CEO and co-founder of Zenimax Media, Robert A. Altman, has passed away at the age of 73. He along, with Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher Weaver, created Zenimax Media in 1999. Soon after, the pair brought Bethesda Softworks under the new corporation’s umbrella, which would start it down the path to becoming one of the gaming industry’s biggest names. Under Zenimax Media and Robert Altman, Bethesda Game Studios would go on to make hit franchises like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls while Bethesda Softworks helped to publish series like Doom and Dishonored.
This sad news follows last year’s surprising announcement that Zenimax Media, the parent company of several developers including Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, MachineGames, Arkane Studios, and more, was in the process of being acquired by Microsoft. The $7.5 billion deal made last year will be cemented sometime in the second of the company’s 2021 fiscal year if everything goes to plan. When everything is settled, Microsoft will own the rights to a multitude of high-profile, well-established gaming franchises, but it seems like the company is not content to rest on its soon-to-be-acquired laurels. Bethesda recently announced that it would be working on a new Indiana Jones game which left many questioning if the title would become an Xbox exclusive. Before those questions can be answered, Microsoft is looking to get approval for the major purchase from EU antitrust regulators next month.
Bethesda broke the news of Robert Altman’s passing in a touching social media post this morning which memorialized the company leader. It lauded Altman as both a “true visionary” and an “extraordinary leader” while praising him for the faith he put into the people surrounding him, including those who helped to make the Microsoft acquisition a reality. Included with these words is an image of the Zenimax Media co-founder as well as a note which Altman had sent out to his team during the global pandemic. His message shared his personal experience with the lockdown as well as urged the readers to take time for themselves. The last part of the CEO’s statement focuses on the company’s 21st anniversary, calling out everyone's hard work which made that achievement possible.
In closing, the Bethesda team thanks Altman for his work and extends their sympathy to the Altman family. Altman leaves behind a legacy overflowing with important franchises for the gaming industry including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Quake, Rage, Dishonored, Prey, Wolfenstein, The Evil Within, and many more.
As CEO and co-founder of Zenimax Media, Robert Altman made a considerable impact on the industry. With the company set to join with Microsoft and new projects on the way, that impact will be felt for a long time to come.
Source: Bethesda/Twitter