Earlier this week, ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, announced a $300 million investment from Providence Equity Partners Inc. As a result of the investment, ZeniMax plans to fund endeavors in game development, acquisitions, and publishing. There's no word on an Elder Scrolls or Fallout MMO, but massively multiplayer gaming is indeed in ZeniMax's sights, as the genre was also cited as part of future plans for the company.
ZeniMax founder and CEO Robert A. Altman said, "We believe that Providence will be an ideal partner for us as we build our businesses worldwide in the years ahead. Providence shares our strategic vision for the Company and is excited by the opportunity to help us move into a position of leadership in this industry."
Michael Dominguez, a Managing Director at Providence, will join ZeniMax's Board of Directors, which includes Altman, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, MGM Chairman Harry E. Sloan, film producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., among others. Dominguez said, "ZeniMax Media has an outstanding series of proven interactive entertainment content and a burgeoning position in the rapidly growing global video game market. We look forward to working with Robert to build value at ZeniMax Media over the long-term."
What does all of this mean to you, the gamer? Cal Ripken is just as interested in Fallout 3 as you, but for totally different reasons.
