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[Bungie]

Called it! Looking forward to never having to pay full price to getting my 1 week new Cod fix. Hopefully we get MW3 on Gamepass asap.

 

[bitbydeath]

That business model completely loses me as a customer. I don't even like it for productivity software, but at least that is software you use to generate your own income, and depending on where you work, is a requirement to do the job.

Yeah, it doesn’t make sense to me either. They have some really good studios to the point they have a chance at competing with Sony but instead of making a traditional console they decided their next console would be Stadia 2.0.

 

[SportsFan581]

This is a nice idea to have in concept, but in practice they will at the very least tie perks to Game Pass subscribers, like they've gotten with VALORANT and other games from that dev on PC Game Pass. Perks that will not be made available (in terms of value) to customers on Sony & Nintendo platforms.

Don't they have legally binding parity agreements in place for 10yrs? I think the get for them here is that they control the IP and know that it will always be available on their platform (which would have been a concern for them after ABK threatened to pull it previously) and it will provide one of the 4 tent-pole games they want per year for GP. And of course, it makes a bunch of $ as well.

 

[Dick Jones]

Called it! Looking forward to never having to pay full price to getting my 1 week new Cod fix. Hopefully we get MW3 on Gamepass asap.

Will you pay 40 bucks for 3 days early access?

 

[Ozriel]

You'd be paying more yearly for the sub lol.

You are acting like they are not going to be paying the cost of the sub, which will cost in the range of $131.88 to $203.88 depending on the plan they choose — an amount that is more than $70 yearly.

I think you are looking for an argument here. I am not saying this will or won't happen. I am using the expectation that people have of those who only play COD, the ones that are paying $70 right now, will they switch to a sub service and pay more to play the same game?

Sure, Xbox Game Pass offers more games, but will they care, if COD is all they care about playing?

If you are simply speaking of people who already have a Game Pass sub checking out COD then I am confused as to why you quoted me. I know people who haven't checked out COD all these years will check it out once it is on Game Pass. That does not need explaining, lol.

Not sure why you keep circling back to the niche group of users that only care about one game, but OK.

I honestly think Microsoft would have been better off with any other public publisher since they were gonna have to keep COD multiplatform to make back the purchase even without regulation

They really really wanted mobile. No other published scratches that itch like this does

Remains to be seen. I'd bet most COD gamers will want to own their games outright.

Why? if COD is a staple for you and you’re always subscribed as a result, you have a library with all the games.

And this point is nonsense since gamepass costs $130 at minimum per year and for people who only cares about cod.

Mental gymnastics to keep isolating your argument to gamers who will only play one game

Yeah....doesn't make a lot of sense to me. On console you'll pay (regular price) $180 $204 a year and won't own a thing. COD Black Ops Cold War is still on the Xbox most played list and that game came out in 2020. For the vast majority that are paying $70 for the game, $15 a month isn't going to fly.

…and that $204 gives you access to a digital library of all COD titles, and hundreds of first party and third games. You’re not going to credibly equate a sub service with one game.

This is a nice idea to have in concept, but in practice they will at the very least tie perks to Game Pass subscribers, like they've gotten with VALORANT and other games from that dev on PC Game Pass. Perks that will not be made available (in terms of value) to customers on Sony & Nintendo platforms.

Again from a business POV that is a good move by Microsoft. I just bring it up to show how much the CMA and EC have screwed up by stating full console foreclosure is a non-factor; they have given the OK for Microsoft to do that and much more if they wish. If Microsoft's long-term goal is to spend Sony out of business, and weaken Nintendo to where they'd consider selling to Microsoft, then you 100% bet they will do things like make COD and other ABK content that is console-exclusive to Xbox.

So you’re claiming Xbox will be evil if they do things with COD (perks, exclusive content) that Sony already does with their existing marketing deal?

 

[sainraja]

It’s 70 plus 60 for gamepass core to play online. So it’s 130 vs 204 so the extra 74 dollars gets you access to all of the games on gamepass. Which will have every COD playable on Series s/x.

yeah, and that’s exactly what I’m saying will be interesting to see, will those who only want to play COD be swayed to pay extra compared to what they are paying now to play. All of that remains to be seen.

I’m sure things won’t stay status quo when MS has some control over the IP. We know they are going to push Game Pass with COD heavily and I’m certain there will be people playing COD who normally ignore the series.

It’ll be interesting.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Looks like a done deal. Stock jumped $1.50 getting close to the $95 price.

The article I read didn't have exact details but mentioned that thing we heard a month or two ago about MS selling UK cloud gaming service to UBI.

Will be interesting to see if that's it or there's more to it since we already heard about the UBI part in the summer.

 

[sainraja]

Not sure why you keep circling back to the niche group of users that only care about one game, but OK.

Circling back? What are you talking about? It’s what I have been saying. You quoted me, don’t forget.

Now you are just trying to drag me into some weird argument of yours where you want to control the rules of engagement.

And niche group? If you say so.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

The amount of hate people have here for microsoft is mindboggling
Yes big corporations are bad but is Sony any better ? Or apple any better ? Why so much hate towards Xbox and Microsoft ?

Are you actually pretenting that Microsoft didn't lose a legendary antitrust trial over monopolistic practices relating to Windows and Internet Explorer?

 

[DragonNCM]

Game is over, CMA will accept remedies from MS, expecting deal to be closed till end of the year.

 

[The Pleasure]

i hope he gets phil spencer fired and takes his place as head of the xbox division
BELIEVE

Well, he would go "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!" port everything to playstation, kill gamepass and pull steam games to the new Microsoft's Battle.net. Which will somehow still have queue times.

Bobby Kotick when looking at Phil Spender's bullshit

 

[Topher]

Why? if COD is a staple for you and you’re always subscribed as a result, you have a library with all the games.

…and that $204 gives you access to a digital library of all COD titles, and hundreds of first party and third games. You’re not going to credibly equate a sub service with one game.

That's a great sales pitch, but I'd say buying is still the most cost effective for COD diehards. Either buy the latest game or find an old game on sale or used. Remember, Game Pass is only 15% of Xbox game revenue. Vast majority of Xbox gamers have already decided they would rather buy. I think they look at what they are going to pay in a year and come back thinking the same as I do, just not worth it. If Game Pass had the majority of the top games people want to play every year then maybe, but that is just not the case.

 

[Nubulax]

What a career moment for Phil.

That was such a joke comment by Phil... That his career moment would be getting to use other divisions resources and money way beyond what his division can even dream of to just acquire Nintendo or whatever else. Not to release back to back GOTY or the highest metacritic or critcially acclaimed game or most played game... NO... Not that... but what company he can acquire. Should tell everyone all they need to know about Phil and MS

 

[kvltus lvlzvs]

Well this is the crux of the whole thing, they are essentially playing by their own rules. For example they had a verbal agreement with ATVI to get their games on gamepass at some point prior this acquisition on the condition that they could get the financial side of things to align (5th paragraph down in Phil's email) :

Needless to say they couldn't come to an agreement that made sense for both parties with Activision so what happens next? Scandals at Activision conveniently leak and make headlines and the stock comes under attack from 3rd party activist firms (sound familiar?).

Lo and behold, look who swoops in to take what they previously couldn't get via mutually agreeable terms. As Phil said, "the long game".

So, uh, I guess we're gonna start hearing about sexual harassment at nintendo or valve next?

 

[freefornow]

The other news that gets lost in all of this is that the US Navy has now called of it's naval "excercise" in the North Sea.
Sleep well UK, sleep well.

 

[ManaByte]

sexual harassment at nintendo

 

[Unknown Soldier]

The other news that gets lost in all of this is that the US Navy has now called of it's naval "excercise" in the North Sea.
Sleep well UK, sleep well.

Very sad, I was hoping we could finally reunite the British Empire with the 13 colonies

 

[GHG]

So, uh, I guess we're gonna start hearing about sexual harassment at nintendo or valve next?

It doesn't have to be sexual harassment, anything that could lead to their market value and cash reserves being compromised.

 

[freefornow]

Lol. Check out Bobby. He really is the Chesire cat of gaming execs.

 

[adamsapple]

Now that the deal is all but complete, let's start demanding a new Singularity, bros.

This is a nice idea to have in concept, but in practice they will at the very least tie perks to Game Pass subscribers, like they've gotten with VALORANT and other games from that dev on PC Game Pass. Perks that will not be made available (in terms of value) to customers on Sony & Nintendo platforms.

You don't say ?

 

[ZehDon]

Now that the deal is all but complete, let's start demanding a new Singularity, bros...

You can have your Singularity when I get my Dark Reign.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Now that the deal is all but complete, let's start demanding a new Singularity, bros.



You don't say ?

People also forget PS users got a few more levels free knocked off the Battlepass

Those wanting to complain Xbox is going to give their players stuff thats not available on other platforms likely don't play COD and just want to "war"

 

[Iced Arcade]

I don't believe this

Will system sales shoot up initially, sure. But why pay $17(soon to be $20) a month when you can just buy the game outright like normal at $70. You would be losing money subbing to GP if you only cared about COD

 

[Elder Legend]

Done deal - https://www.gaminginstincts.com/the...y-approved-microsofts-activision-acquisition/ Is it finally over?

The UK regulator Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that it has provisionally agreed to approve Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The CMA was one of the major roadblocks for the acquisition to be approved, and initially blocked the acquisition back in April due to its potential impact on the cloud gaming market. To solve this, Microsoft announced its plans to sell cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft, a move that seems to have been enough to satisfy the UK regulatory board, which states that “Microsoft has put forward remedies which the CMA has provisionally concluded should address these issues.” The CMA has now opened a final consultation until October 6, where it will make a final decision. Provided no new distributive information surfaces, it can be assumed the CMA will approve the deal.

 

[ManaByte]

People also forget PS users got a few more levels free knocked off the Battlepass

Those wanting to complain Xbox is going to give their players stuff thats not available on other platforms likely don't play COD and just want to "war"

And PS+ gets an exclusive Oni skin every season. The operator is exclusive to PlayStation until November when everyone stops playing MWII.

 

[j0hnnix]

 

[Zuzu]

Lol. Check out Bobby. He really is the Chesire cat of gaming execs.

Sad. Gaming used to be this:

Now it’s this:

 

[Topher]

People also forget PS users got a few more levels free knocked off the Battlepass

Those wanting to complain Xbox is going to give their players stuff thats not available on other platforms likely don't play COD and just want to "war"

Phil Spencer said he wasn't going to do any of that, but I wouldn't blame him a bit if he did. There is nothing to complain about any of this. Microsoft did this stuff when they owned the rights on 360. PlayStation has been doing it since they took the rights away. Now.....Microsoft gets to do whatever they want to do with it.

 

[sainraja]

That's a great sales pitch, but I'd say buying is still the most cost effective for COD diehards. Either buy the latest game or find an old game on sale or used. Remember, Game Pass is only 15% of Xbox game revenue. Vast majority of Xbox gamers have already decided they would rather buy. I think they look at what they are going to pay in a year and come back thinking the same as I do, just not worth it. If Game Pass had the majority of the top games people want to play every year then maybe, but that is just not the case.

Yup 100% and this seems to be a very hard concept for many of them to grasp. None of us are making definitive statements here, outside of maybe, just them.

 

[Sleepwalker]

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Phil Spencer said he wasn't going to do any of that, but I wouldn't blame him a bit if he did. There is nothing to complain about any of this. Microsoft did this stuff when they owned the rights on 360. PlayStation has been doing it since they took the rights away. Now.....Microsoft gets to do whatever they want to do with it.

Oh I remember buying a 360 just to play map packs early and I wouldn't blame Xbox giving gamepass players extra goodies

 

[Bungie]

Will you pay 40 bucks for 3 days early access?

Only for long awaited releases like Starfield/Diablo so far. Call of Duty isn't something I'm that hyped for considering how frequent they release, it's personally why gamepass is so ideal for this franchise.

 

[ManaByte]

 

[MarkMe2525]

Phil Spencer said he wasn't going to do any of that, but I wouldn't blame him a bit if he did. There is nothing to complain about any of this. Microsoft did this stuff when they owned the rights on 360. PlayStation has been doing it since they took the rights away. Now.....Microsoft gets to do whatever they want to do with it.

I hope he keeps his word, exclusive game content is rather lame no matter which company is doing it. Though if I were to guess, I would imagine these decisions get made by Matt Booty.

 

[quest]

I hope he keeps his word, exclusive game content is rather lame no matter which company is doing it. Though if I were to guess, I would imagine these decisions get made by Matt Booty.

The decision is made because Microsoft is so far behind and need any carrot they can get to sell consoles. The top brass in the company will want content to drive increases in marketshare.

 

[MarkMe2525]

The decision is made because Microsoft is so far behind and need any carrot they can get to sell consoles. The top brass in the company will want content to drive increases in marketshare.

Well, as of now this isn't true. One could assume of what may happen, of course.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Sad. Gaming used to be this:

Now it’s this:

I like the token black guy they put in there just to make sure it wasn't 100% white male corporate executives and politicians

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

That business model completely loses me as a customer. I don't even like it for productivity software, but at least that is software you use to generate your own income, and depending on where you work, is a requirement to do the job.



We'll see if Game Pass has that much of an effect among casuals. Because before COD, it was Starfield. And before Starfield, it was Halo Infinite.

And those were exclusives (to Xbox). COD will still be multiplat for 10-15 years.



Phil Spencer's narcissism is sad.



This is a nice idea to have in concept, but in practice they will at the very least tie perks to Game Pass subscribers, like they've gotten with VALORANT and other games from that dev on PC Game Pass. Perks that will not be made available (in terms of value) to customers on Sony & Nintendo platforms.

Again from a business POV that is a good move by Microsoft. I just bring it up to show how much the CMA and EC have screwed up by stating full console foreclosure is a non-factor; they have given the OK for Microsoft to do that and much more if they wish. If Microsoft's long-term goal is to spend Sony out of business, and weaken Nintendo to where they'd consider selling to Microsoft, then you 100% bet they will do things like make COD and other ABK content that is console-exclusive to Xbox.

And for people already blinding by their good guy facade, they'll be none-the-wiser as MS will find a way to make it seem like a pro-consumer/pro-union/pro-developer move. The chicken-head shills will regurgitate it in the media to crowd out dissent.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

It impress me people thinking is smart to pay $200 for rent to own nothing... Plus people paying for upgrades for games they don't own like early access.

"You'll own nothing and be happy"

Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better

It might seem odd to you, but it makes perfect sense for us in this city. Everything you considered a product, has now become a service.

web.archive.org

(The original has since been deleted for reasons that should be blindingly obvious once you read it.)

 

[havoc00]

Done deal - https://www.gaminginstincts.com/the...y-approved-microsofts-activision-acquisition/ Is it finally over?

we did it lads!

 

[bender]

Now that the deal is all but complete, let's start demanding a new Singularity, bros.

You can have your Singularity when I get my Dark Reign.

 

[Iced Arcade]

I think what got it through (could be wrong), the cloud requirement was a lot bigger than we knew because their next Xbox (from the FTC leak) showed it was entirely cloud based. Meaning (and again, I could be wrong) that for COD to be used on the next Xbox it will now need to go through Ubisoft.

when wrong, always make up over the top random things up. lol

 

[H From Steps]

Well cod deff going exclusive in 10-15 years time just watch anyone who thinks it’s not doesn’t know how business works lol but can’t blame them we live in Capitalistic world and by the laws Microsoft has all the right to purchase ABK regardless if your morales are for it or not fun times ahead it s a win for Xbox and Pc players it’s a loss for Sony and Nintendo fans in the future.

 

[bitbydeath]

when wrong, always make up over the top random things up. lol

Wrong about what exactly?
And what was made up?

 

[drganon]

Some people were just born without a brain stem.

 

[drganon]

Well cod deff going exclusive in 10-15 years time just watch anyone who thinks it’s not doesn’t know how business works lol but can’t blame them we live in Capitalistic world and by the laws Microsoft has all the right to purchase ABK regardless if your morales are for it or not fun times ahead it s a win for Xbox and Pc players it’s a loss for Sony and Nintendo fans in the future.

Holy run on sentence, batman!

 

[dotnotbot]

Equating low price to being consumer friendly lol, his view is so shortsighted Phil could bang his mom in front of his eyes and he wouldn't be concerned.

 

[TheAmazingSpiderMan]

Bobby getting that fat cheque. $185 million.

 

[Drell]

Will Bobby Kotick become the new hero of Resetera?

 

[Sanepar]

"You'll own nothing and be happy"

Welcome to 2030. I own nothing, have no privacy, and life has never been better

It might seem odd to you, but it makes perfect sense for us in this city. Everything you considered a product, has now become a service.

web.archive.org

(The original has since been deleted for reasons that should be blindingly obvious once you read it.)

I would prefer to be dead than live in world like this but i'm sure the purple hairs on era would love this.