Exact details are absent at the moment but Bethesda has announced its new platform Bethesda.net (at E3) which appears to be a Steam like platform for all of Zenimax's games. It is unclear, but very likely this is another DRM platform perhaps required (the same as Uplay) if buying one of their games through Steam (though again this is not confirmed).

It seems every publisher these days has imperialist ambitions to colonize the user's desktop with intrusive software that both monitors the user's legally paid for product as well as the user themselves (if history is any judge: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/30/ubisoft-respond-to-uplay-security-drama/). Which begs the question, why is buying something as menial as a game becoming like giving a corporation the keys to your house? Legislation increasingly seems like a necessity to not only protect the consumer but the companies themselves, as they ultimately attempt to destroy one another through the dismantling of competition.

Edit:

https://www.pixeldynamo.com/news/gaming/2015/06/15/67862/announcing-bethesda-net-the-future-hub-of-things-bethesda/

https://bethesda.net

Appearently Betheasda really lost faith in Steam after the whole Paid mods thing.

This really shows that it was Bethesda who spearheaded that thing. So expect Paid mods for Bethesda's games.

And thanks people for buying up Skyrim. Skyrim is the reason they are this big right now.

Just to be specific it's Zenimax that's the publisher and owns the developers like id (Doom), Bethesda (Fallout/ES), Arkane (Dishonored), its own Zenimax Online Studios (ESO) and so on. The name Bethesda.net is a bit misleading as the platform will include all of Zenimax's properties.

But at this rate you're right the only publishers not in the DRM platform game are Square Enix who still have a press conference to give at E3 (so who knows) and Take Two.

Tell that to all the people drooling over the Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition after Bethesda's E3 conference. Hype.Hype never changes. ;)

Gonna get Skyrim and Dishonored and be done with them. They were the least militant in DRM, but now this destroys all the credibility I attached to them. They weren't attaching un-needed MP to games, and doing actual post-release expansions, but seriously, jacking up a DRM service when the company barely has games to justify it with their games......I mean, Steam at least has a good list of stuff to buy from all genres. What will Bethesda have? Will they sell Skyrim modded as an FPS, a stealth, a survival game etc?

Next they're gonna make Fallout 4 Free To Play with tons of In-App Purchases!!!

Oh Joy!!!

[dammit! I need to fix my sarcasm button]

elder what now?

not doing the bethesda client.

Obviously a dismissal is the only thing "childish" at this point.

https://www.pixeldynamo.com/news/gaming/2015/06/15/67862/announcing-bethesda-net-the-future-hub-of-things-bethesda/

https://bethesda.net

Take your trolling elsewhere - thanks.

actually this isn't a client it sounds just like battle.net

and that's not that surprising.

I was just thinking the other day about how Bethesda is in the same realm as Blizzard (not the same level, though) in certain ways and was trying to envision them with their own battle.net

that said, they better not snub Steam because screw them then.

The way you structured your statement made it appear you were referring to the news I was posting (the possibility of Bethesda.net being another DRM platform) as "childish paranoia." It doesn't seem from this rebuttal you meant that.

In fact it looks like we agree there is cause for deep concern.

Not gonna lie: kind of want.

Yes because 10 years ago we knew what today would be like...

In the meantime I think everyone can be legitimately pissed at Bethesda - in the present .

Bethesda Softworks was the developer. When Zenimax bought them, Bethesda was split in two: the publishing part went to the Bethesda Softworks, the developing part was moved to Bethesda Games Studios, founded for the devs from Bethesda Softworks. So we have two Bethesda companies, both being owned by Zenimax. And Zenimax is an investment firm. They are in gaming for the money, not for the sake of the customers.

Well, while I assume that this will simply be another Steam knock-off à la Origin and UPlay, I'm somewhat hopeful that it will enable Zenimax to keep its games relatively DRM-free and use an offline installer/online for patches etc. hybrid system on retail copies à la Galaxy for Witcher 3.

I know, it's wishful thinking, but still. Time for Bethesda to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to DRM.

You're right.
As to why they made this move: I don't think it's because Gabe blocked paid mods (was it even him? I would rather expect from Bethesda to give in than from him and Gabe allows paid mods for other games.)
The question is more like 'why wouldn't they?'. If they have the resources and manpower they could gain up to a third more revenue, couldn't they?
That 'they are against DRM' obviously is nonsense but it is a hint that their DRM probably won't be heavier than Steam's.
Hahaha :)
I see what you did there. +1