Bethesda Softworks Bethesda Softworks is a developer and publisher of computer and video games founded in 1986 by Christopher Weaver , owned by ZeniMax Media . Background . Bethesda has been a developer and publisher of interactive entertainment content for over two decades . In 2001 Bethesda Softworks became a publisher only and the newly formed Bethesda Game Studios became the developer of their games . Founded in 1986 by Christopher Weaver in Bethesda , Maryland , and moved to Rockville , Maryland in 1990 , the company has a long history of PC and console games . In 1999 , Christopher Weaver and Robert A . Altman founded ZeniMax Media , Inc . The company is best known for creating The Elder Scrolls RPG series , based upon the original programming of Julian Lefay . The first chapter of the series , entitled The Elder Scrolls : Arena , was released in 1994 . Since that time , numerous other chapters have been released . The game has four direct sequels along with three spin - offs and The Elder Scrolls Travels series . In 2004 , the Fallout franchise was acquired by Bethesda Softworks from Interplay Productions and the development of Fallout 3 was handed over to Bethesda Game Studios . " Fallout 3 " was released on October 28 , 2008 . Obsidian Entertainment ' s title , was published in 2010 . " Fallout 4 " was announced on June 4 , 2015 and released on November 10 , 2015 . Divisions . Bethesda Game Studios ( BGS ) is the in - house development team led by Todd Howard and owned by Bethesda Softworks . Bethesda Game Studios , Bethesda Softworks and ZeniMax Media all work in the same building . Bethesda Game Studios was established in 2002 , and became separated between publisher and developer . In the past , not all BGS titles were published by the Softworks division . However , beginning with " The Elder Scrolls IV : Oblivion " for the PlayStation 3 , Bethesda Softworks began publishing all Bethesda Game Studios games . " Bethesda Softworks " is often used to designate games " published " by Bethesda , both BGS projects and those developed externally . Games . " Fallout 3 " . In 2004 , Bethesda licensed the rights to develop " Fallout 3 " and two additional sequels from Interplay Entertainment , and in 2007 acquired the whole " Fallout " franchise . Todd Howard said in January 2007 that " We started work ( on " Fallout 3 " ) in late 2004 with a few people . We only had about 10 people on it until Oblivion wrapped , but most of our staff is on it now . " " Fallout 3 " was released on October 28 , 2008 and has won over 60 Game of the Year Awards – including honors from IGN , the Game Developers ' Choice Awards and Game Critics Awards . Bethesda has continued to support " Fallout 3 " with five add - ons – " " , " The Pitt " , " Broken Steel " , " Point Lookout " and " Mothership Zeta " . " Fallout : New Vegas " . In 2009 , Bethesda Softworks announced " " , a new entry in the " Fallout " series . It is important to note that Bethesda only published " New Vegas " , which was developed by Obsidian Entertainment . The US release date was October 19 , 2010 , and three days later it hit the UK . On January 28 , 2011 , Bethesda confirmed a deal made with Namco Bandai to let them publish " New Vegas " in continental Europe , Australia and New Zealand . Bethesda also published the four " Fallout : New Vegas " add - ons : " Dead Money " , " Old World Blues " , " Lonesome Road " and " Honest Hearts " . " Fallout 4 " . On November 14 , 2013 Bethesda Softworks filed for a European trademark for " Fallout 4 " with the Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union ( OHIM ) . However , this trademark was later reviewed by the OHIM and subsequently nullified for unknown reasons . On June 3 , 2015 , Bethesda Softworks announced the continuation of the " Fallout " series with " Fallout 4 " , releasing a trailer . Other games . Other notable series by Bethesda Softworks include " The Elder Scrolls " , the series of which " Morrowind " is the 5th title and the 3rd main title , " Oblivion " the 9th title and the 4th main title and " Skyrim " the 10th title and 5th main title . " Fallout 3 " and " New Vegas " are based on the same engine as " Oblivion " . Other Bethesda releases include " WET " , " Rogue Warrior " and " RAGE " . They also collaborated with id Software on " Doom 3 : BFG Edition " , the " Wolfenstein " series , and the 2016 reboot of " Doom " .