Robert A. Altman, ZeniMax Founder and CEO, Dies

ZeniMax Media, the parent company of developers like Bethesda and id Software, announced that its founder and CEO Robert A. Altman died. Altman was 74. News of Altman’s death was published on the official Bethesda Twitter account. “We are deeply saddened to tell you of the passing of Robert A. Altman, our Founder and CEO. He was a true visionary, friend, and believer in the spirit of people and the power of what they could accomplish together. He was an extraordinary leader, and an even better human being.” The statement also added that Altman sent out weekly emails to employees during the pandemic, and shared one such letter to the public. In it, Altman tells employees to find time for themselves during the pandemic and social distancing. “We know many are feeling the pressure of isolation, and the stresses related to our current circumstances,” Altman wrote. “Again, I urge you to make time for yourselves daily, schedule online social gatherings, and keep your perspective, knowing this will pass.” You can read Altman’s letter below in the tweet.

We are deeply saddened to tell you of the passing of Robert A. Altman, our Founder and CEO. He was a true visionary, friend, and believer in the spirit of people and the power of what they could accomplish together. He was an extraordinary leader, and an even better human being. pic.twitter.com/FZFsVtHc5t

— Bethesda (@bethesda) February 4, 2021

Born in 1947, Altman began his career as a lawyer in Washington D.C. In 1999, Altman and Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher Weaver established ZeniMax Media as the new parent company for the Maryland-based game studio. Under Altman, ZeniMax grew to include a number of renowned game studios including Arkane Studios, id Software, MachineGames, and Tango Gameworks. Combined these studios worked on some of the biggest games in the industry like Fallout, Wolfenstein, Dishonored, Doom, and more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Bethesda)