Bethesda Softworks - id Software Opens New Studio in Frankfurt/M.

GameStar reports Bethesda told them at the Gamescom that they've opened a new id Software branch at Frankfurt am Main. The new studio will grow to 20-30 staff in the foreseeable future, with the focus on high quality employees. Instead of working on their own projects it will serve as technology competence center. The first job will be work on the id Tech engine for the new Doom, says GamesMarkt.de. In addition the Frankfurt studio will work on other Bethesda IPs.

A new studio in Frankfurt makes a lot of sense. Although Frankfurt/M. is one of Germany's most expensive cities, the wages for IT personnel are probably still significantly lower than in California, for expample. The gaming industry is booming there, too. Major players in the bigger Frankfurt area are: Crytek (-> Cry Engine), Deck 13, Cloud Imperium (-> Star Citizen engine development), Keen Games (Sacred 3 and a lot of contract work), metricminds (-> a well established motion capture, cut scene and trailer studio), Nintendo Germany, Ubisoft Blue Byte Mainz (-> the former Related Designs; Anno series), Dynamedion (made the music for SpellForce and lots of other games) and last but not least Bethesda's own German office.