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ZeniMax acquires Shinji Mikami studio

Parent of Bethesda Softworks, id Software adds the Resident Evil director's Tango Gameworks to growing stable of developers.

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It has been a busy couple of months for Shinji Mikami. In September, the original Resident Evil director took the wraps off Shadows of the Damned, his joint project with No More Heroes creator Suda-51. Then earlier this month, Mikami launched the sci-fi shooter Vanquish, the latest title from the Platinum Games label he cofounded to critical acclaim.

Vanquish is just the latest big release in Mikami's decades-long career.
Vanquish is just the latest big release in Mikami's decades-long career.

Mikami is back in the headlines today, as ZeniMax Media announced that it has acquired Tango Gameworks, the developer's own upstart game studio. No price was given for the transaction.

Though the only game currently featured on Tango's website, Harakiri, is a bizarrely comic take on ritual suicide that runs in a browser window, the studio is "dedicated to AAA multiplatform game development." Additionally, Mikami will serve as the creative lead for all of Tango's future projects.

Tango is just the latest in a series of acquisitions ZeniMax has made in recent years. The longtime parent of Elder Scrolls developer Bethesda Softworks acquired Doom and Quake creator id Software in June of 2009 and added France-based Arx Fatalis creator Arkane Studios in August. According to ZeniMax, the Tango acquisition, "reflects Bethesda Softworks' unwavering commitment to delivering premier titles to gamers worldwide."

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