The most expensive video game deal ever 

Microsoft has added another jewel in the crown to its growing roster of tech companies – this time ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion


U.S. video game holding company founded in 1999.
It owns id Software (makers of Doom and Quake), Arkane Studios (Dishonored, Prey), MachineGames (Wolfenstein), Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within) and Bethesda Softworks, publisher of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout

Price: $7.5bn, biggest video game purchase in history*

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (pictured) has sold 30m copies


Microsoft has spent almost $70bn on its top 10 deals (roughly 5% of its current market capitalisation)


MICROSOFT’S 10 LARGEST ACQUISITIONS (since 1987, $billions)

LinkedIn 2016 
26.2

Skype 2011
8.5

7.5

Github 2018
7.5

Nokia 2014
7.2

aQuantive 2007
6.3

Mojang 2014
2.5

Visio Corporation 1999
1.4

Affirmed Networks 2020
1.4

Navision 2002
1.3
  

*Completes 2021


Sources: Bloomberg, CB Insights  
Picture: Bethesda Softworks 
© GRAPHIC NEWS