Editing Bethesda Softworks (section)

===2000s===
In 2001, Bethesda Game Studios was established as the development team, leaving Bethesda Softworks to focus on all publishing operations of ZeniMax Media.<ref name="AUReview">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=David |title=Xbox acquires Bethesda Softworks |url=https://www.theaureview.com/games/xbox-acquires-bethesda-softworks/ |website=[[The AU Review]] |publisher=[[Heath Media]] |access-date=25 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003090129/https://www.theaureview.com/games/xbox-acquires-bethesda-softworks/ |archive-date=3 October 2020 |date=22 September 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Weaver stopped being employed by ZeniMax. He later filed a lawsuit against ZeniMax, claiming he was ousted by his new business partners after giving them access to his brand and was owed {{US$|1.2&nbsp;million}} in severance pay. ZeniMax filed counterclaims<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://law.justia.com/cases/delaware/court-of-chancery/2004/44220-1.html |title=Weaver v. ZeniMax Media |work=Justia Law |access-date=March 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314062901/http://law.justia.com/cases/delaware/court-of-chancery/2004/44220-1.html |archive-date=March 14, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and moved to dismiss the case,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.courts.state.md.us/businesstech/pdfs/mdbt7_04_opinion.pdf |title=Motion for sanctions |date=2004 |access-date=May 30, 2019 |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> claiming Weaver had gone through emails of other employees to find evidence. This dismissal was later vacated on appeal,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allcourtdata.com/law/case/weaver-v-zenimax-media-inc/cw0DcldI |title=Christopher S. WEAVER v. ZENIMAX MEDIA, INC. - AllCourtData.com |website=www.allcourtdata.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313221018/http://www.allcourtdata.com/law/case/weaver-v-zenimax-media-inc/cw0DcldI |archive-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref> and the parties settled out of court. Weaver remained a major shareholder in the company; as of 2007, he said that he still owned 33% of ZeniMax's stock.<ref name="DIR" /> Providence Equity bought 25% of ZeniMax's stock in late 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pehub.com/2009/06/zenimax-media-buys-doom-maker/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315210131/https://www.pehub.com/2009/06/zenimax-media-buys-doom-maker/|title=ZeniMax Media Buys DOOM Maker &#124; peHUBpeHUB |date=June 25, 2009|archive-date=March 15, 2016|publisher=Pehub.com |access-date=July 26, 2016}}</ref> and an additional stake in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|first=Liz|last=Hoffman|url=https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/SB10001424052702303948104579534013624548846|title=Oculus, Facebook Face Challenge to Rights Over 'Rift|date=May 1, 2014|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=July 26, 2016|archive-date=August 31, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230831073403/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/SB10001424052702303948104579534013624548846|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2004,<ref>{{cite web |first=Herve |last=Caen |title=Interplay |version=Q2 2004 |publisher=[[United States Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]] [[EDGAR]] |date=October 13, 2004|url=http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetchFilingFrameset.aspx?FilingID=3222135&Type=HTML |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215630/http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/fetchFilingFrameset.aspx?FilingID=3222135&Type=HTML |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |format=[[Form 10-Q]] |access-date=October 30, 2006}}</ref> the ''[[Fallout (franchise)|Fallout]]'' franchise was acquired by Bethesda Softworks from [[Interplay Entertainment]] and the development of ''[[Fallout 3]]'' was handed over to Bethesda Game Studios.<ref name="polygon 17511658"/> ''Fallout 3'' was released on October 28, 2008. Five [[Fallout 3 downloadable content|downloadable content packs]] for ''Fallout 3'' were released in the year following its release — ''[[Fallout 3 downloadable content#Operation: Anchorage|Operation: Anchorage]]'', ''[[Fallout 3 downloadable content#The Pitt|The Pitt]]'', ''[[Fallout 3 downloadable content#Broken Steel|Broken Steel]]'', ''[[Fallout 3 downloadable content#Point Lookout|Point Lookout]]'', and ''[[Fallout 3 downloadable content#Mothership Zeta|Mothership Zeta]]''. [[Obsidian Entertainment]]'s new ''Fallout'' title, ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' was published in 2010. ''[[Fallout 4]]'' was released on November 10, 2015.

Between 2004 and 2008, ZeniMax's subsidiaries Mud Duck Productions and Vir2L Studios released four bowling games for various platforms — ''[[AMF Bowling 2004]]'', ''[[AMF Xtreme Bowling 2006]]'', ''[[AMF Bowling World Lanes]]'', and ''[[AMF Bowling Pinbusters!]]''.

In January 2006, Bethesda acquired the rights to the ''[[Star Trek]]'' series of video games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bethsoft.com/news/pressrelease_012406.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324193340/http://www.bethsoft.com/news/pressrelease_012406.htm|title=Bethesda Softworks Obtains Star Trek License And Announces Two Games|website=bethsoft.com|archivedate=March 24, 2006|date=January 24, 2006|accessdate=March 30, 2022}}</ref> The first game published by the company was ''[[Star Trek: Encounters]]'', released in 2006.

In September 2009, Bethesda filed a lawsuit against Interplay Entertainment, after being unsatisfied with Interplay's development of the [[Fallout Online|''Fallout'' massively multiplayer online game]] project. Bethesda stopped funding the project, and Interplay was forced to abandon work on it.<ref name="polygon 17511658"/>

Between 2007 and 2010, Bethesda raised {{US$|450&nbsp;million}} in new capital from [[Providence Equity Partners]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.provequity.com/system/uploads/article/article_pdf/85/6197f0e7-173f-447b-832f-1b6829807edc.pdf |title=ZeniMax Media Receives $300 Million Investment from Providence Equity Partners |publisher=provequity.com |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911162322/http://www.provequity.com/system/uploads/article/article_pdf/85/6197f0e7-173f-447b-832f-1b6829807edc.pdf |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Dean |last=Takahashi |url=https://venturebeat.com/2008/05/30/zenimax-media-raises-99-million-from-some-big-names/ |title=ZeniMax Media raises $9.9 million from some big names |work=[[VentureBeat]] |date=May 30, 2008 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625124752/http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/30/zenimax-media-raises-99-million-from-some-big-names/ |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> to fund expansion efforts. In February 2008, the company opened a European publishing arm in London, named ZeniMax Europe, to distribute titles throughout UK/EMEA territories under the Bethesda Softworks brand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/zenimax-media-opens-london-office |title=ZeniMax Media Opens London Office |date=February 18, 2008 |publisher=gamesindustry.biz |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011085815/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/zenimax-media-opens-london-office |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was followed in by opening publishing offices in Tokyo, Frankfurt, Paris, Eindhoven, Hong Kong, Sydney and Moscow in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2018 respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamingnexus.com/FullNews/ZeniMax-Media-Opens-Tokyo-office/Item8479.aspx |title=ZeniMax Media Opens Tokyo office |publisher=.gamingnexus.com |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822080330/https://www.gamingnexus.com/FullNews/ZeniMax-Media-Opens-Tokyo-office/Item8479.aspx |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://megagames.com/news/bethesda-opens-new-offices-germany-and-france |title=Bethesda Opens New Offices In Germany And France |publisher=megagames.com |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817183125/http://megagames.com/news/bethesda-opens-new-offices-germany-and-france |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/bethesda-in-benelux-office-opened-in-eindhoven--the-netherlands |title=Bethesda in Benelux |publisher=gamesindustry.biz |date=September 7, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011085413/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/bethesda-in-benelux-office-opened-in-eindhoven--the-netherlands |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hkgbusiness.com/en/company/Zenimax-Asia-Pacific-Limited |title=ZeniMax Asia Pacific Limited |publisher=hkgbusiness.com |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910172632/https://www.hkgbusiness.com/en/company/Zenimax-Asia-Pacific-Limited |archive-date=September 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Nic|last=Healey|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/bethesda-opens-australian-office/|title=Bethesda opens Australian office|website=[[CNET]]|date=October 3, 2013|access-date=July 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910174042/https://www.cnet.com/news/bethesda-opens-australian-office/|archive-date=September 10, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zenimax.com/press/BETHESDA_SOFTWORKS_EXPANDS_GLOBAL_OPERATIONS|title=Bethesda Softworks exspands global operations-Opens Office in Moscow Russia|date=October 12, 2018|access-date=May 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513105647/https://www.zenimax.com/press/BETHESDA_SOFTWORKS_EXPANDS_GLOBAL_OPERATIONS|archive-date=May 13, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 24, 2009, [[ZeniMax Media]] acquired [[id Software]], whose titles, including ''[[Rage (video game)|Rage]]'', would be published by Bethesda Softworks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenimax-media-acquires-id-software-61871677.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027031433/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zenimax-media-acquires-id-software-61871677.html|title=ZeniMax Media Acquires id Software |publisher=prnewswire.com |archive-date=October 27, 2017|date=June 24, 2009 |access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> Between 2009 and 2012, the company expanded publishing operations, with games from independent third-party developers such as [[Rebellion Developments]]'s ''[[Rogue Warrior (video game)|Rogue Warrior]]'', [[Artificial Mind and Movement]]'s ''[[Wet (video game)|Wet]]'', [[Splash Damage]]'s ''[[Brink (video game)|Brink]]'', and [[inXile]]'s ''[[Hunted: The Demon's Forge]]''.