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[GetemMa]

They don't need to buy anyone. They will just continue making very strong exclusives and will probably still win the console sales race. They have a lot of very strong franchises and pretty much dominate Europe. None of those publishers listed would be worth buying except maybe Square or Capcom, and they can achieve console exclusivity with those publishers cheaper by just making development deals.

MS gaining Bethesda is definitely va good get, but it just about puts them even with Sony for first party development. It doesn't bury or dwarf Sony by any means.

 

[amstradcpc]

Larian for the first party WRPG.
Kadokawa(manga+From Software)
Konami IPs+Bluepoint to work in MGS.
Ember lab.
Mediatonic.
Housemarque.
Sumo Digital.

with 3-4 billions.

 

[petran79]

For every Xbox owner, Microsoft should offer Windows 10 and Office for free.

 

[IDKFA]

Buy Bluepoint, Gearbox and Fromsoftware and Konami.

After that Sony and MS should be pretty even.

 

[N30RYU]

ppl forget Microsoft isn't Xbox like Sony is PlayStation.

Not long time ago MS wanted to chop the game division... that gamepass is a money drain as right now untill they got up to 50M subscribers... so who knows...

 

[UltimaKilo]

This purchasing war is bad for consumers, but I bet Sony now increases their stake in SquareEnix.

 

[Warnen]

Make another All female ghost buster movie, that will show em.

 

[mili2110]

Larian for the first party WRPG.
Kadokawa(manga+From Software)
Konami IPs+Bluepoint to work in MGS.
Ember lab.
Mediatonic.
Housemarque.
Sumo Digital.

with 3-4 billions.

Are Housemarque and Sumo Digital 2nd party? Meaning independent but Sony just acts as the publisher?

 

[White-fire]

Larian for the first party WRPG.
Kadokawa(manga+From Software)
Konami IPs+Bluepoint to work in MGS.
Ember lab.
Mediatonic.
Housemarque.
Sumo Digital.

with 3-4 billions.

edit: nvm I agree with everything you wrote, just that I think that will cost more than $4 billion.

 

[amstradcpc]

edit: nvm I agree with everything you wrote, just that I think that will cost more than $4 billion.

I forgot Atlus but that would have to be negotiated with Sega.

 

[EDMIX]

I forgot Atlus but that would have to be negotiated with Sega.

ie buy Sega.

Because Sega already owns Atlus, it might make more sense to just buy the company that owns them tbh. A lot of quality IPs exist under Sega. Would be a massive take.

 

[Slings and Arrows]

Release psvr2 with half life alyx and a whole throng of steam/valve games.

 

[KRYPT83]

Sony can't buy nothing all the gains the playstation division make get swept up by the failed phones and other consumer electronics. Playstation needs to spin off from Sony bad. Jim Ryan will sink the

 

[Humdinger]

They cannot compete with MS when it comes to the ability to spend billions to buy studios. It's just no contest, not even close. The Zenimax aquistion by itself was one-eighth the worth of the entire Sony corporation. Think about that for a second. MS didn't flinch to spend 1/8 the value of Sony. Then consider how many billions they have sunk into GamePass, Mojang, and all the other studio acquisitions they've made in the past few years. I wouldn't be surprised if they've spent one-quarter of Sony's total net worth, just in the past couple of years. And they're ready to spend more.

Sony simply cannot "respond" to MS at this level. They do not have the cash MS does. Financially, this is David vs. Goliath.

Also, to "respond to MS" at this point would just be weak. It would be reactive. They shouldn't be reactive. They should just stick to their plan.

 

[Shmunter]

They cannot compete with MS when it comes to the ability to spend billions to buy studios. It's just no contest, not even close. The Zenimax aquistion by itself was one-eighth the worth of the entire Sony corporation. Think about that for a second. MS didn't flinch to spend 1/8 the value of Sony. Then consider how many billions they have sunk into GamePass, Mojang, and all the other studio acquisitions they've made in the past few years. I wouldn't be surprised if they've spent one-quarter of Sony's total net worth, just in the past couple of years. And they're ready to spend more.

Sony simply cannot "respond" to MS at this level. They do not have the cash MS does. Financially, this is David vs. Goliath.

Also, to "respond to MS" at this point would just be weak. It would be reactive. They shouldn't be reactive. They should just stick to their plan.

It also has to be asked how many studios out there are a fit for Sony? Can you imagine Sony rubber stamping a jank fest like Fallout or The Evil Within? Wouldn't happen, everything coming from Sony is always pristine and polished. The Bethesda games under Sony control would all of a sudden cost exponentially more to make. Doom excluded being a polished product.

 

[ReBurn]

Sony should gg no re

 

[Dr. Suchong]

Nothing.
At least not until the games start appearing.
I'm pretty sure the average consumer wouldn't know about or even care about Microsofts latest acquisition.

 

[WellSheet]

I agree with those saying that Sony should just start up existing studios...

imagine - if staffed right - a "Naughty Dog East" Or a full second team at Santa Monica again....it wouldn't matter if they owned another studio/name out there, they'd be delivering quality under their umbrella by trusted brands.

that being said, I don't think we should count Sony acquiring more studios out of the question. these deals take months to come together...so if we hear "Sony is buying X company" It's likely been going on before the whole. Bethesda purchase; IE not totally reactionary.

the more I think about it, I'd love for Sony to get a hold of Konami's IPs...and buy Kadokawa or wrestle Fromsoftware away from them..

 

[fran.fernandez]

none, they dont need

 

[MrFunSocks]

Nothing.
At least not until the games start appearing.
I'm pretty sure the average consumer wouldn't know about or even care about Microsofts latest acquisition.

They'll know when the next Elder Scrolls or Doom or any of those other games get announced and advertised as "Only on Xbox", and then they'll care.

 

[AmuroChan]

From a portfolio standpoint Sony could use a 1st party FPS, WRPG, and JRPG. Bungie is the obvious choice for FPS, but I'm not sure if they want to get in bed with another publisher after their experiences with MS and Activision. For WRPGs there aren't that many viable candidates left. CDPR is probably too expensive for Sony. Maybe they can go after someone like Larian Studios of Divinity and Baldur's Gate fame. JRPGs they probably have the most options, with the likes of Level-5, Nihon Falcom, Vanillaware, etc.

 

[Sweep14]

Nothing, Bethesda is a big hit, but Microsoft was late in term of studios at deck in the first place.

SIE have 13 studios. If they want to develop a subscription service, that's clearly not enough. If they want to continue their traditional business (games as a product) they are at the risk of seeing traditional 3rd party partners being gobbled up one by one by MS, Amazon,Apple, Facebook etc...Imagine a landscape where Sony has no more access to Bethesda games (oh well...) No more access to Take2 games, Capcom games, etc...

 

[Nico_D]

Sony Literally Cannot Match Microsoft’s Massive Bethesda Deal, Nor Do They Need To

Sony, while a huge player in the video game console space, is in no financial position to make a deal anywhere close to as big as this Microsoft purchase of Bethesda.

www.forbes.com

 

[DForce]

I keep forgetting how big Bandai is.

I don't see anyone purchasing them.

 

[TLZ]

Buy Microsoft.

 

[Stefan.North]

Since LJN has been revived in 2018 (as a brand) Sony should buy right for all LJN software. It would suit them right.

 

[Red Rackham's Revenge]

They cannot compete with MS when it comes to the ability to spend billions to buy studios. It's just no contest, not even close. The Zenimax aquistion by itself was one-eighth the worth of the entire Sony corporation. Think about that for a second. MS didn't flinch to spend 1/8 the value of Sony. Then consider how many billions they have sunk into GamePass, Mojang, and all the other studio acquisitions they've made in the past few years. I wouldn't be surprised if they've spent one-quarter of Sony's total net worth, just in the past couple of years. And they're ready to spend more.

Sony simply cannot "respond" to MS at this level. They do not have the cash MS does. Financially, this is David vs. Goliath.

Also, to "respond to MS" at this point would just be weak. It would be reactive. They shouldn't be reactive. They should just stick to their plan.

Yeah, Sony would be outmatched trying to go toe to toe.

IMO, their best bet is to move asymmetrically. Look at what MS is doing: their product seems to be Game Pass. Ok, Sony can adopt a strategy that focuses on ownership of games. "They don't own their games. With us you do." Even better, defend physical. That might have been where they wanted to go, but with this position they still benefit. Blu Ray is partly their baby. And there is a strong PR angle they can push if they take that route.

Or maybe we're all thinking about this too much.

 

[Shmunter]

Yeah, Sony would be outmatched trying to go toe to toe.

IMO, their best bet is to move asymmetrically. Look at what MS is doing: their product seems to be Game Pass. Ok, Sony can adopt a strategy that focuses on ownership of games. "They don't own their games. With us you do." Even better, defend physical. That might have been where they wanted to go, but with this position they still benefit. Blu Ray is partly their baby. And there is a strong PR angle they can push if they take that route.

Or maybe we're all thinking about this too much.

Interesting proposition with the physical angle. Get an almost monopoly like scenario on brick and mortar and you get bigger brand exposure.

The question remains, how much is the interest in physical eroding based on customer perception and convenience. I like both options.

 

[cireza]

This purchasing war is bad for consumers, but I bet Sony now increases their stake in SquareEnix.

They actually decreased it a few years ago, so this would be surprising.

 

[Red Rackham's Revenge]

Interesting proposition with the physical angle. Get an almost monopoly like scenario on brick and mortar and you get bigger brand exposure.

The question remains, how much is the interest in physical eroding based on customer perception and convenience. I like both options.

I like both too, but unless someone stands up to defend physical, it's not going to be around much longer. From the consumer end, I think it's mostly convenience. It'd be hard to work against that, like working against Netflix.

But as regards to games, Game Pass hasn't reached that level yet. There is still an opportunity to challenge it before it does.

I think that's Sony's opportunity. I don't want to eventually be forced on to cloud gaming, so I hope that they take advantage of it.

 

[Dr. Suchong]

They'll know when the next Elder Scrolls or Doom or any of those other games get announced and advertised as "Only on Xbox", and then they'll care.

I suppose it depends on whatever Bethesda games appearing on other consoles on a "case by case basis" means.
If Elder scrolls 6 turns out to be Series X exclusive, then yeah, I'd certainly care, and buying a Series X to sit beside my Ps5 would be a no brainer

 

[thelastword]

They have more than enough OP. They have a bevy of their own IP's they can ressurect...

The only thing I can see is restoring exclusivity to games that were only on PS before like; Final fantasy, GTA, Silent Hill, Metal Gear.....Tekken and Soul Calibur...

I think it could be very easy for Sony to buy Square and Tecmo though or to really slam dunk this MS acquisition, just buy FROM Software...

 

[MrFunSocks]

I suppose it depends on whatever Bethesda games appearing on other consoles on a "case by case basis" means.
If Elder scrolls 6 turns out to be Series X exclusive, then yeah, I'd certainly care, and buying a Series X to sit beside my Ps5 would be a no brainer

Case by case means "if the console has game pass or xcloud". They ain't releasing them on PS5. You don't buy a publisher with 8 game studios to then keep releasing games on the competitors console.

 

[Voost Kain]

Accolade so they can finally own the franchise they always needed: Bubsy.

 

[Mobile Suit Gooch]

Playstation needs to spin-off from Sony bad. Jim Ryan will sink the

Playstation needs to go to another Japanese company. Maybe...Sega Sammy. Heh

 

[Dr. Suchong]

Case by case means "if the console has game pass or xcloud". They ain't releasing them on PS5. You don't buy a publisher with 8 game studios to then keep releasing games on the competitors console.

We shall see

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

Turtle Rock should have been bought years ago.

 

[Radical Dreamer]

You know what playstation will do? The usual:
-Earlier access to next best CoD multiplayer mode nobody plays anyway
-New !!!EXCLUSIVE!!! 2 shit missions for Hitman 3
-Timed 6 to 12 months exclusivity for some random ass game
-Some more hands-on with DildoSense from random ass developer.
-Exclusive censorship! of titties to protect weebs and children (this policy does not apply to Druckmann and his team)
-TED Talk about speed of their custom S S D
Plz buy our PlayStation. We've got loads of games which will sooner or later come to PC anyway. Or won't. Or will. We don't know too. Stay tuned.

 

[yurinka]

They don't need to buy anything to dominate this next gen as they did with the current one.

I'm pretty sure they are on track to set a new gaming history record for at least day one, month one, first FY (so until March 2021) and first full year (until Nov 2021) all time records that PS4 has.

As new release games they have Demon's Souls, Spiderman: Miles Morales, Godfall or Sackboy, and Series X has an indie game of a flying bird.

For the first year PS5 has as main exclusives like Ratchet & Clank, Horizon 2, God of War, Returnal, and very likely Gran Turismo 7 plus upcoming timed exclusives of FFVIIR ep2. and FFXVI. Xbox instead has Halo (the first 2 next gen Zenimax games are PS5 timed exclusives so very likely won't get an Xbox version during a year or so), and the first next gen AAA EA Play to be included in Gamepass seems are going to be this year sports games like FIFA21, that would be included there/in game pass around a year after release.

Then we have all these MS AAA games that lost their XBO logo, which means they will be released in mid November 2022 or later, since MS said that during the first two years of Series X their games will be cross gen.

So I don't expect Series X, Series S (third of its power, 6GB less of RAM, uses XB1S version of current gen games instead of XB1X) and its Game Pass having any impact on PS5 success, at least until 2023 or later.

 

[Relativ9]

From a portfolio standpoint Sony could use a 1st party FPS, WRPG, and JRPG. Bungie is the obvious choice for FPS, but I'm not sure if they want to get in bed with another publisher after their experiences with MS and Activision. For WRPGs there aren't that many viable candidates left. CDPR is probably too expensive for Sony. Maybe they can go after someone like Larian Studios of Divinity and Baldur's Gate fame. JRPGs they probably have the most options, with the likes of Level-5, Nihon Falcom, Vanillaware, etc.

Instead of buying someone like Larian or CDPR, Sony is better off encouraging their bigger and proven studios to start second teams and develop new franchises in the Western RPG and FPS generas. Similar to how Guerilla went from making Killzone to Horizon. Also they don't need JRPGs, many of them are defacto PlayStation exclusives anyway and the people into them are 90% PlayStation fans anyway.

 

[NahaNago]

Instead of buying someone like Larian or CDPR, Sony is better off encouraging their bigger and proven studios to start second teams and develop new franchises in the Western RPG and FPS generas. Similar to how Guerilla went from making Killzone to Horizon. Also they don't need JRPGs, many of them are defacto PlayStation exclusives anyway and the people into them are 90% PlayStation fans anyway.

I agree with most of this except for the no jrpgs. I honestly feel they need it now more than ever. With Microsoft pretty much locking down western rpgs Sony should go the jrpg route. Playstation has generally been the jrpg console so Sony should push that narrative but I think that Sony is only on the surface in to Japanese content.

 

[DilWSTS]

Sony can't afford to make an acquisition as big as that. Sony of ps4 launch may have countered but we are back to arrogant ps3 sony.

 

[Deleted member 471617]

They don't. Instead, they stick to their plans which should be to acquire Housemarque and Bluepoint Games. They should also stop wasting money on timed exclusive bullshit and acquire smaller studios instead and/or expand the studios that they currently own. Both of which would be a far better investment.

 

[AmuroChan]

Instead of buying someone like Larian or CDPR, Sony is better off encouraging their bigger and proven studios to start second teams and develop new franchises in the Western RPG and FPS generas. Similar to how Guerilla went from making Killzone to Horizon. Also they don't need JRPGs, many of them are defacto PlayStation exclusives anyway and the people into them are 90% PlayStation fans anyway.

I'm definitely not opposed to them expanding their own studios to work on other genres. The advantage of acquiring a publisher or studio is the IPs that come with it. Employees will come and go, but the IPs you own forever. As far as JRPGs go, you are right that many of them are defacto PS exclusives, but that number is dwindling given the success of Switch. Also, Sony owns a bunch of JRPG IPs and I think many old school fans would love to see the return of franchises like Wild Arms, Dark Cloud, Legend of Dragoon, etc.