ZeniMax Picks Up MachineGames, Founded By Starbreeze Studios Members

ZeniMax Media continues its recent spate of acquisitions with news that it's picked up European game studio MachineGames. The Sweden-based studio was founded in 2009 by founding members of Starbreeze Studios, the team behind The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and The Darkness.

MachineGames is working on a still-unannounced title that will be published by Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax's publishing subsidiary. The game is being developed using id Software's id Tech 5 engine.

“Working with our new colleagues at id and the world class publisher, Bethesda Softworks, is a tremendous opportunity,” said MachineGames' CEO and executive producer, Jerk Gustafsson. “MachineGames has assembled a dedicated team that has extensive experience working together to produce quality games. We are excited to create a new AAA title for gamers on id Tech 5 that will push the game development envelope.”

The move follows recent acquisitions of Shinji Mikami's Tango Gameworks, id Software, and Arkane Studios.