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[ckaneo]

What's left to settle lol. Maybe they can get the games Jum Ryan failed too on Playstation since he only cared about COD

 

[feynoob]

MS did huge resurrection. From dead block CMA to FTC and CMA pausing the court case.

The twist won't stop.

 

[3liteDragon]

Sure, let's be disingenuous and pretend Sony making Street Fighter, multiple Final Fantasy games and Starfield exclusive was comparable to a year exclusive of Tomb Raider.

Glad MS stepped up and shut down that shit. A mess of Sony's own making. Had Sony not been so greedy, maybe you'd see Starfield and future Bethesda games on PlayStation.

 

[Solidus_T]

That's when you know a process has been completely politicized.

If anything, I hope the sheer amount of shill 'journalists' who report favorably for their handlers are shamed heavily and hopefully ousted after this. I knew video game journalism was bad, but seeing that interview with Sarah Caldwell where she flies right in the face of these 'journalists' is head spinning.

 

[Topher]

"settlement talks"

Only thing to "settle" is which one of Microsoft's buttcheeks FTC needs to kiss.....

 

[feynoob]

So a normal night at Bo_Hazem palace?

Yup. Normal arab party.
GHG has some experience with that too.

 

[havoc00]

"settlement talks"

Only thing to "settle" is which one of Microsoft's buttcheeks you need to kiss.....

What will that can of ass whoop dude do now?

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Pause

More like

 

[Vox Machina]

"settlement talks"

Only thing to "settle" is which one of Microsoft's buttcheeks you need to kiss.....

The FTC desperate to get something from MSFT themselves instead of the EU CC claiming all the credit.

 

[gothmog]

Here comes that structural remedy. I imagine they're trying to satisfy the FTC and CMA all at once.

 

[havoc00]

Activision stock up 12 cents back to 92.32

 

[Vox Machina]

Activision stock up 12 cents back to 92.32

 

[Iced Arcade]

aka trying to save face

 

[poppabk]

See, tweets like this are embarrassing.

1. Sony didn't force Square Enix to make Final Fantasy a timed exclusive... they simply bid and Square Enix agreed. Square could have simply said no and moved on with their day, or Microsoft could have matched the bid or bid more.
2. Starfield was never going to be exclusive, it was going to be a timed exclusive. This means it would have been released on other platforms 6 to 12 months later. Yet again, Microsoft could have matched the bid or made a better offer.
3. Every gaming company has done the same thing Sony has for decades, so I have no clue why Sony is getting singled out.
4. Microsoft is literally buying other studios to make them exclusive, which is way worse than what Sony has done. Bethesda was not an exclusive studio before Microsoft bought them, but Phil has just made them an exclusive studio. If it weren't for the money COD gets from Sony, they would have completely shut Sony out of the COD deal. And if Nintendo wasn't as big as they are, they would have completely shut them off.
5. Microsoft is preaching about wanting everyone to play their games, but they're going in the direction of making them exclusive, which potentially shuts out millions of users and forces them to spend a crap load of money to play on their system. And that judge is adamant that this deal is good for gamers.

I think one thing we have to agree on is that MS has the money to have outbid Sony on every single exclusive/timed exclusive for the last decade even with a premium for their install base. They obviously don't want to compete like this. It's not that what Sony is doing is wrong, it's just that MS are choosing to compete for exclusives in a different way. It may be worse in terms of game availability on different platforms - but the purpose is similar.

 

[mckmas8808]

This is what happens when you think "streaming" content is the answer. Tread slowly Xbox and Playstation.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Microsoft paying to keep games off of Sony. I guess they'll need to buy up a few publishers for this totally abnormal practice.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Here comes that structural remedy. I imagine they're trying to satisfy the FTC and CMA all at once.

Judge is anxiously awaiting his satisfaction too. I heard, he was talking about how lovely this time of year it is to be out on the nice big boat, fishing and soaking in nature, only problem is, he currently has no boat.
I didn't hear shit.

 

[UnravelKatharsis]

Square games sales are so much better on Playstation that they don't even bother making Xbox versions (after the timed exclusivity ends) , so even continuing to buy timed exclusivity already makes little sense, buying Square would be a foolish unnecessary waste of money, and it's an option that should only be considered if somebody else makes an offer on them.

Ideally let them stay independent, if the market change they can go back to being truly multiplatform (instead of platform lottery for small titles and Playstation for bigger ones).

If they don't buy them Microsoft will. Then what?

 

[Vox Machina]

This is what happens when you think "streaming" content is the answer. Tread slowly Xbox and Playstation.

All the hand-wringing about subscription services (with and without the streaming option) is so misplaced. Netflix et al. have very few options to increase revenue outside of increasing the base price of their subscriptions.

I can't buy Early Access for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
I can't buy DLC for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
I can't buy MTX for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
I can't buy Battle Passes for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
I can't buy Collector's Editions for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
Netflix has to pay royalties for actors in its movies, Game Pass does not have to pay royalties to actors in its games

Ever wonder why Netflix is getting into games? There's your answer.

Gaming Subscriptions are orders of magnitude more "sustainable" than Movie/Music subscriptions. Ironically enough, it was Jim Ryan who revealed that the Sony model of $200M+ "one-and-done" single-player games was unsustainable without being subsidized by hyper-successful GaaS games like CoD. Wanna know why Sony is spending all it's money chasing GaaS right now? That's why.

 

[DeepEnigma]

 

[mckmas8808]

All the hand-wringing about subscription services (with and without the streaming option) is so misplaced. Netflix et al. have very few options to increase revenue outside of increasing the base price of their subscriptions.

I can't buy Early Access for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
I can't buy DLC for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
I can't buy MTX for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
I can't buy Battle Passes for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
I can't buy Collector's Editions for movies on Netflix, I can on Game Pass
Netflix has to pay royalties for actors in its movies, Game Pass does not have to pay royalties to actors in its games

Ever wonder why Netflix is getting into games? There's your answer.

Gaming Subscriptions are orders of magnitude more "sustainable" than Movie/Music subscriptions. Ironically enough, it was Jim Ryan who revealed that the Sony model of $200M+ "one-and-done" single-player games was unsustainable without being subsidized by hyper-successful GaaS games like CoD. Wanna know why Sony is spending all it's money chasing GaaS right now? That's why.

Jim Ryan actually didn't say this. You are adding things in and mixing some stuff up. But at least GaaS games require the consumer to actually spend money on content directly.

 

[NickFire]

Gaming Subscriptions are orders of magnitude more "sustainable" than Movie/Music subscriptions.

That might be true for mobile games that pass time while sitting on the can. No way that is true for the high end games that people actually want. There is a much lower ceiling for the potential audience for high end gaming than movies / TV. Magnitudes lower.

 

[gothmog]

Judge is anxiously awaiting his satisfaction too. I heard, he was talking about how lovely this time of year it is to be out on the nice big boat, fishing and soaking in nature, only problem is, he currently has no boat.
I didn't hear shit.

Lol. In all seriousness the FTC can be a bigger pain to the timeline than people want to admit and if you're already proposing changes to the CMA you might as well try and negotiate in good faith. Brute forcing it has only introduced risk and delay.

 

[feynoob]

GHG vs Bo_Hazem
July 22

 

[Bo_Hazem]

GHG vs Bo_Hazem
July 22

Easy match against the flaccid water pump club.

 

[Vox Machina]

That might be true for mobile games that pass time while sitting on the can. No way that is true for the high end games that people actually want. There is a much lower ceiling for the potential audience for high end gaming than movies / TV. Magnitudes lower.

Untrue. I can buy Early Access for the Game Pass version of a "high-end game" like Starfield literally right now.

 

[adamsapple]

 

[havoc00]

I need satisfaction

 

[DeepEnigma]

That might be true for mobile games that pass time while sitting on the can. No way that is true for the high end games that people actually want. There is a much lower ceiling for the potential audience for high end gaming than movies / TV. Magnitudes lower.

Why do people think Tubi has one of the largest film and show collections and they have some absolute bangers on there as well compared to most other services?

Monetized to hell and back with them commercials. Most monthly fee service streams pale in both quantity and constant rotation. I've noticed outside a once in a season original show, they've scaled back big time on weekly or monthly "new offerings."

Yet Tubi is still killing it with rotations and selections. There is "always a price" for what you get when it comes to these models.

 

[Topher]

Untrue. I can buy Early Access for the Game Pass version of a "high-end game" like Starfield literally right now.

How are you buying the "Game Pass version" of Starfield?

Edit: Oh....you mean that $35 upgrade fee. Never mind

 

[NickFire]

Untrue. I can buy Early Access for the Game Pass version of a "high-end game" like Starfield literally right now.

That has nothing to do with the point you raised that I responded to.

 

[Vox Machina]

How are you buying the "Game Pass version" of Starfield?

My sub. fee. MSFT keeps its promise to me of day-and-date releases for the base game, and gives itself the option of an additional revenue stream to keep the business model profitable.

 

[Topher]

My sub. fee. MSFT keeps its promise to me of day-and-date releases for the base game, and gives itself the option of an additional revenue stream to keep the business model profitable.

That's not buying anything.

 

[feynoob]

Easy match with the flaccid water pump club.

Dont let us eat you for snacks.

 

[Vox Machina]

That has nothing to do with the point you raised that I responded to.

It's probably true that the audience for "high-end games" is smaller than the total audience for movies or music overall, but that audience is much easier to monetize through multiple channels.

Put it this way: would you rather have 100M subscribers paying $10 a month on average ($1B/mo) or 50M subscribers paying $22 a month on average ($1.1B/mo)?

 

[DeepEnigma]

How are you buying the "Game Pass version" of Starfield?

Edit: Oh....you mean that $35 upgrade fee. Never mind

Special Xbox Game Pass 'Upgrade' Bundles Confirmed For Starfield & Forza Motorsport

Play both early

www.purexbox.com

For Forza, you're looking at a Forza Motorsport Premium Add-Ons Bundle for £26.99 / $35.99, and this also includes five days of early access along with the Race Day Car Pack, Car Pass, VIP Membership and Welcome Pack.

....

Keep in mind that if you choose to take advantage of either of these bundles, the base game is not included. That's why they're specifically built for Game Pass - because both titles are available with the service from day one!

So I take it, you unsub, you don't keep the game?

If so, talk about a way to nickel & dime people, or have a psychological effect of keeping people perpetually subbed so you don't lose the perceived "paid for special editions" when you don't even own the base game. A page out of EA's book, IMO.

 

[Banjo64]

Sarah Cardell's interview is completely at odds with the CMA's desperate bum licking they gave to Microsoft at CAT the other day.

I'm at the acceptance stage in terms of this acquisition.

 

[NickFire]

It's probably true that the audience for "high-end games" is smaller than the total audience for movies or music overall, but that audience is much easier to monetize through multiple channels.

Put it this way: would you rather have 100M subscribers paying $10 a month on average ($1B/mo) or 50M subscribers paying $22 a month on average ($1.1B/mo)?

Use of the word probably suggests there is no point continuing this conversation.

 

[Gudji]

Now we know where they stole the Series S design.

 

[Vox Machina]

That's not buying anything.

I don't mind not having permanent ownership and I'd wager that the vast majority of people are happy to make that tradeoff as well. (See: Netflix's rise in popularity)

Use of the word probably suggests there is no point continuing this conversation.

Lmao

 

[havoc00]

Hopefully we get some juicy news before the weekend

 

[Unknown Soldier]

This is what happens when you think "streaming" content is the answer. Tread slowly Xbox and Playstation.

The problem is you think this is a bug, not a feature.

MS is on the record as saying they want to "spend Sony out of business" and it's obvious they'll do this by purposely losing billions on the gaming version of streaming to bleed Sony out because MS has infinity money to lose and Sony doesn't.

 

[TheThreadsThatBindUs]

This is what happens when you think "streaming" content is the answer. Tread slowly Xbox and Playstation.

It's what happens when you shift from making quality entertainment content, where the primary objective is to entertain, to using entertainment as a platform to propagandize a specific ideological agenda.

Couple that with streaming sub services' impetus to churn out an endless supply of frequent content, and you have a recipe for alienating 90% of your consumer base and thus 90% of your profit base.

 

[Topher]

Special Xbox Game Pass 'Upgrade' Bundles Confirmed For Starfield & Forza Motorsport

Play both early

www.purexbox.com

....

So I take it, you unsub, you don't keep the game?

If so, talk about a way to nickel & dime people, or have a psychological effect of keeping people perpetually subbed so you don't lose the perceived "paid for special editions" when you don't even own the base game. A page out of EA's book, IMO.

Yeah, "buying" add-ons to something you don't own makes no sense to me. Sub ends, your "purchases" are gone. That's why I'm buying Starfield off of Steam. And yeah, I'm buying the $100 version with all the bells and whistles.

I don't mind not having permanent ownership and I'd wager that the vast majority of people are happy to make that tradeoff as well. (See: Netflix's rise in popularity)

Considering Game Pass tops out at 15% of MS game/content revenue then I'd say you wagered wrong.

 

[Banjo64]

These custom Series S's are getting out of hand.

Gudji beat me to it

 

[Vox Machina]

So I take it, you unsub, you don't keep the game?

If so, talk about a way to nickel & dime people, or have a psychological effect of keeping people perpetually subbed so you don't lose the perceived "paid for special editions" when you don't even own the base game. A page out of EA's book, IMO.

Nope. One of the cool things about Game Pass is you can choose to keep access to the game even if you unsub. It's simple, you just buy it! If I unsub from Netflix I don't have any way of keeping access to their Movies/Shows.

 

[ckaneo]

The problem is you think this is a bug, not a feature.

MS is on the record as saying they want to "spend Sony out of business" and it's obvious they'll do this by purposely losing billions on the gaming version of streaming to bleed Sony out because MS has infinity money to lose and Sony doesn't.

Ehhh, no you are wrong. Microsoft is a public company and the gaming division does not have unlimited funds from the other divisions. Which is why the gaming executives have to convince the CEO, CFO, and shareholders about spending money.

Acquisitions are not spending the way people think about it, it's a balance transfer as opposed to an expense. This matters.

If the gaming division had their way they would have spent Sony out of the business years ago. They don't. They have to consider profit and losses

 

[havoc00]

Nope. One of the cool things about Game Pass is you can choose to keep access to the game even if you unsub. It's simple, you just buy it! If I unsub from Netflix I don't have any way of keeping access to their Movies/Shows.

For The Players!

 

[mckmas8808]

Nope. One of the cool things about Game Pass is you can choose to keep access to the game even if you unsub. It's simple, you just buy it! If I unsub from Netflix I don't have any way of keeping access to their Movies/Shows.

But then you are buying a game on top of paying $17 for the service.....

 

[MarkMe2525]

MS locked up Gears, Titanfall, Alan Wake, LO, BD, Sunset Overdrive, Tomb Raider, Ori 1/2, Ryse, Scorn, Medium etc exclusively from third parties

But only Sony does that, apparently

Talk about revisionist history

I find it surprising that all but one, on this list, are new IP's. In my minds eye, I could have sworn there were more Tomb Raider situations.