ZeniMax acquire DOOM SnapMap developers
ZeniMax Media have scooped up another development studio under their wing. Based in Texas, Escalation Studios are a primarily-tech based group with speciality in Virtual Reality development.
It’s the first time in six years ZeniMax has scooped up a new studio after acquiring Arkane Studios, MachineGames, Tango Gameworks and BattleCry Studios all in the space of a few months during late-2010. Just the previous year, they picked up DOOM developer id Software. ZeniMax are mostly known however for being the owner of Bethesda – developer of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout 3 and 4.
Escalation Studios have worked with ZeniMax before, on id Software’s DOOM. They developed the SnapMap editor used by players to create in-game maps. The studio themselves have developed various small titles for VR, console and mobile including the Oculus title, Please Don’t Touch Anything. They were also heading up the last-generation FPS, Severity, after it came to attention being announced by Doom creator, John Romero, before its cancellation.
It is unknown what the studio will next place its focus on. This may allow the studio the funds and publishing needed to develop a fully-fledged AAA title or they may continue to collaborate with other ZeniMax studios. The rumoured Fallout 4 VR, perhaps?
