The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim prior to its release.
In December of 2019, Rune 2 publisher Ragnarok Game sued Human Head Studios, the game's developer, on the accusation that the studio attempted to sabotage the very game it had been working on. The very day after Rune 2's release, Human Head officially closed its doors only to re-open the exact same day as Roundhouse Studios, but that was only part of the change. The studio had been bought by ZeniMax and subsidiary company Bethesda. According to Ragnarok Game, deliberate action had been taken by these parent companies to hurt the release of the Elder Scrolls competitor.
According to threat to their Elder Scrolls franchise and did all in their power henceforth to hinder the project, according to Ragnarok Game's allegations. The lawsuit seeks damages of no less than $100 million as well as restitution for development costs, punitive damages, attorneys fees, and other penalties. Bethesda has yet to comment on the matter.
Prior to the release of Rune 2, Human Head Studios was in the process of being bought out by several potential companies, ZeniMax among them. According to Ragnarok Game, ZeniMax was the only potential buyer that would not allow further development on the game. ZeniMax ended up acquiring Human Head and took possession of all the studio's employees and assets on November 4, 2019. Eight days later, Rune 2 was released and the day after that Human Head closed and reopened as Roundhouse. In those eight days, however, ZeniMax reportedly halted production on Rune 2 and took away any future for the game.
What all of this seems to come down to is the legal obligations Human Head Studios had and may still have to Ragnarok Game. In theory, ZeniMax and Bethesda would have the right to cancel any project Human Head was working on now that Microsoft owns Bethesda.
Source: PC Gamer
