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[MasterCornholio]

The issue is that both side are downplaying and exaggerating their points.

MS with them being weak and not able to compete, while Sony is arguing with what they have benefited from.

Both side are guilty. And I am not defending either.

But how can you have a proper study, when both side are clearly exaggerating.

The regulations needs to be careful with their finding. Either side isnt telling the truth here.

Well a study needs to be done regardless. I'm sure the CMA has people that know how to look at these types of situations.

Just let them do their jobs before calling them unqualified.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Don't forget a year of exclusivity for GTA DLC and Peter Moore arm tattoos.

Did Microsoft cry when Sony was getting exclusive gta 5 content and half price costs on online expansions? I might have missed that.

How many years ago was gta4 now...that was xbox 360 right.

This is what we do as gamers right...bring up more and more earlier stuff that shows companies are shit...I see your gta 4 and raise you gta San Andrea's, gta 3 or vice City etc ...lol

 

[DarkMage619]

Acquiring other companies isn't competition. What a stupid post.

It absolutely is part of competition. Why don't you look up how businesses operate. Speak after you educate yourself.

Lol, that's what they're saying in public. But thanks to Jim Ryan turning down Phil's offer, we know what's going on behind closed doors. But go ahead and feign ignorance if you think it'll help the deal go through.

So your belief is that MS is publicly lying about their business operations? If they say something in public and do the opposite especially if they violate written commitments there are legal repercussions. Do you have any evidence of MS breaking their gaming commitments?

 

[IFireflyl]

In the event that this deal does get through UK and EU regulation - which I still doubt it will based on the CMA info from canvasing the opinion of the games industry - what could be quite interesting is if the industry - with exception of Ubisoft, EA, and T2 - completely close ranks and stop publishing on Xbox voluntarily, and start putting their handout for money just to do Series versions - by the logic that Microsoft seemingly has deep pockets to pay 40% over the value of ABK, and so can afford all content, even without a game pass deal.

Using PlayStation as a stalking horse in this way to make a lot of independent game developers millionaires from their studios getting bought out at +50% above their value could be a genuinely viable strategy for some in the west. In Japan, I would already expect them to close ranks - if this deal close - even maybe seeing Nintendo and PlayStation partnering on things if the damage ABK with game pass can do to PlayStation is real.

In Nintendo's situation, they'd maybe consider that Xbox winning is bad for their gaming landscape too, compared to helping PlayStation remain competitive - or remain as market leader IMO.

Nintendo will never get between Sony and Microsoft. They carved their own niche in the gaming world, and it makes no financial sense to take a side.

 

[GhostOfTsu]

Personally, I hope this doesn't go through, just so those Xbox diehards who were bragging about COD being exclusive, but now pretending it won't be because that helps MS's case, have a complete meltdown.

Yes and we all remember adamsapple M ManaByte and crew made multiple posts saying future games would be exclusive but then the PR firm told them to change the narrative.

Suddenly they keep repeating that Minecraft line even if that same line was said back in January but quickly discarded.

Oh NOW we have to believe that line? You ain't slick

I see your gta 4 and raise you gta San Andrea's, gta 3 or vice City etc ...lol

That wouldn't work because Rockstar went to Microsoft first but they didn't want it on Xbox so they had to settle with PlayStation. Poor them.

 

[bender]

Did Microsoft cry when Sony was getting exclusive gta 5 content and half price costs on online expansions? I might have missed that.

How many years ago was gta4 now...that was xbox 360 right.

This is what we do as gamers right...bring up more and more earlier stuff that shows companies are shit...I see your gta 4 and raise you gta San Andrea's, gta 3 or vice City etc ...lol

I'm not sure what "we do as gamers" but morons think these practices are one sided.

 

[IFireflyl]

It absolutely is part of competition. Why don't you look up how businesses operate. Speak after you educate yourself.

Explain to me how the two biggest players in video games can gobble up all of third-party studios so that only those two behemoths are left, and that that somehow supports competition. Because that's the end result of your dumbass comment.

 

[thismeinteil]

Microsoft could defang this whole thing by spinning off the COD team or being willing to put in writing that COD will always be available for all platforms that want it. They won't because COD is the crown jewel.

The Time-Warner/Comcast merger failed and the rumor around it failing was that they wanted NBC to be spun out. Comcast refused to do that and the deal crumbled. Not saying that this is what is going to happen but if this game isn't a big deal they would treat it like it wasn't a big deal.

Exactly. The fact that Sony bought Bungie recently and are doing just that, may affect things. Treating them as an independent studio that can publish on whatever platform they wish. The fact MS doesn't want to, and effectively gave Sony a cutoff date for COD on PS, shows their true intentions with COD.

 

[Menzies]

It's more like your logic is dead. Having companies remain independent allows them to make marketing deals with whoever they want. The competition can always engage in a bidding war to make the deal if they so choose. If the company isn't independent they can't do that.

It's the way a competitive market works.

This would be all fine and fair as long as the clear dominant player doesn't leverage their position for such deals, and the entitled masses inevitable public backlash doesn't create reputational damage for the publisher.

It seems Microsoft is going to be raked across the coals no matter what they do.

 

[feynoob]

Acquiring other companies isn't competition.

That is part of competition. Small or large, you purchase companies to expand your business.
But overpurchasing companies causes monopoly, which is why there are rules and regulators for mergers and buying companies.

 

[PaintTinJr]

Nintendo will never get between Sony and Microsoft. They carved their own niche in the gaming world, and it makes no financial sense to take a side.

Normally Japanese companies support each other AFAIK, the oddity is that Nintendo, Sega and Sony too - after Nintendo backed out of their SNES successor with Sony optical drive that led to PlayStation - don't support each other. But in the wider situation with how vulnerable PlayStations cashflow could change with the theories of harm the CMA are considering, I have no doubt that Nintendo would see PlayStation as a preferable adjacent partner in the gaming space than Xbox/gamepass., and would act accordingly.

It is possible that this deal might actually be the trigger to Xbox's complete demise - if it goes through - because too many in the games industry rely on PlayStation to keep them creative and viable, with technological refresh every gen. Even Epic won't be happy that Microsoft has disrupted the status quo of competition and potentially damaged an important business partner for them - if the $70b acquisition completes.

 

[PaintTinJr]

This would be all fine and fair as long as the clear dominant player doesn't leverage their position for such deals, and the entitled masses inevitable public backlash doesn't create reputational damage for the publisher.

It seems Microsoft is going to be raked across the coals no matter what they do.

You are only talking about accountancy business moves.

No one is going to "rake them across the coals" for doing their primary job of making amazing games to play and chat about- which they've had countless billions and over 2 decades to implement - rather than industry doomsday acquisitions

 

[IFireflyl]

That is part of competition. Small or large, you purchase companies to expand your business.
But overpurchasing companies causes monopoly, which is why there are rules and regulators for mergers and buying companies.

DarkMage619 's response to Microsoft's acquisition was that Sony can stay competitive by acquiring other studios/publishers. That's a back-and-forth between Microsoft and Sony that doesn't benefit the gamers. For as much as I don't want Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard, I also don't want Sony acquiring Activision Blizzard or multiple other studios that would be required for them to remain competitive against this acquisition.

Going on an acquisition spree because your competitor did the same thing isn't staying competitive. It's eliminating competition. Those third-party studios are suddenly all first-party studios. These two companies gobbling up the largest studios/publishers means that both sides (Xbox gamers and PlayStation gamers) are going to be disappointed by exclusive games that they can't play without owning both consoles. That's bad for us.

Normally Japanese companies support each other AFAIK, the oddity is that Nintendo, Sega and Sony too - after Nintendo backed out of their SNES successor with Sony optical drive that led to PlayStation - don't support each other. But in the wider situation with how vulnerable PlayStations cashflow could change with the theories of harm the CMA are considering, I have no doubt that Nintendo would see PlayStation as a preferable adjacent partner in the gaming space than Xbox/gamepass., and would act accordingly.

It is possible that this deal might actually be the trigger to Xbox's complete demise - if it goes through - because too many in the games industry rely on PlayStation to keep them creative and viable, with technological refresh every gen. Even Epic won't be happy that Microsoft has disrupted the status quo of competition and potentially damaged an important business partner for them - if the $70b acquisition completes.

I mean, if Nintendo was forced to take a side then it would probably go with Sony over Microsoft just based on the culture. I'm just saying that right now they don't have to take a side, and these acquisitions aren't putting them in a position to need to choose a side. They'll stay completely out of this until someone starts encroaching on their territory. It's best to let your competition fight it out, and then swoop in when they're both worn down.

 

[thismeinteil]

So your belief is that MS is publicly lying about their business operations? If they say something in public and do the opposite especially if they violate written commitments there are legal repercussions. Do you have any evidence of MS breaking their gaming commitments?

Tell me you can't be that dense. It's called PR. Wish you guys would quit acting as if the COD deal MS tried to get Sony to sign didn't come to light. 3 more years of COD on PS, then they were pulling the plug. You can try to ignore it on forums, but the CMA has all that info.

Did Microsoft cry when Sony was getting exclusive gta 5 content and half price costs on online expansions? I might have missed that.

How many years ago was gta4 now...that was xbox 360 right.

This is what we do as gamers right...bring up more and more earlier stuff that shows companies are shit...I see your gta 4 and raise you gta San Andrea's, gta 3 or vice City etc ...lol

Another pretender. MS is the only one has been publicly crying about exclusive deals. And it started when MS wasn't buying up as many marketing deals when XBO was struggling. Sony got rights to Destiny advertising, so MS cried with their Destiny perfume ad. They had to stop when, I'm sure, lawyers were getting involved. Probably didn't make 3rd parties happy, either, having one of the Big 3 trying to violate their agreements with other companies. And all last gen Spencer was whining about exclusive deals and how unfair they are, while still making them himself.

 

[Ezekiel_]

Yes and we all remember adamsapple M ManaByte and crew made multiple posts saying future games would be exclusive but then the PR firm told them to change the narrative.

Suddenly they keep repeating that Minecraft line even if that same line was said back in January but quickly discarded.

"You don't spend 70 billion for the staaattuuuusss quoooooooo"

 

[Menzies]

You are only talking about accountancy business moves.

No one is going to "rake them across the coals" for doing their primary job of making amazing games to play and chat about- which they've had countless billions and over 2 decades to implement - rather than industry doomsday acquisitions

You clearly came down in the last shower. You didn't see what happened when Microsoft dared to compete with Tomb Raider?

Everyone has their own little rulebook for how Microsoft should be allowed to compete. And it's exactly not the thing they're currently doing.

 

[ReBurn]

Really?

https://www.eurogamer.net/after-five-years-of-xbox-exclusivity-call-of-duty-switches-to-playstation

Microsoft started exclusivity agreements with Call of Duty. You're the clown attacking Sony when Microsoft participates in the same behaviors.

I wonder how Sony survived?

 

[feynoob]

DarkMage619 DarkMage619 's response to Microsoft's acquisition was that Sony can stay competitive by acquiring other studios/publishers. That's a back-and-forth between Microsoft and Sony that doesn't benefit the gamers. For as much as I don't want Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard, I also don't want Sony acquiring Activision Blizzard or multiple other studios that would be required for them to remain competitive against this acquisition.

Going on an acquisition spree because your competitor did the same thing isn't staying competitive. It's eliminating competition. Those third-party studios are suddenly all first-party studios. These two companies gobbling up the largest studios/publishers means that both sides (Xbox gamers and PlayStation gamers) are going to be disappointed by exclusive games that they can't play without owning both consoles. That's bad for us.

Acquisition is bad for consumers, as it denies them contents. We are just the casualties of a war between companies.

I mean, if Nintendo was forced to take a side then it would probably go with Sony over Microsoft just based on the culture. I'm just saying that right now they don't have to take a side, and these acquisitions aren't putting them in a position to need to choose a side. They'll stay completely out of this until someone starts encroaching on their territory. It's best to let your competition fight it out, and then swoop in when they're both worn down.

Nintendo would go with MS, as they have rough history with Sony.
It's like the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

 

[feynoob]

You know what, I regret starting this conversation.
Now, it seems that I caused a war.

 

[MasterCornholio]

This would be all fine and fair as long as the clear dominant player doesn't leverage their position for such deals, and the entitled masses inevitable public backlash doesn't create reputational damage for the publisher.

It seems Microsoft is going to be raked across the coals no matter what they do.

Nah your just imagining things. Microsoft can choose to compete for those deals if they want to. After all they have a lot more cash then the competition.

 

[MasterCornholio]

You clearly came down in the last shower. You didn't see what happened when Microsoft dared to compete with Tomb Raider?

Everyone has their own little rulebook for how Microsoft should be allowed to compete. And it's exactly not the thing they're currently doing.

Well Tomb Raider still arrived on the PS4. So while it did suck for playstation owners it was only temporary. Just like the Medium and Silent Hill 2 are.

 

[IFireflyl]

You know what, I regret starting this conversation.
Now, it seems that I caused a war.

Trust me, that war was in full force before you graced us with your presence.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Tell me you can't be that dense. It's called PR. Wish you guys would quit acting as if the COD deal MS tried to get Sony to sign didn't come to light. 3 more years of COD on PS, then they were pulling the plug. You can try to ignore it on forums, but the CMA has all that info.


Another pretender. MS is the only one has been publicly crying about exclusive deals. And it started when MS wasn't buying up as many marketing deals when XBO was struggling. Sony got rights to Destiny advertising, so MS cried with their Destiny perfume ad. They had to stop when, I'm sure, lawyers were getting involved. Probably didn't make 3rd parties happy, either, having one of the Big 3 trying to violate their agreements with other companies. And all last gen Spencer was whining about exclusive deals and how unfair they are, while still making them himself.

Microsoft cried with their destiny add hahaha. What a crazy thing to say. It was a good marketing joke and that was it. Crying....lolol you're funny

 

[Zathalus]

In the event that this deal does get through UK and EU regulation - which I still doubt it will based on the CMA info from canvasing the opinion of the games industry - what could be quite interesting is if the industry - with exception of Ubisoft, EA, and T2 - completely close ranks and stop publishing on Xbox voluntarily, and start putting their handout for money just to do Series versions - by the logic that Microsoft seemingly has deep pockets to pay 40% over the value of ABK, and so can afford all content, even without a game pass deal.

Using PlayStation as a stalking horse in this way to make a lot of independent game developers millionaires from their studios getting bought out at +50% above their value could be a genuinely viable strategy for some in the west. In Japan, I would already expect them to close ranks - if this deal close - even maybe seeing Nintendo and PlayStation partnering on things if the damage ABK with game pass can do to PlayStation is real.

In Nintendo's situation, they'd maybe consider that Xbox winning is bad for their gaming landscape too, compared to helping PlayStation remain competitive - or remain as market leader IMO.

You've said a lot of hilarious shit in this thread but this tops them all.

 

[Menzies]

Nah your just imagining things. Microsoft can choose to compete for those deals if they want to. After all they have a lot more cash then the competition.

The rules of the game shouldn't be defined by the players wallets. Microsoft "choosing to compete" requires paying significant overs and doesn't make sense when they can just buy the company.

 

[reksveks]

Even Epic won't be happy that Microsoft has disrupted the status quo of competition and potentially damaged an important business partner for them - if the $70b acquisition completes.

If epic get a partner in the battle vs apple and google, don't think they would give a fuck

 

[remember_spinal]

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Tell me you can't be that dense. It's called PR. Wish you guys would quit acting as if the COD deal MS tried to get Sony to sign didn't come to light. 3 more years of COD on PS, then they were pulling the plug. You can try to ignore it on forums, but the CMA has all that info.

You're falling for Ryan's PR. It's not a big deal that MS offered three years past the current deal. Is MS supposed to offer Sony like an infinite deal or something? Why would everyone assume a new deal wouldn't be worked out?

Plus it's not like Sony is owed Call of Duty past whatever deal they currently have. MS is already going above and beyond by trying to guarantee it for at least a few more years.

 

[SportsFan581]

You're falling for Ryan's PR. It's not a big deal that MS offered three years past the current deal. Is MS supposed to offer Sony like an infinite deal or something? Why would everyone assume a new deal wouldn't be worked out?

IKR. Clearly Sony didn't have a forever deal in place with Activision. LOL

 

[Neofire]

Coughsendthosechecksoutcouch

 

[thismeinteil]

Microsoft cried with their destiny add hahaha. What a crazy thing to say. It was a good marketing joke and that was it. Crying....lolol you're funny

Please. They were mad they didn't get the Bungie deal, and seeing that Destiny may have been the next big thing, they tried to come up with a work around. Which I'm sure only Xbox diehards saw it as funny. Doubt 3rd parties saw an intentional disrespect of their agreements with other companies quite as humorous. Which is why MS had to knock it off. Of course, if Sony pulled the same stunt, you would say they were showing their desperation.

Add in Spencer whining all last gen about exclusivity deals, and yea, it's obvious they were crying.

You're falling for Ryan's PR. It's not a big deal that MS offered three years past the current deal. Is MS supposed to offer Sony like an infinite deal or something? Why would everyone assume a new deal wouldn't be worked out?

Plus it's not like Sony is owed Call of Duty past whatever deal they currently have. MS is already going above and beyond by trying to guarantee it for at least a few more years.

That wasn't PR. That was a failed business agreement that Ryan didn't think would even make it to the public. That is until Spencer whined to the public about Sony not taking the deal. I'm sure them talking publicly about being the nice guys and wanting as many people to play COD as possible, while behind closed doors giving Sony a cutoff date for COD on the PS, is something that pricked some interest at the CMA.

I guess on the bright side, if this doesn't go through, MS won't have to worry about having to "go above and beyond."

 

[Bernkastel]

Yes and we all remember adamsapple adamsapple M ManaByte M ManaByte and crew made multiple posts saying future games would be exclusive but then the PR firm told them to change the narrative.

Suddenly they keep repeating that Minecraft line even if that same line was said back in January but quickly discarded.

This has to be most paranoid circlejerk I have ever argued with. You must have convinced yourself with your friends in discord how anyone who likes Xbox must be in some PR firm by Microsoft.

Please. They were mad they didn't get the Bungie deal, and seeing that Destiny may have been the next big thing, they tried to come up with a work around. Which I'm sure only Xbox diehards saw it as funny. Doubt 3rd parties saw an intentional disrespect of their agreements with other companies quite as humorous. Which is why MS had to knock it off. Of course, if Sony pulled the same stunt, you would say they were showing their desperation.

Add in Spencer whining all last gen about exclusivity deals, and yea, it's obvious they were crying.



That wasn't PR. That was a failed business agreement that Ryan didn't think would even make it to the public. That is until Spencer whined to the public about Sony not taking the deal. I'm sure them talking publicly about being the nice guys and wanting as many people to play COD as possible, while behind closed doors giving Sony a cutoff date for COD on the PS, is something that pricked some interest at the CMA.

I guess on the bright side, if this doesn't go through, MS won't have to worry about having to "go above and beyond."

For someone accusing others of whining and crying, you sure do whine and cry a lot.

 

[Bernkastel]

It is possible that this deal might actually be the trigger to Xbox's complete demise - if it goes through - because too many in the games industry rely on PlayStation to keep them creative and viable, with technological refresh every gen. Even Epic won't be happy that Microsoft has disrupted the status quo of competition and potentially damaged an important business partner for them - if the $70b acquisition completes.

I can't imagine someone writing this with a straight face.

 

[PaintTinJr]

You clearly came down in the last shower. You didn't see what happened when Microsoft dared to compete with Tomb Raider?

Everyone has their own little rulebook for how Microsoft should be allowed to compete. And it's exactly not the thing they're currently doing.

The rulebook for all platforms has always been the same IMO: give gamers a reason to own your system on the merits of what you bring to the table - whether that be compelling hardware or compelling new first or second party experiences - and then everything else you do - within reason - by partnerships is okay.

IMO Xbox and Microsoft have still to give me a compelling reason - on their merits of their hardware or first party games - to own an xbox last-gen or this gen, and I have tried their best offerings at friends' houses and have been an avid gamer on anything for decades. So, them trying to push an online DRM hardware last-gen with lackluster budget hardware, having a barren schedule for first/second party bangers after years of Kinect focus, and then targeting an IP that got its success over generations on PlayStation, to then money hat console exclusivity for a year, and then be greeted by an angry mob is surely all of their own making is it not?

If they can drop $70b on the biggest game publishing acquisition in gaming, then they can do at least as compelling job with first party and hardware as companies did before leaving the industry as a platform - like Sega - can't they?

It is quite telling that they say they don't believe in generations - which may not bode well for games like CoD - but in their Phase 2 submission they infer they do believe in generations; but not games, God no that would be too logical to give gamers that - for Microsoft.

MSFT CMA phase 2 submission, Page 7:
"(d) Fourth, the Transaction will improve Microsoft's ability to create a next generation game store which operates across a range of devices, including mobile as a result of the addition of Activision Blizzard's content.17"

Instead, their entire thoughts about not believing in generations only applies to games, because they want to deliver a next generation store, which we all can't wait for, right?

 

[The_Mike]

Microsoft can compete with Sony for these deals if they choose too.

Sony can't if Microsoft just outright buys them.

Sony could just buy Activision.

Whoops, my bad. Forgot they couldn't afford it.

Activision's ass were out for a bidding, no one stopped Sony for stepping in.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Normally Japanese companies support each other AFAIK, the oddity is that Nintendo, Sega and Sony too - after Nintendo backed out of their SNES successor with Sony optical drive that led to PlayStation - don't support each other. But in the wider situation with how vulnerable PlayStations cashflow could change with the theories of harm the CMA are considering, I have no doubt that Nintendo would see PlayStation as a preferable adjacent partner in the gaming space than Xbox/gamepass., and would act accordingly.

It is possible that this deal might actually be the trigger to Xbox's complete demise - if it goes through - because too many in the games industry rely on PlayStation to keep them creative and viable, with technological refresh every gen. Even Epic won't be happy that Microsoft has disrupted the status quo of competition and potentially damaged an important business partner for them - if the $70b acquisition completes.

Yeah, Nintendo loves Sony so much that they just paid for an exclusive Monster Hunter and allowed it to release on PC and not PS. They also blocked Octopath (which came to Xbox) and Triangle Strategy from PS. Are you stoned? All the 3rd party devs care about is selling as many copies of their games and as much mtx as possible. MS has a juicy install base of course they are gonna keep releasing games there. You think epic tim cares if the market shifts slightly more to MS? He wants to sell fortnite battle passes wherever he can, and cut off his own nose to spite his face already with apple.

 

[thismeinteil]

This has to be most paranoid circlejerk I have ever argued with. You must have convinced yourself with your friends in discord how anyone who likes Xbox must be in some PR firm by Microsoft.

For someone accusing others of whining and crying, you sure do whine and cry a lot.

Tell me you have no argument without telling you have no argument.

Thanks for the thoughtful addition to the thread.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Sony could just buy Activision.

Whoops, my bad. Forgot they couldn't afford it.

Activision's ass were out for a bidding, no one stopped Sony for stepping in

Why would they step in when they can't afford to?

You really don't think before you type do you?

 

[Bernkastel]

Tell me you have no argument without telling you have no argument.

Thanks for the thoughtful addition to the thread.

It's not like you had one in the first place.

 

[The_Mike]

Why would they step in when they can't afford to?

You really don't think before you type do you?

That's exactly my point.

The only reason Sony is crying over this deal is because they couldn't afford it themselves, otherwise Sony would be the one about to sealing the deal.

It's just like people see Microsoft as the baddy because they buy the developers whereas Sony only buys timed exclusive deals.

Not because Sony are the good guys, but because Sony can't afford to do the same as Microsoft does.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

That's exactly my point.

The only reason Sony is crying over this deal is because they couldn't afford it themselves, otherwise Sony would be the one about to sealing the deal.

It's just like people see Microsoft as the baddy because they buy the developers whereas Sony only buys timed exclusive deals.

Not because Sony are the good guys, but because Sony can't afford to do the same as Microsoft does.

You don't have a point. Sony is "crying" to fight their case, and Microsoft is "crying" to fight theirs.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Sony could just buy Activision.

Whoops, my bad. Forgot they couldn't afford it.

Activision's ass were out for a bidding, no one stopped Sony for stepping in.

If Sony wanted to leverage into Activision they could have. Actually, let me strike that, there is no way their board would have allowed it since it was so overvalued.

But realistically, Sony would just need to leverage its equity to go into debt to purchase a company like Activision. They absolutely could have done it, it just would never have been advisable.

Activision is the largest 3rd party video game company on the planet and over the years have focused their entire company on one franchise... Imagine a scenario where a game comes out that supplants CoD... what happens to that value? It's like people who think Sony should buy FromSoftware, but then Miyazaki leaves or gets hit by a bus... and you're out billions instantly...

 

[GhostOfTsu]

This has to be most paranoid circlejerk I have ever argued with. You must have convinced yourself with your friends in discord how anyone who likes Xbox must be in some PR firm by Microsoft.

I remember you were on that Discord with the guy from DF before the PS5 came out. Organizing a FUD campaign. All the lies about the PS5 specs came from there. I'd keep a low profile about Discord chats if I were you

 

[PaintTinJr]

Yeah, Nintendo loves Sony so much that they just paid for an exclusive Monster Hunter and allowed it to release on PC and not PS. They also blocked Octopath (which came to Xbox) and Triangle Strategy from PS. Are you stoned?

So, the condition to my comment of the acquisition completing and damaging PlayStation has already been met in your opinion, yes?

All the 3rd party devs care about is selling as many copies of their games and as much mtx as possible. MS has a juicy install base of course they are gonna keep releasing games there.

If Microsoft acquires ABK they are going to give prominence to that content ahead of 3rd party games in their store. By forcing Xbox to pay for a game to publish on their store they give Xbox a bigger incentive to promote that game on their store.

You think epic tim cares if the market shifts slightly more to MS? He wants to sell fortnite battle passes wherever he can, and cut off his own nose to spite his face already with apple.

And what happens if Epic Tim doesn't protect Unreal's earnings, and then Fortnite's start to tail off? Visual Studio has Unity integrated into their product as the goto engine for creating games on WIndows. Plus, Epic already have Tencent and Sony on their side, as Tencent owns 40% IIRC and Sony owns 5% IIRC.

 

[DarkMage619]

Explain to me how the two biggest players in video games can gobble up all of third-party studios so that only those two behemoths are left, and that that somehow supports competition. Because that's the end result of your dumbass comment.

Who is gobbling up what now? Activision is one large publisher there are many other large publishers still out there. Tencent, Embracer Group, EA, and Take2 to name a few. Activision was in a bad state for reasons I mentioned earlier. MS had the capital to purchase the company and potentially change the culture there.

With regard to acquisitions as part of competition why did Sony buy Bungie? So they could better compete with service games. Why did MS purchase Activision? So they can better compete with Google and Apple with mobile stores and in video games.

Acquisitions happen regularly in business as part of a normal healthy industry. The idea of only two players gobbling up every publisher is fantasy. I do love your continued childish name calling especially when you make asinine comments. Keep on keeping on.

 

[adamsapple]

Explain to me how the two biggest players in video games can gobble up all of third-party studios so that only those two behemoths are left, and that that somehow supports competition. Because that's the end result of your dumbass comment.

If a publisher wants to put itself for sale, it will, it's either Microsoft or Meta or Tencent, whoever places the most favorable bet.

It's up to the regulators to determine if it's anti competitive or not, that's what's happening right now.

But acquisitions themselves are part of competition, to your earlier point, they have been happening all the time and will continue to happen regardless of the result of this one.

 

[PaintTinJr]

I can't imagine someone writing this with a straight face.

Try playing a ground-breaking walking simulator where you have to rock a baby - that was a refreshing 2nd party experience - and then read the sentence again.

 

[adamsapple]

It is possible that this deal might actually be the trigger to Xbox's complete demise - if it goes through - because too many in the games industry rely on PlayStation to keep them creative and viable, with technological refresh every gen. Even Epic won't be happy that Microsoft has disrupted the status quo of competition and potentially damaged an important business partner for them - if the $70b acquisition completes.

 

[feynoob]

I am enjoying this show

 

[PaintTinJr]

So, as a serious reply, how do you expect Microsoft to juggle the prominence of other games on their store, along with Bethesda and ABK's catalogues, the other MGS games, and EA, Ubisoft and T2's AAA games?
Have they spent $80b on three publishers and other studios to just have that content tucked away at the back to make space for a Kena Bridge of Spirits or Sifu game - while needing the other games front and centre to sell game pass subs?