Editing Bethesda Softworks (section)

===1990s===
{{Further|Flashpoint Productions}}
{{expand section|date=July 2019|Information regarding Daggerfall's launch}}
In 1990, the company moved from Bethesda to Rockville, Maryland.<ref>{{cite web|first=Hillary|last=Jackson|url=https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/july-august-2009/coolest-companies-2/|title=Coolest Companies|magazine=[[Bethesda Magazine]]|date=July 29, 2009|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226171712/https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/july-august-2009/coolest-companies-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> By February 1993, the company employed 40 people.<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Southerl|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1993/02/15/wizards-at-play/a397cbc5-2c23-4902-aedb-53a57348530f/|title=Wizards At Play|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=February 15, 1993|accessdate=August 19, 2021|archive-date=September 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930123738/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1993/02/15/wizards-at-play/a397cbc5-2c23-4902-aedb-53a57348530f/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first game Bethesda published and developed, based on a popular film franchise, was [[The Terminator (DOS)|The Terminator]] for MS-DOS. The title was released in July 1991, coinciding with the theatrical release of the film ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''.<ref name=LA>{{cite news |last1=Decoster |first1=Jeane |last2=Crook |first2=David |title=Riding Arnold's Coattails |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-27-ca-248-story.html |accessdate=August 22, 2021 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 27, 1991 |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715172146/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-27-ca-248-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1994, the company released its best-known project at the time, ''[[The Elder Scrolls: Arena]]''. The game, the first in ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]'' [[role-playing video game]] series was the work of Programmer [[Julian Lefay]], Director and Producer Vijay Lakshman as well as others. Several sequels have been released since including ''[[The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall]]'', which was released in September 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA18719411&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=7c64a032 |title=Bethesda Softworks Announces the Release of The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall |website=[[PR Newswire]] |date=September 27, 1996 |via=[[Gale Research]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721000204/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA18719411&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=7c64a032 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 1994 and 1997, Bethesda was developing a [[space combat game]] titled ''[[The 10th Planet]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/UneditedPCGamer_marktrade/PC_Gamer_015u/page/n63/mode/2up?q=The+10th+Planet+bethesda|title=Bethesda|magazine=[[PC Gamer]]|page=64|date=August 1995|accessdate=August 22, 2021}}</ref> It was a collaboration between Bethesda and Roland Emmerich's [[Centropolis Entertainment]]. During development, Centropolis chose to stop working on the game due to the company's commitments to its films.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Meyer|url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Peeks/Bethesda/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19970717163408/http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Peeks/Bethesda/|title=Bethesda Busts Out|website=[[CNET Gamecenter]]|archivedate=July 17, 1997|date=June 13, 1997|accessdate=August 22, 2021}}</ref> The project was never released.

In 1995, Bethesda Softworks acquired ''[[Noctropolis]]'' developer Flashpoint Productions, which [[Brent Erickson]] had founded in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://southsoundbiz.com/examiner_posts/managing-to-be-creative-in-the-business-of-fun/ |title=Managing to be creative in the business of fun |first=Marie |last=McNamara |date=September 7, 1998 |website=Business Examiner |access-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608131328/https://southsoundbiz.com/examiner_posts/managing-to-be-creative-in-the-business-of-fun/ |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 1995, [[Bruce Nesmith]] joined Bethesda as Senior Producer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA17239332&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=0ccc735d |title=Ravenloft Creator Joins Bethesda |website=[[PR Newswire]] |date=July 12, 1995 |via=[[Gale Research]] |access-date=August 1, 2024 |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721000200/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA17239332&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=0ccc735d |url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 1995, Bethesda Softworks launched its website on the World Wide Web.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA17201935&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=678527ee |title=Internet Users Can Enter Bethesda Softworks on the World Wide Web |website=[[PR Newswire]] |date=August 18, 1995 |via=[[Gale Research]] |access-date=August 20, 2024 |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721000202/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA17201935&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=678527ee |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1997, Bethesda acquired XL Translab, a [[Washington, D.C.]], graphics company that stemmed from the [[Catholic University School of Architecture and Planning]]. It was moved to Bethesda Softworks' Rockville headquarters. XL Translab had previously done work for [[PBS]] and [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] companies.<ref name="$25 million">{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1997/12/22/newscolumn4.html |title=ThunderWave makes a big splash at Getty Center |first=Mark |last=Hilpert |date=December 22, 1997 |newspaper=[[Washington Business Journal]] |via=[[The Business Journals]] |access-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620174908/http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1997/12/22/newscolumn4.html |archive-date=June 20, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 1996, the company had become the third-biggest player in the privately held PC publishing industry after [[LucasArts]] and [[Interplay Entertainment]] with 75 employees by that year<ref>{{cite web|first=Steven|last=Ginsberg|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1996/12/23/at-bethesda-softworks-an-emphasis-on-cool/24d7f055-c228-4568-a674-e9c136d794e5/?noredirect=on|title=At Bethesda Softworks, an Emphasis on Cool|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=December 23, 1996|access-date=September 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902172053/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1996/12/23/at-bethesda-softworks-an-emphasis-on-cool/24d7f055-c228-4568-a674-e9c136d794e5/?noredirect=on|archive-date=September 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and revenues of $25 million by 1997.<ref name="Pensacola: Wings of Gold">{{cite web|first=Burn|last=Timothy|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA56812691&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=f2be338b|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403061315/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA56812691&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-GPS&asid=f2be338b|title=Lean, Mean' Software Machine Thrives in a Ferocious Market|newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|archivedate=April 3, 2025|date=June 30, 1997|accessdate=April 3, 2025|via=[[Gale Research]]|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="$25 million"/>

In June and July 1997, Bethesda announced a partnership with [[CBS Enterprises]] to produce the first-ever true companion PC series of games for the television series ''[[Pensacola: Wings of Gold]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CBS%2BEnterprises%2Band%2BBethesda%2BSoftworks%2Bcreate%2Bunique%2Bpartnership...-a019532219|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207063053/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CBS+Enterprises+and+Bethesda+Softworks+create+unique+partnership...-a019532219|title=CBS Enterprises and Bethesda Softworks create unique partnership joining entertainment software and new action television series Pensacola: Wings of Gold|website=[[Business Wire]]|archivedate=December 7, 2015|date=June 20, 1997|accessdate=July 18, 2024|via=[[The Free Library]]}}</ref><ref name="Pensacola: Wings of Gold"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/news/pensicolawingsofgold.htm|title=Pensacola: Wings of Gold|date=July 1997|accessdate=August 19, 2021|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819131910/http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/news/pensicolawingsofgold.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> By December 1997, the first CD-ROM game was still in production.<ref>{{cite web|first=Burn|last=Timothy|url=https://archive.org/details/document-the-washington-times-archives-2|title=Wings of Gold' Failed to Lift Game Firm Aloft|newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|date=December 15, 1997|accessdate=August 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name="$25 million"/>

In 1997 and 1998, Bethesda released two ''The Elder Scrolls'' spin-offs based on ''Daggerfall''{{'s}} code—''[[An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire|Battlespire]]'' and ''[[The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard|Redguard]]''—neither of which enjoyed the success of ''Daggerfall'' and ''Arena''. The downturn in sales was not limited just to ''The Elder Scrolls'' franchise, and the company considered filing for bankruptcy as a result.<ref name="DIR" />

In October 1999,<ref>{{cite web|author=TGRSTAFF|url=https://www.thegamereviews.com/article-604-pete-hines-director-of-pr-and-marketing-of-bethesda-softworks.html|title=Pete Hines, Director of PR and Marketing of Bethesda Softworks|website=thegamereviews.com|date=June 12, 2008|accessdate=August 22, 2021|archive-date=August 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822194803/https://www.thegamereviews.com/article-604-pete-hines-director-of-pr-and-marketing-of-bethesda-softworks.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Pete Hines joined Bethesda to head up its marketing department, running it as what he described as a [[one-man band]]. At the start of his tenure, the company had employed around 15 people in its Rockville headquarters.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCYICHizwao |title=PAX Aus – Pete Hines Storytime Keynote |first=Pete |last=Hines |date=November 24, 2014 |publisher=Bethesda Softworks |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603164935/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCYICHizwao |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1999, Weaver and [[Robert A. Altman]] formed the holding company [[ZeniMax Media]]. In an interview with ''Edge'', he described the company as being a top-level administrative structure rather than a "parent company" for its holdings, explaining that "ZeniMax and Bethesda for all intents and purposes are one thing. Bethesda has no accounting department, we have no finance, we have no legal, our legal department [and] our financial department is ZeniMax, we all operate as one unit."<ref name="courts.state.md.us">{{cite web |url=http://www.courts.state.md.us/businesstech/pdfs/mdbt7_04_opinion.pdf |title=Christopher Weaver vs ZeniMax Media |publisher=courts.state.md.us |access-date=July 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721174955/http://www.courts.state.md.us/businesstech/pdfs/mdbt7_04_opinion.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lroZsP4zyIYC&q=zenimax+weaver+robert+altman&pg=PA281 |title=Gamers at Work: Stories Behind the Games People Play |publisher=Morgan Ramsay |access-date=August 13, 2016 |isbn=9781430233510 |date=January 31, 2012 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204231633/https://books.google.com/books?id=lroZsP4zyIYC&q=zenimax+weaver+robert+altman&pg=PA281 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DIR" /><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Martin|last=Davies|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/pete-hines-bethesdas-past-present-and-future |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |title=Pete Hines on Bethesda's past, present and future |date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722080240/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/pete-hines-bethesdas-past-present-and-future |archive-date=July 22, 2011}}</ref> According to the designer Bruce Nesmith, Altman was principally interested in Bethesda's web development business at Vir2L Studios, not the game development aspect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDP8QvuXn0g|title=Skyrim's Lead Designer On Starfield's Origins And Bethesda's Evolution|website=[[YouTube]]|time=1:28:50|date=October 23, 2023|accessdate=October 25, 2023}}</ref> ZeniMax acquired Media Technology in July 1999 and Bethesda Softworks was reorganized as a division of ZeniMax.<ref name="GameSpy: Origins" /><ref name="DIR" /> By then Bethesda employed nearly 100 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bethsoft.com/corporate.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815235231/http://www.bethsoft.com:80/corporate.html|title=About Bethesda|website=bethsoft.com|archivedate=August 15, 2000|accessdate=March 23, 2022}}</ref>