Bethesda is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a substantial sale on Steam, which will run until August 13. The promotion encompasses the entire catalog of games from Bethesda and its subsidiaries, including id Software and Arkane Studios. The discounts coincide with the upcoming QuakeCon.
Among the highlights is a 50% price reduction on Doom: The Dark Ages expansion, Revelations, making it available for $10. This expansion was released just one month ago, on July 7. The main game, Doom: The Dark Ages, is also discounted by 67%, bringing its price down to $23.
Reviews for Revelations have been strong, with former PC Gamer guides writer Rory Norris awarding it a 90% rating. Staff writer Morgan Park, who expressed a more reserved opinion on the base game, found that Revelations ultimately redeemed the entire endeavor.
The sale extends to the wider Bethesda library. For instance, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is available for $10, and the entire Arkane Studios catalog can be purchased for $54. Notably, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is not included in the sale, a circumstance that may be related to its publishing and copyright complexities, though it remains an inexpensive title at $10.
Despite the attractive offers for consumers, the sale occurs during a period of significant change for Bethesda. The company and its subsidiaries have experienced recent layoffs as part of Microsoft's strategic adjustments within Xbox. The news of Arkane Studios' potential spin-off adds further uncertainty. The aggressive 50% discount on Revelations so soon after its launch also raises questions about its sales performance and Bethesda's strategy for valuing its recent releases.