In a particularly shocking turn of events, Bethesda Softworks (Oblivion, Fallout 3) parent company, ZeniMax Media, has completed its acquisition of the legendary DOOM and Quake developer, id Software, a historically staunchly independent studio. id Software CEO, Todd Hollenshead commented on the acquisition:

“This was a unique opportunity to team with a smart, sophisticated publisher like Bethesda Softworks where the interests of the studio and the publisher will be fully aligned in the development and marketing of our titles.

“In addition,” Hollenshead continued, “we will now have financial and business resources to support the future growth of id Software, a huge advantage which will result in more and even better games for our fans.”

Game developer and graphics programmer extraordinaire, John Carmack, who will continue at id Software as technical director, remarked:

“This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward. We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them.

“We will be bigger and stronger,” said Carmack, “as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am.”

Finally, founder, Chairman & CEO of ZeniMax Media, Robert Altman stated: “We, along with many others, consider id Software to be among the finest game studios in the world, with extraordinary design, artistic and technical capabilities.

“They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that rare ability to create franchise properties that are critical and commercial successes,” Altman enthused. “Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best – make AAA games.

“Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand.”

It’s been asserted that id Software, currently hard at work on RAGE, the next DOOM, and a variety of cellphone and iPhone game projects, will not have its development operations negatively affected by the acquisition, and will “continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack.”

Additionally, all of id Software’s principal members have signed long-term employment contracts, ensuring they will continue to serve in their current roles at the studio.

As mentioned, and since its founding in 1991, id Software has remained staunchly independent, refusing buyout offers for years as John Carmack and co. remained fiercely in charge of the running of the company, which allowed the developers unprecedented freedom in the games industry, able to talk at will about their opinions, desired directions, as well as projects they have in the pipeline.

This freedom is never more evident than during John Carmack’s annual QuakeCon keynote speeches, where he ‘rambles on’ (his words) about anything and everything that’s bouncing around in his head at the time, sometimes stepping on toes and calling out what he views as insufficiencies in the games industry with his off-the-cuff comments - comments that are usually viewed as great motivators for change.

Hopefully this acquisition doesn’t hamper id Software’s (and John Carmack’s) unbridled ability to ‘say it like it is,’ or inhibit their development practices.