David on 12/8/2010 at 20:37
Quote:
Even Bethesda can't resist releasing some (tangentially) BioShock-related news today. During QuakeCon, Bethesda's Pete Hines announced that parent company Zenimax has acquired Arkane Studios, who most recently worked on level design for BioShock 2. The developer is also responsible for Arx Fatalis and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.
At the keynote, Arkane CEO Raphael Colantonio expressed his delight at being in the same company as id Software and Bethesda Softworks, and teased an unannounced game to be shown in the future, "including at QuakeCon." Which is, in fact, right now. So we'll find out about the product of this union really soon.
(
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/arkane-studios-acquired-by-zenimax-new-project-to-be-announced/) via Joystiq.
At least this means Arkane will survive. Hopefully Zenimax will let them be Arkane, and provide funding without
too much meddling!
Digital Nightfall on 12/8/2010 at 20:46
Arkane will thrive.
I think the article may be misinterpreting "in the future, including at QuakeCon." I suspect they're talking about a future QuakeCon. I've been wrong before, though!
addink on 12/8/2010 at 21:21
Cool news. Still, I'd rather read about their next game than who will profit from it..
I hope this allows Raf and his crew to focus more on developing their preferred game type.
Also, it does shed a new light on the Arkane supported Doom3 based Arx mod.
Jason Moyer on 13/8/2010 at 02:52
It would be pretty sweet if this meant Arkane were doing an Arx Fatalis 2 using Bethsoft tech.
Renzatic on 13/8/2010 at 04:30
Or Arx 2 with Id Tech 5. Judging from the article I read about Id no longer licensing their engines, and only using them for games built under the Zenimax banner, this could be the case.
So now Bethesda has access to Ids engines, and Arkanes scenario and design panache. Hell, if they got a good writer onboard, they could end up making some RPGs that'd kick you in the teeth.
Jason Moyer on 13/8/2010 at 04:34
They could make Elder Scrolls V in the Quake 2 engine for all I care, I just wish it would get announced already.
june gloom on 13/8/2010 at 04:47
Why? So we can have another boring "sandbox" generic fantasy game with 5 separate character models, a terrible fetchquest storyline, 1800 bugs that they just expect the fanbase to fix, and a 6-hour DLC about acquiring horse armor?
I'll pass.
EvaUnit02 on 13/8/2010 at 07:03
Not sure if serious. Bethesda would've learnt a lot of lessons since Oblivion and its generic-ness, Fallout 3's game world is proof of that.
This move only spells good things for the French/Texan/etc developer. Arkane will likely retain their identity, current structure and also their creative freedom. It'll likely be how it was when Id Software was bought by Zenimax, they just have a bigger budget to play with and the financial security if they try to gamble with potentially ambitious projects.
The future is looking very optimistic for Harvey Smith's probable immersive sim project at Arkane Austin.
mothra on 13/8/2010 at 11:03
this is good news. I'm gonna open a bottle and toast to that.
Eldron on 13/8/2010 at 11:14
Quote Posted by Jason Moyer
They could make Elder Scrolls V in the Quake 2 engine for all I care, I just wish it would get announced already.
While idtech just wouldn't work for a game such as the elder scrolls ones with those games being built around plugin architectures and the likes, an ARX style game could only benefit from the art tools and new megatexture stuff in idtech5,
A completely unique underground world, where every surface is handcrafted.
