wrote: »

Can someone help me understand the difference between ZOS and Bethasda? Microsoft bought ZOS. Does that mean Bethesda is still it's own thing? What does that mean for Elder Scrolls (Not Online)?

Zos media are the company that have just been bought by Microsoft
Zos media own Bethesda and Zenimax online studios and many other smaller companies

They all exist as entities within a corporate parent. It is likely that will continue until (and. If) MS decide to amalgamate elements which they may or may not

NewbieOKS · September 2020

Pandorii wrote: »

Can someone help me understand the difference between ZOS and Bethasda? Microsoft bought ZOS. Does that mean Bethesda is still it's own thing? What does that mean for Elder Scrolls (Not Online)?

As far as I understand, ZOS and Bethesda Studios are divisions/subsidiaries under ZeniMax Media Inc.
Microsoft purchased ZeniMax Media Inc

About ZeniMax Media Inc.
ZeniMax Media is a privately-owned media organization headquartered outside Washington DC with international publishing offices around the globe. Through its subsidiaries, ZeniMax Media creates and publishes original interactive entertainment content for consoles, PCs, and handheld/wireless devices. ZeniMax Media divisions include Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane Studios, Tango Gameworks, MachineGames, ZeniMax Online Studios, Alpha Dog Games, Roundhouse Studios, ZeniMax Europe Ltd., ZeniMax Asia K.K., ZeniMax Asia Pacific Limited, and ZeniMax Australia Pty Ltd.

Aptonoth · September 2020

gepe87 wrote: »

Microsoft and Bethesda always had good synergy.
Remember Oblivion release on 360?

Is this a joke lol? Oblivion is the worst of the modern ES games by far. I have no idea if it was a good port or not had a PC nearly all my life.

TineaCruris · September 2020

BalticBlues wrote: »

BalticBlues wrote: »

Bethesda, could be you think about selling to Apple instead of Microsoft pls?
I am certain Apple would be thrilled of a purchase if you would offer one.

SeanBlader wrote: »

Let's just be clear Apple isn't a software company, they are a hardware company that happens to make some mediocre software on the side.

Don't you remember? Microsoft even RUINED their Windows mobile platform and Nokia with it due to their poor mobile software. At that time, it was Apple's iOS which REVOLUTIONIZED mobile platforms and mobile gaming as we know it today. Today, almost all mobile companies copy software concepts Apple invented (as Microsoft before copied Apple's desktop/mouse UI concepts). The computers and mobiles we use today are build on hardware and software concepts of Apple. Apple means innovations. M$ means just dollars.

You have that backwards. The Apple business model is "if you buy something Apple, you have to buy at least one other thing Apple to get full functionality". That IS NOT the microsoft business model....although they are creeping in that direction.

Apple is a status symbol, not really much more.

In reading this thread though, it did make me think that the vast majority upset with this sale are probably fans of Apple, and that may be where a lot of the unbased criticism is coming from.

goldenarcher1 · September 2020

Oh boy.

TineaCruris · September 2020

Luke_Flamesword wrote: »

It can be good, it can be bad, but personally I think that we have better chances for good option. Why? main reason is that previous owner had very predatory policy and I think it's one of reasons why ESO has problems. They don't want to invest too much, they wanted to milking game. I think that ZOS is really good team, but they just don't have enough resources (cash and employees) to make ESO great again So in worst scenario it will just the same situation and nothing changes (they won't butcher one of most most popular MMOs after paying 7,5 billion) and in good scenario - Microsoft will see potential of game and will invest more cash to make game better and build even bigger playerbase.

Also Microsoft bought Minecraft and as we can see - game is more popular and better developed than ever.

Just stay positive, what other we can do

I think this is exactly the situation we find ourselves in right now.

SilentRaven1972 · September 2020

At least it wasn't bought by Disney!

Ackwalan · September 2020

The creative team for ZOS won't change. They may go in a different direction, but that's normal. Other parts of ZOS, the parts that are in a support role will get moved around or eliminated. Position like QA and server maintenance will become redundant and fall under the umbrella for what Microsoft already has in place. Probably the first place the players will is a change is in the forums. Forum management is normally maintained by a 3rd party contractors and Microsoft will want to use whichever contractor they use now. 2021 game plan won't change much,, we will see some new names, but the next chapter for 2021 is already will on it's way. Of course all this is just conjecture on my part and Microsoft could chop up ZOS and sell it for lunch money.