Although leaving the company in 2002 Bethesda's founder Christopher Weaver has kept a keen eye on his former company. Talking to Inverse about Microsoft's ZeniMax Media buyout, Weaver has said that Microsoft's tactics of buying studios simply so Sony can't have them could be a "brilliant counter-move" against the PlayStation producer.
The interview brings up Microsoft's history of picking up development studios, like Bungie, in an effort to continue providing its customers with new exclusive and content that PlayStation fans are sure to go Xbox-green with envy over.
But all is not lost for Sony. As Weaver rightly brings up that even with this acquisition, studios creating games need to do it well for the business move to pay off. "At the end of the day, a product can only be as good as the creatives who make it," says Weaver, and he's right. As long as Microsoft gives Bethesda and ZeniMax the room it needs to continue creating tremendous titles, then this should absolutely work in its favour. Depending on what Microsoft and Zenimaz does next and the exact terms of the deal, PlayStation fans may still get their fill of content.
Weaver also goes on to mention that he thinks Microsoft's timing was carefully planned. He comments that he does "not think it is any accident that this announcement occurred so close to Sony's PS5 announcement. There are only a limited number of proven creators of AAA. What Microsoft owns, Sony cannot get." Microsoft obviously wanted to hammer home where its strengths lie.
In the end Weaver thinks that the real winners of the deal are consumers, those that benefit from new collaborations and even the potential for Game Pass deals, which makes the Xbox Series S even more of a bargain. Ah well PlayStation, at least you've got your controller closeups.Featured Image Credit: ESA / Microsoft