ZeniMax Media

ZeniMax Media Inc. is an American developer, marketer, publisher, and distributor of computer and video games. It is based in Rockville, Maryland.

ZeniMax Media is known as a third party publisher and as the owner of Bethesda Softworks (developer of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout 3), id Software (developer of DOOM), and Arkane Studios (developer of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic).

ZeniMax Media development studios
The following video game development studios and brands are owned by ZeniMax Media:


 * id Software in Dallas, Texas, founded 1991, acquired 2009
 * Bethesda Softworks in Rockville, Maryland, founded 1985, acquired 1999
 * Vir2L Studios (Mobile phone and handheld game development)
 * Mud Duck Productions
 * ZeniMax Online Studios (MMOG development)
 * Arkane Studios, acquired in 2010

History
ZeniMax Media was founded in 1999 by Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher Weaver and Robert A. Altman. Weaver's vision was to use Bethesda Softworks as a hybrid-media company which would create cross-media properties for a diverse range of different platforms. Weaver brought Altman on board as CEO, contributing his stock in Bethesda Softworks so that the new shell company (ZeniMax Media) would be able to obtain funding. Weaver moved to a non-operational role in 2002.

Under ZeniMax Media, Bethesda developed and published The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bethesda is also the publisher of three new Star Trek games, Star Trek: Legacy (PC/Xbox 360), Star Trek: Tactical Assault (Nintendo DS/PlayStation Portable), and Star Trek: Encounters (PlayStation 2).

In 2004, ZeniMax Media acquired the Fallout franchise from Interplay Entertainment. Bethesda's Todd Howard said in January 2007 that "We started work on Fallout 3 in late 2004 with a few people. We only had about 10 people on it until Oblivion wrapped, but most of our staff is on it now." Fallout 3 was released in October 2008.

On June 24, 2009, it was announced that ZeniMax Media had purchased independent developer id Software.

In September 2009 ZeniMax Media acquired rights to the Prey video game franchise.

In December 2009 ZeniMax Media acquired publishing rights to the id Software game Rage. The game was to be published by Electronic Arts.

On August 12, 2010 Zenimax Media acquired independent developer Arkane Studios.