2021 was a massive year for the gaming industry, as unprecedented growth, new technologies, and the first year of next-gen consoles were all headline-grabbing developments. The year was also dominated by some of the deepest pockets in the industry scooping up some of the best studios, publishers, and intellectual properties under their brands.

Those acquisitions have resulted in seismic shifts in the gaming industry–ones where it’s not beyond the realm of possibility to hear of a new mega-deal that sees billions of dollars paid out to own a big-name studio. All throughout 2021–and in the first month of 2022 alone–gigantic deals have gone down, making it a fascinating time to be a fan of the gaming industry. If you’re looking for a recap on just how much has changed recently, we’ve created a quick timeline on the major events that have gone down over the last year-plus.

Microsoft goes on a buying spree

Just over two decades ago, the idea of Microsoft venturing into the gaming space was unheard of. These days, however, the Xbox division is a core part of Microsoft’s identity, and one that the company has invested heavily in over the years. No stranger to studio acquisitions, Microsoft had already added the likes of Double Fine, Minecraft maker Mojang, and several other studios to its portfolio in a major push to develop Xbox-exclusive games.

In 2020, Microsoft came out guns blazing with its next round of acquisitions, as it bought ZeniMax Media, the parent company of famed video game publisher powerhouse Bethesda SoftworksVenir de Tragamonedas Gratis Online. By March 2021, that $7.5 billion deal was officially complete, and Microsoft now had some of the finest IPs working under the Xbox Game Studios brand. While Bethesda’s various games and studios were no doubt valuable assets, ZeniMax’s cloud gaming technology shouldn’t be overlooked.