Fallout, Elder Scrolls Company Files Trademark For Something Called "Hi-Fi Rush"

ZeniMax, the parent company of Bethesda which is in the process of being acquired by Microsoft, has filed a trademark application for what could be a new game.

On December 21, 2020, ZeniMax filed a trademark for something called "Hi-Fi Rush." The description states that it could be "mobile application software" with online capabilities. The trademark filing also mentions PC and consoles. However, there are no further details on what the game might be, if it even is a game.

ZeniMax/Bethesda has yet to officially announce a project called Hi-Fi Rush, and its existence in a trademark filing does not guarantee it will ever become a product. That being said, sometimes trademark filings can point to future releases. As an example, ZeniMax filed the trademark for Starfield back in 2013 before the game was eventually announced at E3 in 2018.

Whatever the case, 2021 is expected to be a very important year for ZeniMax/Bethesda. Microsoft's deal to acquire the company is expected to close in the second half of Microsoft's fiscal year, after which we may finally learn more about the company's future pipeline, including The Elder Scrolls VI, Starfield, and whatever else the developer may be cooking up.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said that he cannot legally discuss the future for Bethesda's games until Microsoft's deal closes.

The $7.5 billion that Microsoft paid to acquire Bethesda represents the second-largest gaming acquisition in history, only behind Tencent's $8.6 billion acquisition of Clash of Clans developer Supercell.

A big question many have about future Bethesda games is if they will be released on consoles and platforms that rival Microsoft's. Spencer has said the deals that were already in place for games that have been announced will be honored, but the future is less certain. Publishing arrangements for specific titles will be determined on a case-by-case basis, Spencer has stated.