Bethesda Softworks
United States · Founded 1986 · Part of ZeniMax Media
bethesda.net ↗One PixProof is too few to judge a company — this record fills in as more of its claims get checked. Last PixProof Sep 13, 2026.
Quick facts
- What is Bethesda Softworks?
- Bethesda Softworks is an American video game publisher founded in 1986 by Christopher Weaver, which became a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media in 1999.
- Where is Bethesda Softworks from?
- United States. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, United States.
- Who owns Bethesda Softworks?
- Bethesda Softworks's parent company is ZeniMax Media.
- When was Bethesda Softworks founded?
- In 1986, by Christopher Weaver.
- Where does the name "Bethesda Softworks" come from?
- It's named after Pool of Bethesda.
▸ ABOUT BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
Bethesda Softworks is an American video game publisher founded in 1986 by Christopher Weaver, which became a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media in 1999. In 2001, ZeniMax established Bethesda Game Studios as the in-house development team responsible for Bethesda's flagship role-playing franchises, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, as well as Starfield. Microsoft acquired parent company ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion, completing the deal on March 9, 2021, making Bethesda part of Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios division while it continues to self-publish across platforms.
▸ WHO OWNS WHAT
From Wikidata (see record). Lists can include companies since merged or closed.
▸ TRACK RECORD
Bethesda Softworks's history and the 1 marketing claim we've checked, in date order — so you can see what they promised when, and how it held up.
- 1986Christopher Weaver founds Bethesda Softworks on June 28, as a division of Media Technology Limited.
- 1994Bethesda releases The Elder Scrolls: Arena, launching its flagship RPG franchise.
- 1999Bethesda Softworks becomes a subsidiary of newly formed ZeniMax Media.
- 2001ZeniMax establishes Bethesda Game Studios as a dedicated internal development studio.
- 2004Bethesda acquires the Fallout franchise rights from Interplay Entertainment.
- 2011The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is released, becoming one of the best-selling games of all time.
- Nov 29, 2018CLAIM · Fallout 76"The $200 Power Armor Edition includes a premium canvas carrying bag."→ 🔴 SKIP IT Read the PixProof →
- 2021Microsoft completes its $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media on March 9, bringing Bethesda into Xbox Game Studios.
- 2023Bethesda Game Studios releases Starfield, its first new IP in 25 years.
Claim dates come from when the claim's own source was published; "Checked" means we couldn't date the claim, so it sits at the date we verified it.
