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Jeff Grub: Sony acquiring Square Enix was the big rumor about the next potential Sony acquisition
- Thread starter Craig of War
- Start date
- Drama Clickbait Cringe
MasterCornholio
Member
Sorry I thought you were serious. But I’m glad you agree that FF is probably the biggest IP that they have that’s associated with PlayStation.
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MasterCornholio
Member
Oddvintagechap
Banned
I rather Insomniac get a try at Megaman.
I like Dragon Quest 8.. but getting Square does nothing. The same games will be made for the same platforms.
Captain Toad
Banned
We used to get three mainline numbered Final Fantasy games. NES 1-3, SNES 4-6, PS1 7-9, PS2 10-12.
It's gone downhill in quality since they started having one or two per generation.
They need to simplify what a Final Fantasy game is again. I feel like they're trying too hard now. Just make really solid fantasy JRPGs.
GHound
Member
And on that day, we will project urine with the full force of our sphincters.One of these days this guy is going to be right.
Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the Grubb!
CosmicComet
Member
This is definitely not happening.
And I don't think it should. I don't think the current Cali Sony mixes well with SE's philosophsies in general.
I'd be more ok with Nintendo or even MS buying SE than Sony right now.
And I don't think it should. I don't think the current Cali Sony mixes well with SE's philosophsies in general.
I'd be more ok with Nintendo or even MS buying SE than Sony right now.
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Huevos de Oro
Member
This lack of rectal micturition is killing me guys.
Which is why Sony would have interest in buying Square Enix - if Square Enix were actually for sale, which I doubt.
I think Nintendo wouldn't mind buying the Dragon Quest IP from Square Enix, but that would be about it.
Maybe the Bravely/Octopath IP.
MasterCornholio
Member
Microsoft is more American than Sony is. There would be wider cultural gap with them than Sony.
KellyM
Member
Some where I heard that Square was going to put Forspoken also on Xbox. Not sure if Forspokern would be a timed exclusive or it was some deal with Game Pass.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
It's console exclusive for 2 years
Forspoken Will Be A PS5 Console Exclusive For 2 Years - PlayStation Universe
Forspoken will be a PS5 console exclusive for its first two years after launch, as spotted in the promotional materials fine print.
www.psu.com
CosmicComet
Member
Microsoft is very hands off right now and they own a very Japanese studio (Tango Gameworks) that released a very Japanese game (Ghostwire: Tokyo) just recently.
I really think MS would leave SE alone in their design decisions. Whereas I'm sure Hermen Hulst would inject himself heavily into SE. How I wish Shuhei was still over Sony 1st Party. Hermen sucks.
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FalsettoVibe
Member
What makes you think that?
Hobbygaming
has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
James Sawyer Ford
Member
This does seem like it’s the case. Shedding assets to make room for an acquisition.
If so, the deal is likely already done and the shedding of assets was a formality of the deal.
Though, I’m not sure why Sony wouldn’t pay 300M for those studios as well. The only thing I can think of is that adding payroll of 1,100 employees wasn’t their primary motive in the deal and those studios don’t fill a niche they don’t already have, I guess
Perrott
Member
Makes sense.
Square Enix market valuation has dropped from 7.4B in September of last year down to 5.6B in February and 4.8B just yesterday. With them getting rid of their NA studios, their overall worth will most likely continue to get lower and lower, and with arguably most of the fat out of the equation, Square Enix is now left (at least in the AAA scene) with the stuff that we've seen Sony invest so heavily over these last couple of years, especially in terms of console exclusivity: Final Fantasy (XIV, XVI, VIIR...), Kingdom Hearts and Forspoken, as well as beloved franchises such as Dragon Quest, NieR/Drakengard, and a legacy catalogue of iconic names such as Parasite Eve, Chrono or Xenogears. All of these are really hot platform-defining IPs that would massively drive interest from those fanbases towards the future of the PlayStation ecosystem, if they weren't a part of it already.
So back to the point about SE's market valuation, if Sony were to purchase them now and pay shareholders a 40% premium for each of their shares, then we'd be looking at a price tag of just a little over 7B for the acquisition - one with 1100~ less employees than last week, which may be of interest when it comes to lowering the operating cost of the subsidiary - something that would be a good and cost effective use of part of SIE's M&A budget. In reality, the price would probably be even lower than that, as I don't see SE breaking the downwards tendency of their stock anytime soon, especially with their CEO being an absolute moron and Final Fantasy XVI slipping into 2023.
Square Enix market valuation has dropped from 7.4B in September of last year down to 5.6B in February and 4.8B just yesterday. With them getting rid of their NA studios, their overall worth will most likely continue to get lower and lower, and with arguably most of the fat out of the equation, Square Enix is now left (at least in the AAA scene) with the stuff that we've seen Sony invest so heavily over these last couple of years, especially in terms of console exclusivity: Final Fantasy (XIV, XVI, VIIR...), Kingdom Hearts and Forspoken, as well as beloved franchises such as Dragon Quest, NieR/Drakengard, and a legacy catalogue of iconic names such as Parasite Eve, Chrono or Xenogears. All of these are really hot platform-defining IPs that would massively drive interest from those fanbases towards the future of the PlayStation ecosystem, if they weren't a part of it already.
So back to the point about SE's market valuation, if Sony were to purchase them now and pay shareholders a 40% premium for each of their shares, then we'd be looking at a price tag of just a little over 7B for the acquisition - one with 1100~ less employees than last week, which may be of interest when it comes to lowering the operating cost of the subsidiary - something that would be a good and cost effective use of part of SIE's M&A budget. In reality, the price would probably be even lower than that, as I don't see SE breaking the downwards tendency of their stock anytime soon, especially with their CEO being an absolute moron and Final Fantasy XVI slipping into 2023.
lh032
I cry about Xbox and hate PlayStation.
Pagusas
Elden Member
Those other studios could have had multiplatform deals in place that made Sony uncomfortable. I think it’s no coincidence Square was so willingly to just let the Avengers/MCU deal go.
remember_spinal
Banned
How would they not mix when sony already bought exclusivity for most of their big games?
Nintendo games can’t even run most of Square Library and MS buying a japanese company is not happening for so many reasons
remember_spinal
Banned
All those IP and those studios don’t even make nearly as much money as FFXIV alone. It’s a much better deal without the middling western division attached.
People are just so enamored with the idea of Tomb Raider being this big legacy IP but it isn’t that relevant in 2022.
SteelCurtain 59
Member
If true this would be the ideal "big" acquisition that Sony could make as far as I'm concerned, it would benefit the games and studios they make so Sony and Square Enix fans would be happy, and basically nothing I remotely care about would become exclusive to Playstation
remember_spinal
Banned
Ezquimacore
Banned
Right now square enix is dead or alive, their best games are the 2.5 D ones. Even Koie Tecmo is getting better results than them... So I don't know man. Now without the western ips their only thing of value is FF and even that is not as hype anymore, so I guess Sony could get them cheap.
Also Jeff grub is full of shit and reminds me of the kid that always had info from his uncle at Nintendo.
Also Jeff grub is full of shit and reminds me of the kid that always had info from his uncle at Nintendo.
CatLady
Selfishly plays on Xbox Purr-ies X
Nintendo buying S/E would be great. I'm also fine with Sony buying them, actually I'm good with anyone just as long as it's NOT Xbox.
Nickolaidas
Member
The whole point was him making it so that people wouldn't be banned just because they posted something others didn't like reading.
Topher
Identifies as young
All reasons why I think this isn't happening.
onesvenus
Member
Being two public traded companies, having a deal and not disclosing it, is a crime
Iced Arcade
Member
Only reason(s) I didn't want this to happen was sold off today so let the acquiring commence lol.
Fess
Member
Yeah it’s now the least interesting acquisition I can think of, Sony already treat FF like an exclusive IP.
Tomb Raider was the real thing to be properly concerned about, I’m so glad Embracer stepped in and bought Crystal Dynamics and Tomb Raider.
Kenshin775
Member
They should do it.. It would be a smart move for the future. I do believe Sony will pivot to Day 1 games on PS Plus and having all those FF14 Subcribers merged into their service would be big.
Not trying to List War but damn Destiny, Ff14 and other Final Fantasy games, Spiderman, Wolverine, God of War, Dragon Quest, Bungie new IP, Kingdom Hearts, Uncharted. LoU, Demon Slayer, Ghosts of Tsushima, Gran Turismo, Horizon plus other big IP I am probably forgetting. This is some strong and well known IP that can carry a service.
Not trying to List War but damn Destiny, Ff14 and other Final Fantasy games, Spiderman, Wolverine, God of War, Dragon Quest, Bungie new IP, Kingdom Hearts, Uncharted. LoU, Demon Slayer, Ghosts of Tsushima, Gran Turismo, Horizon plus other big IP I am probably forgetting. This is some strong and well known IP that can carry a service.
crunchyBiscuits
Member
And suddenly insiders can talk about the companies at the heart of their M&A rumours?
Consider my butt: peed.
Consider my butt: peed.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
It'll be a good purchase, especially in the long-term, but I feel Sony has better options at the moment.
Whatever is left for SquareEnix, Sony already has a major stake in it: Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2, Forspoken, Final Fantasy XIV are all PlayStation exclusives anyway. Just pay for Kingdom Heart's and Dragon Quest's exclusivity, and you already have all the output locked to PlayStation.
Then invest the acquisition money somewhere else: Capcom, WarnerBros, Ubisoft, etc, and get that output for PlayStation's as well. That can give them a bigger competitive advantage.
Whatever is left for SquareEnix, Sony already has a major stake in it: Final Fantasy XVI, Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2, Forspoken, Final Fantasy XIV are all PlayStation exclusives anyway. Just pay for Kingdom Heart's and Dragon Quest's exclusivity, and you already have all the output locked to PlayStation.
Then invest the acquisition money somewhere else: Capcom, WarnerBros, Ubisoft, etc, and get that output for PlayStation's as well. That can give them a bigger competitive advantage.
OsirisBlack
Banned
Source?
TidusYuna
Member
Chukhopops
Member
Once they port the Pixel Remasters to consoles there’s nothing to salvage out of SE’s bloated corpse anyway, makes sense that they would sell and make NFTs of their Golden Age.
Crazy how Blizzard / Bioware / Squaresoft was once my favorite trio and now they are just IP puppets begging for a corporation to shove a hand in their ass to make them move.
Crazy how Blizzard / Bioware / Squaresoft was once my favorite trio and now they are just IP puppets begging for a corporation to shove a hand in their ass to make them move.
StealthGoblin
Banned
When I thought about SE as the acquisition candidate it was always the Western arm that I thought would be the biggest issue for Sony as they just seemed poorly managed and all over the place.
SE as they are now seem a lot easier to oversee (I don’t think they’ll be exclusive, more like a publisher with autonomy like Bungie). There would still be some parts of the Japanese business that would need to be streamlined - just looking at their subsidiaries is a major shock because they are all over the place.
SE as they are now seem a lot easier to oversee (I don’t think they’ll be exclusive, more like a publisher with autonomy like Bungie). There would still be some parts of the Japanese business that would need to be streamlined - just looking at their subsidiaries is a major shock because they are all over the place.
Kagey K
Banned
Sony waiting out those 2 years hoping Square releases more bombas in that timeframe like …..It's console exclusive for 2 years
Forspoken Will Be A PS5 Console Exclusive For 2 Years - PlayStation Universe
Forspoken will be a PS5 console exclusive for its first two years after launch, as spotted in the promotional materials fine print.www.psu.com
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Sony waiting out those 2 years hoping Square releases more bombas in that timeframe like …..
Babylon's Fall 2: Babylon Harder