ZeniMax Acquires MachineGames

The owners of famous game companies like Bethesda Games, id, and Shinji Mikami's Tango Gameworks acquire another set of respected game developers.

Published on November 11, 2010 1:12 PM

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Today ZeniMax Media Inc. has announced the acquisition of MachineGames, and new studio comprised of the founding members of StarBreeze Studios. StarBreeze is known primarily for their work on The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher's Bay.

The team, based in Uppsala, Sweden will be joining the ranks of other popular acquisitions by ZeniMax, including Bethesda Games, Shinji Mikami's Tango Gameworks, and id Software. The team will take use of id's latest work, id Tech 5 engine technology, to make what they hope to become AAA games.

With the purchase of the company, ZeniMax is officially renaming MachineGames to ZeniMax Sweden AB. As of right now, the exact project the team will be working on is unknown, though an announcement will likely be made in the near future.

MachineGames™ Established by Starbreeze Founders to Develop Multi-Platform Titles for Bethesda Softworks

Creators of High-Scoring “Chronicles of Riddick” Game will Use id Tech® 5

November 11, 2010 (Rockville, MD) – ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of noted game publisher Bethesda Softworks, today announced it has acquired a European development studio, MachineGames™, based in Uppsala, Sweden.

Established in 2009 by the founding members of Starbreeze Studios, the creative team behind the award-winning title, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher’s Bay (Metacritic score: 90) and the highly-regarded game, The Darkness, MachineGames is working on an unannounced project for ZeniMax publishing subsidiary, Bethesda Softworks, that is being built on id Software’s revolutionary id Tech® 5 engine technology.

Jerk Gustafsson, the studio’s CEO who will also oversee development as Executive Producer, expressed his studio’s enthusiasm at joining ZeniMax by saying, “Working with our new colleagues at id and the world class publisher, Bethesda Softworks, is a tremendous opportunity.”

“MachineGames has assembled a dedicated team that has extensive experience working together to produce quality games. We are excited to create a new AAA title for gamers on id Tech 5 that will push the game development envelope,” Gustafsson continued.

MachineGames joins a group of high-profile development studios which includes Bethesda Game Studios®, id® Software, Arkane® Studios and Tango Gameworks™. This deal reinforces Bethesda’s commitment to delivering premier titles to gamers worldwide.

"MachineGames shares our passion for creating ground-breaking gaming experiences,” said Robert Altman, Chairman and CEO of ZeniMax Media. "We are excited to have these accomplished industry veterans join ZeniMax Media’s group of world-class studios."