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Fly up to a remote cabin in the Canadian tundra in a helicopter, bring a briefcase full of money, convince the bioware doctors to drop the fishing poles and come out of retirement.

Also, figure out where Ken Levine's new studio has been hiding and give him a blank check.

 

[McHuj]

I think MS will lay low until the Activision deal closes.

I think if there's a big purchase in the couple of months it will be either Amazon or Netflix making the purchase. And I kind of lean to Netflix as I'm sure they want to make a big splash with their gaming effort and will need to in order to be taken seriously.

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

I'm wondering if Capcom will give up multiplatform sales. I doubt it. Probably just PS5 and PC if they do get bought.

They might as well. Their games don't sell well on XBOX anyway, so they won't be losing much.

 

[SlimySnake]

Its probably square, the writing has been on the wall for a minute actually. Plus they own the best mmorpg currently on market and its not up for debate, real ones know.

I think Microsoft isnt after Japanese companies so there is no urgent need to get SE, Capcom, KojiPro ro Sega. Aside from FF14, these companies dont really make FPS GaaS games which are what driving the revenues right now.

I suspect Take2 and Ubisoft are next. Maybe even EA. It has been all western publishers so far. Before its all said and done, Sony and Microsoft will own all third party publishers and will be publishing games on each others platforms. I think CD project gets sold before SE.

 

[kingfey]

I can play games I bought on Gog without Gog running.
I cannot do this with Steam.
I purchased games on Steam that I no longer have access to on Steam. Transformers Cybertron series for example.

You can have games running on your pc without a launcher. Cant say how.

As for the removed steam game, same thing happens to gog. It's license issues.
The store owner can't keep the game on their system, if the license runs out, or the new owner wants it out of that system. They could be sued.

China made gog remove a game from their store. Simply because the developer put something, on their games, and the Chinese government didn't like that.

Steam is too annoying at updating.

 

[EDMIX]

Aside from them owning Atlas which is pretty niche already- I dont see the appeal of owning Sega

The only good thing they've done in the past few decades has been Yakuza and the director has left Sega last year

They aren't the Sega who used to have a ton of talent, relevant IPs and sports games

I disagree.

Sega now more then ever is a great spot. They still have tons of talent and it would make for a solid buy for the IPs alone.

Sega still owns Relic (Company Of Heros), Creative Assembly (Halo Wars RTS, Alien Isolation and Total War fame) Atlus Persona and SMT series, along with their other teams.

So I believe it would be a really solid buy as it fits with them putting their titles on PC.

I'd put Square or Capcom higher, but Sega is still a massively solid buy.

VAVA Mk2 Agreed, I thought they would buy them years ago when they started doing those Anime buy outs lol If they are going to own all of those anime IP, might as well own the publisher that has been even licensed to make them. So who knows why that deal hasn't happened yet. imho, a lessor buy compared to Sega, Square and Capcom (maybe that is really why) lol

 

[Clear]

Sony are in my opinion very likely to be looking hard at Japanese acquisitions first. If you look at what's happened in the UK I can well imagine a similar scenario playing out in Japan. Studio Liverpool and Evo may be gone, but they have just bought Firesprite and Lucid still seem to be heavily in the mix...

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

You can have games running on your pc without a launcher. Cant say how.

As for the removed steam game, same thing happens to gog. It's license issues.
The store owner can't keep the game on their system, if the license runs out, or the new owner wants it out of that system. They could be sued.

China made gog remove a game from their store. Simply because the developer put something, on their games, and the Chinese government didn't like that.

Steam is too annoying at updating.

You can't run steam games without steam.
I can and do run gog games without gog.

If a person purchased the game they shouldn't lose it.

 

[SlimySnake]

I mean ideal situation for me would be if Sony got Capcom and MS got Square Enix.

I was thinking about consolidation, but then I figured that Bolshevik has been hungry for western companies (even Asian too obviously) I know a person from Bohemia Interactive, he was in Warhorse as me and he said that he left, because China started to send out pamphlets with what you can do and what you can't in terms of Arma, there can't be war with China or recognition of Taiwan, which we all here were taught in the school and so on.

So now please Jim and Phil, take as much as you can from likes of Tencent, Amazon, Google, Facebook. Consoles are cheap (well they are going to be...in few years), so you are loosing anything but as soon as the Meta starts to infest gaming sphere, these two companies can keep the gaming alive (at least for me).

Naive take I know, but I am from post-communist state, don't want some overlords to have everything i like. Not everything, but my other hobby is fucking expensive

Yeah, this consolidation could be about keeping Tencent, Apple and Meta away from the gaming industry.

Tencent especially can get fucked. Keep CCP away from my games.

 

[Corrik]

I'm pretty sure From Software is part of a larger entity.

 

[93xfan]

It's been proven time and again that this guy knows nothing, yet people keep posting his rumours anyway.

Also, did he even tease either of these questions?

And also, if this is the Wordle, NYT thing, he's a little late

 

[Max_Po]

COME ON man what's under your hat tell us

Spoiler

 

[Elbow Identity Shallow]

Sony + Bandai = Heaven

For better or worse, they have a pretty log relationship with them.
Remember that Dimps were created by Sony and Bandai Namco around Takashi Nishiyama a couple of decades ago by essentially headhunting employees from companies that make fighting games (SNK, Sega, Sammy, etc) and are still equal owners of Dimps and their subsiduries even though I don't know if Sony has every used them for a first party project.
We know how important that genre of games has become over the past few years and that certainly doesn't seem to be changing with their increased interest in the tournament scene.
If Sony do want to be making their own fighters then there's a lot of sense in consolidating their ownership of Dimps in this way. I suppose it makes sense but also it's not that there are currently an issues with Sony getting the fighting titles they want on the system anyway so who knows.

 

[Hendrick's]

As long as the japanese devs are safe i really don't care. Fuck western games.

 

[kingfey]

You can't run steam games without steam.
I can and do run gog games without gog.

If a person purchased the game they shouldn't lose it.

You kinda need the device, to play those games in the 1st place.

With storages, people download, and Uninstall those games.

Your purchase product, comes directly from a publisher. You really don't own that game, other then the ability to sell it, or share it with your friends.

Just like disc scratches, legal rights can remove your games from those stores.

If there is legal issues, nothing can stop them from removing the game. Nobody likes it, but that is the law.

 

[Memorabilia]

Pretty sure Microsoft, Amazon, Google (lol).Facebook (double lol) and Tencent are the only ones who can afford EA.

37 billion is what their net worth is. Add the extra the buying company will pay. I'm just guessing here, but maybe 45-50 billion? Pretty sure that's out of Sony's league.

Yup. Zero chance Sony could buy EA at the expected buyout price. It'd be half of Sony's market cap.

 

[Memorabilia]

I could see Disney buying EA being somewhat realistic…

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

They won't be the only ones. Major consolidation is coming in the game industry.

 

[PerfectDark]

It takes Two was published by EA.

If EA goes to Sony or Microsoft, we are all fucked.

I did love Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare 1 & 2. Besides that EA has not made any good games in the last 10 years. Buying EA would be like burning money. And content wars affect nothing. I have a PS5 and Series X. Does not matter what I play on. Not like anyone is making any games eve n worth playing this generation so far.

 

[ManaByte]

I wish Jeff Grub and Tom Henderson threads were banned tbh.

Yet Twitter and Reddit nobodies with bullshit Sony leaks are allowed?

 

[BoxFresh123]

Saw this elsewhere so.

Who knew about Bethesda/Activision/Zynga/Bungie?

But all of a sudden prep yourself for this megaton acquisition someone knows all about?

Sceptical..........

Edit: Also see some people say he's just joking. Fair enough if so.

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

no I think Disney buying EA
Crystal dynamics getting sold to MS.

I could see Disney buying EA being somewhat realistic…

I don't think Disney EA is the best move for the company.

Yes, I see the synergy that NFL on ESPN - Madden or random soccer game - FIFA can bring. Some of those franchises like Dragon's Age, Mirror's Edge, Dead Space can be mined for other parts of the company. It would also allow Disney to start develop some AAA games in house and not be dependent exclusively on licensing.

That said - and people will hate that I say this but - for that kind of money a better acquisition target, albeit a bit more expensive, for them is Nintendo. If they want to be safe and get a small company that provides decent IP + ability to make some games in house then Sega Sammy, Square Enix, Capcom - in that order - should be desired targets for them.

 

[Javthusiast]

Gotta be honest. I don't give a shit about the rest of the western publishers. Things aren't gonna tickle my undercarriage until JP publishers and devs start getting snatched up.

EA? Ubisoft? Who really cares?

 

[Represent.]

Microsoft Deal for Activision to Be Reviewed by FTC in U.S.

The U.S. antitrust review of Microsoft Corp.’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. will be handled by the Federal Trade Commission, according to a person familiar with the matter, putting the deal in the hands of an agency that has vowed more aggressive policing of deals.

www.bloomberg.com

The U.S. antitrust review of Microsoft Corp.'s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. will be handled by the Federal Trade Commission, according to a person familiar with the matter, putting the deal in the hands of an agency that has vowed more aggressive policing of deals.

The FTC will oversee the investigation into whether the takeover will harm competition, instead of the Justice Department, said the person, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the review. The two agencies share responsibility for antitrust reviews of mergers and often reach agreements about which one will investigate a deal.

FTC Chair Lina Khan has long advocated for a more forceful approach to reviewing deals, particularly by the biggest technology companies, which she says are able to leverage their dominance in one line of business to gain power in other markets. Under her leadership, the agency has sued to block two major takeovers -- Nvidia Corp.'s proposed purchase of Arm Ltd. and Lockheed Martin Corp.'s deal to buy of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc.

Microsoft declined to comment about the review. The FTC didn't respond to a message seeking comment.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

I mean I agree mostly with what you are saying, simply we have yet to see anything or have any statement about them not buying that IP.

Unless stated, I believe its correct to assume its owned by Sony as I'd argue that would be something they would state today if anything if they are willing to tell us all this. Like with future Destiny titles, future new IP, stating they are self publishing.....yet not say they own the IP? Sounds like its not stated cause Sony bought it, which would make sense for 3 Billion and allowing them to have creative freedom, self publish for selling that IP in the first place. So I don't see enough to say they didn't buy that IP, Sony doesn't buy teams like that and I don't think any major publisher to my memory have ever had a deal this big, with the IP not being owned by them or something.

Even more odd, Sony owns Bungie, they bought them, thus the IP is owned by them by default anyway as this isn't some long term marketing deal we are talking about or some timed game, its simply too much money spent to believe they don't own that IP. Would be the first I've ever heard of such a thing at this price point in the industry.

Sony bought Bungie yes, and they will own Bungie, that's all true. However, it's sounding as if Bungie negotiated to be the sole and primary owner of the Destiny intellectual property even while being a independent subsidiary of Sony. The kinds of definitive statements Bungie are making on remaining multi-platform, controlling all their own publishing, even promising future games will be multi-platform and continue to stay where all their existing communities of fans are, could not be made unless they had it in an ironclad contract that Sony agreed to.

So you can indeed own a company yet the company that you own can still very much have full say and rights in what and how their IP is used, and on what platforms it can appear on. Contracts are contracts even for companies that you own. Otherwise if Sony is ever in violation, Bungie can likely take it to court and win their independence. If the buyer is willing to agree to certain terms, do not underestimate what Bungie could have gotten from this deal.

 

[RydarGaf]

Who is to say they are not in the works to even buy one of those publishers right now?

So I'd say they have that kind of juice if they are ironically willing to spend 3 billion on 1 team and I'd argue Sony is more likely to be able to buy a Japanese publisher then anyone company from the west. So I'd agree with you before this turned into some nuclear battle for publishers, trust when I'm saying this, they are shopping for a massive buy to remain relevant and market leader and to invest in the future and to protect themselves from being locked out of 3rd parties they rely on to fill gaps.



Pretty much.

Anyone can get it now. I thought Zenimax was a crazy deal, Activision buy out is a mental one and now this? It means they understand they need to change some strategy that they had before and need to restructure to factor those moves.

Sony bought teams and invested in house on PS1, PS2,PS3, PS4 etc

MS lost those generations when they came into gaming ,reacted by buying many teams.

It would be silly to think Sony does something, MS reacts to correct their situation.

Yet not think Sony would react or change something based on MS. I think many need to understand that it was only logical that MS bought teams to fix that whole mess last gen, Sony is buying teams to counter what is going on. It would be weird to just assume it stops here even with BOTH fucking publishers litearlly telling us they plan to continue.

So such deals can take a long time and who knows who Sony is in talks with right now or have been in talks with since those deals started happening. I wouldn't even be shocked that the Insomniac deal in 2019, was based on all those deals done by MS in 2018. ie Obsidian, Ninja Theory etc. Sony seeing them stock up, clearly means they'd be the first to make sure they obtain such a team that had deals with MS prior ie Sunset Overdrive.

Thus....one would not be shocked that after a MS deal, Sony buys a team MS had dealings with prior. Its an easy guess, an American company and obtainable by MS for the right price, so I think Sony is buying at least some based on this.

Sony isn't as rich as Microsoft. They can't buy Capcom or Square-Enix. If they could, would have done it by now. Think it about it. They have time exclusives final fantasy 16 and final fantasy 7 Remake. They obviously don't want final fantasy games on Xbox. The first PlayStation was made popular by final fantasy 7 back in 1997. Don't you think they would have bought Square Enix by now if they had the funds to do so? They also paid to keep Street Fight 5 off Xbox. Why not just out right buy those companies if they could do it? It would add massive value to PlayStation Plus or their future version of Gamepass Ultimate. Sony obviously don't have the resources to buy out large publishers like Microsoft.

 

[gypsygib]

What is the point of acquiring EA? Their cash cow is FIFA which is a licensed IP.

If Sony owned all the most popular sports games (except NBA) it would knock the legs out of Xbox in the US and UK, which are probably its biggest market. Not to mention EA's other fairly deep catelogue of games.

All these acquisitions will result in is everyone needing both consoles to play the most popular games and Sony and MS having subscription services to play anything, including on PC. With no ownership.

 

[tmlDan]

Sony isn't as rich as Microsoft. They can't buy Capcom or Square-Enix. If they could, would have done it by now. Think it about it. They have time exclusives final fantasy 16 and final fantasy 7 Remake. They obviously don't want final fantasy games on Xbox. The first PlayStation was made popular by final fantasy 7 back in 1997. Don't you think they would have bought Square Enix by now if they had the funds to do so? They also paid to keep Street Fight 5 off Xbox. Why not just out right buy those companies if they could do it? It would add massive value to PlayStation Plus or their future version of Gamepass Ultimate. Sony obviously don't have the resources to buy out large publishers like Microsoft.

they can, don't fool yourself.

why do people think Sony is poor or something, Capcom and Square are not worth that much.

It's still a matter of whether a company wants to sell, you can't just buy them cause you want to.

 

[EliteSmurf]

If for some crazy reason this acquisition falls through Jim will probably try to get a refund for Bungie

 

[Represent.]

I bet COD stays multiplat in order for this shit to pass

 

[graywolf323]

This would make so much sense since they have been binge buying anime distribution services lately.

Kadokawa would make a lot of sense for that reason

 

[EDMIX]

it's sounding as

yes, sounds, but even then thats not evidence and they'd have no reason to hide that considering how transparent they are right now

So you can indeed own a company yet the company that you own can still very much have full say and rights in what and how their IP is used, and

You can, that doesn't mean thats what this is.

None of this would even make any logical sense. Really think about it.

Sony allows them to remain independent.
Sony allows them to self publish.

Strangely leaves out that they are allowing them to keep the IP

Oh yea for 3 billion, a independent team, will self publish an IP you have no rights to....sir you need to even question why any of that would be worth 3 billion.

200 million? Sure we've seen some wild marketing deals, 400 million? hey they are allowing them to have lots of freedom sure. Those deals make more sense as both parties are getting something, but I don't buy Sony spends 3 billion without that IP. Thats is just massively unlikely and even odd that no one from Sony or Bungie would state that, yet tell us of future Destiny releases, future new IP releases, telling us they will self publish and they will be independent. I means they are indeed telling us the meat and potatoes of that deal, but having them keep the IP isn't one of it.

It would just be listed with the other things Sony is allowing, this sounds MORE likely that Sony buying the team and the IP is what the fuck they just paid 3 billion for and being independent and self publishing was likely a condition of the sale of that IP. Sony is already known for giving their teams freedom, they are already known for allowing teams to move on and I don't think they wish to make Destiny something other then what Bungie wants it to be, so its not as if Sony wants to turn that IP into something else, as if that was true why even agree to be sold to Sony? Make a marketing deal as they did in the past or some other exclusivity deal, but you don't give THIS MUCH away for 3 billion.

 

[ZehDon]

I doubt they'll block the sale - though they may drag their feet on the review. The acquisition would make Microsoft the third largest publisher, and yet still behind Sony in terms of revenue.

 

[RydarGaf]

they can, don't fool yourself.

why do people think Sony is poor or something, Capcom and Square are not worth that much.

It's still a matter of whether a company wants to sell, you can't just buy them cause you want to.

I didnt say Sony was poor. The problem is people don't realize that Microsft is one the richest companies in the world. They have more money then entire nations in various parts of the world.

Sony isn't poor but they have 10's of billions dollars to throw down at the drop of dime. Thye can't afford to take those kinds of risk. People need to stop jumping to extremes

 

[EDMIX]

They have time exclusives final fantasy 16 and final fantasy 7 Remake. They obviously don't want final fantasy games on Xbox.

yea true, they also had deal with Bungie too and its not like they bough.....oh wait

Sony buying Capcom or Square is more likely then MS buying them. Its not as easy to actually buy a Japanese company if you are an American company, its why they laughed at MS when they entertained buying Nintendo when they first came into gaming looking to buy their way in (alleged) lol

 

[MastaKiiLA]

Isn't this normal for large mergers and acquisitions?

 

[reinking]

This was expected. Most likely scenario, MS will offer some short-term concessions for good faith and the deal will go through. I do hope that the FTC makes them sweat it out enough to slow down these large acquisitions.

 

[RydarGaf]

yes, sounds, but even then thats not evidence and they'd have no reason to hide that considering how transparent they are right now



You can, that doesn't mean thats what this is.

None of this would even make any logical sense. Really think about it.

Sony allows them to remain independent.
Sony allows them to self publish.

Strangely leaves out that they are allowing them to keep the IP

Oh yea for 3 billion, a independent team, will self publish an IP you have no rights to....sir you need to even question why any of that would be worth 3 billion.

200 million? Sure we've seen some wild marketing deals, 400 million? hey they are allowing them to have lots of freedom sure. Those deals make more sense as both parties are getting something, but I don't buy Sony spends 3 billion without that IP. Thats is just massively unlikely and even odd that no one from Sony or Bungie would state that, yet tell us of future Destiny releases, future new IP releases, telling us they will self publish and they will be independent. I means they are indeed telling us the meat and potatoes of that deal, but having them keep the IP isn't one of it.

It would just be listed with the other things Sony is allowing, this sounds MORE likely that Sony buying the team and the IP is what the fuck they just paid 3 billion for and being independent and self publishing was likely a condition of the sale of that IP. Sony is already known for giving their teams freedom, they are already known for allowing teams to move on and I don't think they wish to make Destiny something other then what Bungie wants it to be, so its not as if Sony wants to turn that IP into something else, as if that was true why even agree to be sold to Sony? Make a marketing deal as they did in the past or some other exclusivity deal, but you don't give THIS MUCH away for 3 billion.

Bungie will probably develop some unique games for playstation that isn't related to Destiny.

 

[onesvenus]

What's the largest private gaming company? Valve?
If, and that's a big if, he had any kind of insider information it would only be for a private held company, not for public ones.
Also, do public-private mergers get audited by the FTC and similar?

 

[Tschumi]

Seemed like this was going to happen... Next few months going to be pretty interesting around here

 

[lh032]

Now its your time Sony

 

[Kagey K]

Can't see this being blocked, we always knew it was going to be reviewed, but it's going to be hard to prove a monopoly or unfair advantage when companies like Sony, Nintendo, Tencent and Embracer exist.

 

[darrylgorn]

Would like to get more details but the article is behind a paywall.

This seems a bit suspect right now.

Is the suggestion that buying out a company of that magnitude should be illegal because it stifles competition?

If so, would this be setting some precedent of socialism in private markets?

 

[gypsygib]

Relax.

It will all work out in the end. The Master Race isn't going anywhere.

All these aquistitions will lead to subscription services and no game ownership. It's delusional to think that PC gaming won't be effected by the consolidation of all the AAA devs. A complete oligopoly is being created. Sony/MS want every gamer paying $30 a month in perpetuity plus all of the microtransactions/dlc.

Their attitude will be if you don't like it, then stop gaming. And kids will grow up on it an not care.

It's all very anti-competitve.

 

[CityHunter1981]

Actually, I don't really understand why Microsoft acquired Activision / Blizzard, at least the price tag appears much too high, I think instead they could have easily bought multiple other companies like Square Enix, Capcom, Sega all togehter.

I think Sony is not that stupid and would pay so much money on a single acquisition, I think their strategy pays off until now, nearly all studios flourished under their leadership. I think the company you buy should be a good fit and you already have a plan for them and Sony seems to follow this strategy. Microsoft deals seems more like first buy them and we can then decide what to do with them.

 

[Moridianae]

Sony doesn't swoop in and blank check an entire publisher, which Microsoft has now done two times.

Bungie was a shock, but it's still just a developer in the end. They typically fold in studios who have primarily been on PlayStation anyway, which is partly why this one was a surprise.

But Microsoft changed the game entirely with the Activision/Blizzard deal. They've long had the financial power to buy their way into whatever.

I think Square-Enix is the likely purchase, based on prior history and current console exclusives(FF7R,FFXIV, FFXVI upcoming).

Capcom could be, based on EVO being owned by Sony and their exclusivity with Street Fighter V.

There are a few other devs they could have, such as Kojima Productions, Arc System Works, Ember Labs, etc.

But if Sony does go for a big gun, it's most likely Square for me.

But if they do, it'll trigger a consolidation war that will not end well for gamers in the end, I fear.

But one might argue Microsoft already fired those shots.

I remember people feared and postulated 20 years ago,when Microsoft first entered the console gaming sector, that they could just "buy" their way to success if they wanted.

They didn't for a long time, but PlayStation has been market leader for so many generations(save for PS3 I think),I guess they finally decided to pull out the checkbook as many folks figured.

 

[RydarGaf]

yea true, they also had deal with Bungie too and its not like they bough.....oh wait

You comparing Bungie, a game developer to large publishers that have MANY game development studios under them.

It's shame you people can't tell the difference. Bungie is one studio. Square Enix is several studios. They make other games such the tomb raider series deus X mankind divided, and lot more. Not just the final fantasy series.

 

[tmlDan]

I didnt say Sony was poor. The problem is people don't realize that Microsft is one the richest companies in the world. They have more money then entire nations in various parts of the world.

Sony isn't poor but they have 10's of billions dollars to throw down at the drop of dime. Thye can't afford to take those kinds of risk. People need to stop jumping to extremes

These companies are not worth 10's of billions, i could see square (which has revenues of 3Bn) to go for likely $10Bn.

As of last year (2020) Japan is limiting foreign investors in purchasing Japanese businesses to reduce foreign influence - it is much more likely that they would allow Sony to purchase one of them rather than MS.

 

[ManaByte]

The acquisition would make Microsoft the third largest publisher, and yet still behind Sony in terms of revenue.

Maybe the FTC should look into Tencent and Sony then.

 

[tmlDan]

no way this doesn't go through, I don't expect there to be any issue.

Likely only because of the $$ amount in the acquisition.