Robert A. Altman, co-founder and chief executive of ZeniMax Media, passed away, the company announced on Thursday. As the parent of Bethesda Softworks and several other development studios, Altman’s company has become a major video game publisher in the 21 years since its founding, responsible for multi-million dollar franchises like Doom, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
The cause of death was not disclosed in Bethesda’s announcement on social media. The company said Altman was well liked by his employees and colleagues. “He was a true visionary, friend and believer in the spirit of people and in the power of what they could accomplish together. He was an extraordinary leader and an even better human being, ”said Bethesda.
We are deeply saddened to inform you of the death of Robert A. Altman, our founder and CEO. He was a true visionary, friend and believer in people’s minds and in 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
Ben Jones, the creative director of ZeniMax Online (manufacturers of The Elder Scrolls Online), called Altman’s death a sudden loss. A Bethesda Softworks representative did not confirm the cause of Altman’s death or other details.
I am shocked by this profound loss. Robert was a brilliant example of how to lead a life: Driven by passion, full of ambition, aware of and caring for those around him. He decided to raise all boats at high tides / protect them in unstable waters. Forever a legend https://t.co/nsadokqEnu
– Ben Jones (@Bagelbeard) February 4, 2021
Altman, 73, leaves his wife, Lynda Carter, best known for her television appearance as Wonder Woman in the late 1970s. The two were married in 1984. Carter also participated in voiceovers in five Elder Scrolls games (most notably as the deity Azura) and in Fallout 4.
Altman founded ZeniMax Media (a suitcase of the words “Zenith” and “Maximum”) with the founder of Bethesda Softworks, Christopher Weaver, as successor to the then controlling parent of Bethesda. With Altman’s investment and the support of several key board members, Bethesda acquired the Fallout franchise from the original publisher Interplay in 2004; id Software and its Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake franchises in 2009; and developers Arkane Studios and MachineGames in 2010, putting them to work on the Prey and Wolfenstein series.
Altman’s connections – as a lawyer, he was a partner with Clark Clifford, secretary of defense in the Johnson administration – attracted several celebrities to invest in ZeniMax and serve on its board of directors. Among them were Les Moonves, the former chief executive of CBS; Terry McAuliffe, the former governor of Virginia and chairman of the Democratic National Committee; Jerry Bruckheimer, the Hollywood director; Cal Ripken, Jr., the baseball hall-of-famer; and Robert Trump, Donald J. Trump’s younger brother.
In October, ZeniMax directors sold the company to Microsoft for $ 7.5 billion. On Thursday, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella and Xbox leader Phil Spencer expressed their condolences to Altman’s family and Bethesda.
A sad time for the gaming industry. Robert Altman made ZeniMax what it is today. My heart is with your family, loved ones and colleagues. https://t.co/uOgSqKsGWH
– Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) February 4, 2021
Electronic Arts and its chief executive, Andrew Wilson, also sent their condolences to Altman’s family and Bethesda colleagues.