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[Bumblebeetuna]

LOL @ Sony cannot compete without CoD.

Who knew that years of talk about Sony dominating because of quality games or wider support or more of a Japanese focus was all a waste of time, all Sony really needs is the latest Call of Duty

 

[M1chl]

Money isn't guaranteed, especially 2.4 billion dollars from a country that has an economy that is shrinking endlessly. Also, 2.8 Billion is still bigger than 2.4 billion dollars. Activision/Blizzard and Microsoft would easily make more money. Think about all of the accessories, subscriptions, and games Microsoft could sell.

This deal can get Microsoft to a 100 million subscriber count for game pass. That would be at least 12 billion dollars in revenue just from subscriptions. If half of that revenue is profit Microsoft would make almost 3 times as much profit than they would in the UK. And that is just subscriptions alone.

That would probably be additional 20 mil at very best tho.

 

[Topher]

Plan B

 

[adamsapple]

Plan B

 

[DeepEnigma]

Real time FIFA riots are going to be LIT !!

 

[DenchDeckard]

You know it really is crazy.

On one hand I'm a fan of xbox and I think if Microsoft can't succeed with a console as good as the series X (and s) and gamepass I don't know how they can persuade the sheer monumental fan base of playstation, or general public to consider their products. Its like sonys dominance is just instilled and can not be shaken. So I see how Microsoft are trying to look somewhere else and purchasing seems to be their option.

I ultimately want better competition because sonys direction of raising the price of games and hardware needs to be restrained imo. Can you imagine how crazy it would get if they felt they were untouchable even more so than they seem to be?

They would just buy even more exclusivity deals and raise more prices...I dunno.

Saying that, a large part of me doesn't want Microsoft to just buy publishers and own the industry either....its a tough one.

 

[bluecowboys]

That would probably be additional 20 mil at very best tho.

Nope. Call of Duty (vanguard sold around 30 million), world of warcraft (5 million subscribers ), Diablo 3 (~30 million), and more. All of these games and it's DLC on game pass will defiantly do more than 20 million.

 

[M1chl]

Nope. Call of Duty (vanguard sold around 30 million), world of warcraft (5 million subscribers ), Diablo 3 (~30 million), and more. All of these games and it's DLC on game pass will defiantly do more than 20 million.

mmm, I forget the Blizzard part of that, because everywhere is just Activision.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Plan B

Welcoming the new speaker to the House of Commons

 

[SenjutsuSage]

IP that builds momentum and more importantly, captures mindshare? That's Halo, Gears, and Forza. Think about it, when was the last time XBOX as a brand built and captured mindshare like they did back with Halo 2's release in 2004? When they sold 8/9 million of that IP?

Microsoft stopped creating those "Moments" in gaming a really long time ago. Which is why they're spending $70 Billion just to take a stab at capturing some of that mindshare back or force Sony to place their Game Pass service on Playstation.

XBOX is 20 years in and only has 10-20% of the console market, globally? I live in Europe. XBOX had a presence here but that presence shrank to near nothing after 2013.

As the CMA filling recognizes, XBOX wants access to the PS instal base.

Back when the console barely moved 24 million units worldwide?

Xbox wasn't quite as popular back then as folks think. People are letting nostalgia take them for a ride. Xbox as a brand today thanks to Game Pass is a whole lot more popular with a whole lot more mindshare than there ever was in the original Xbox days.

So the answer to your question is right now. Today Xbox has far more brand popularity and mindshare.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

60 pages

 

[DJ12]

Money isn't guaranteed, especially 2.4 billion dollars from a country that has an economy that is shrinking endlessly. Also, 2.8 Billion is still bigger than 2.4 billion dollars. Activision/Blizzard and Microsoft would easily make more money. Think about all of the accessories, subscriptions, and games Microsoft could sell.

This deal can get Microsoft to a 100 million subscriber count for game pass. That would be at least 12 billion dollars in revenue just from subscriptions. If half of that revenue is profit Microsoft would make almost 3 times as much profit than they would in the UK. And that is just subscriptions alone.

Lol.

2.8 billion is best case and this will not translate to profit when gamepass gets involved either. This year its already 1 billion less.

They give away gamepass for a few bucks a month and it's not even hit 30 million subs despite being an absolute no brainer for an xbox owner.

Enjoy your fantasy land with 100 million subs from a game that sold 30 odd million at its peak.

I wonder if your alt/original account post this level of dumb shit.

 

[Barakov]

This is by far the most entertaining thing going on in videogames right now.

 

[Pelta88]

Back when the console barely moved 24 million units worldwide?

Xbox wasn't quite as popular back then as folks think. People are letting nostalgia take them for a ride. Xbox as a brand today thanks to Game Pass is a whole lot more popular with a whole lot more mindshare than there ever was in the original Xbox days.

Where?

 

[remember_spinal]

This is by far the most entertaining thing going on in videogames right now.

How sad

 

[bluecowboys]

Lol.

2.8 billion is best case and this will not translate to profit when gamepass gets involved either. This year its already 1 billion less.

They give away gamepass for a few bucks a month and it's not even hit 30 million subs despite being an absolute no brainer for an xbox owner.

Enjoy your fantasy land with 100 million subs from a game that sold 30 odd million at its peak.

I wonder if your alt/original account post this level of dumb shit.

Lol.

I guess you forgot about all of Blizzards ips and the fact game pass is a cheaper option / better value. Microsoft xbox game pass already has around 30 million subscribers and we are only on year 2 of this generation. 100 million isn't unfeasible especially with cloud gaming becoming more main stream.

 

[bender]

Plan B

More shit that no one wants. Thanks, Phil.

 

[HoofHearted]

60 pages

 

[DForce]

LOL @ Sony cannot compete without CoD.

Who knew that years of talk about Sony dominating because of quality games or wider support or more of a Japanese focus was all a waste of time, all Sony really needs is the latest Call of Duty

Call of Duty, FIFA, and GTAV are available on both platforms, then there needs to be another reason why they would pick one game over the other.

It's funny how Xbox fanboys downplay exclusives for all these years, but when Xbox Series S is having a good month in sales, they say it's due to Xbox Game Pass.

 

[Topher]

You know it really is crazy.

On one hand I'm a fan of xbox and I think if Microsoft can't succeed with a console as good as the series X (and s) and gamepass I don't know how they can persuade the sheer monumental fan base of playstation, or general public to consider their products. Its like sonys dominance is just instilled and can not be shaken. So I see how Microsoft are trying to look somewhere else and purchasing seems to be their option.

I ultimately want better competition because sonys direction of raising the price of games and hardware needs to be restrained imo. Can you imagine how crazy it would get if they felt they were untouchable even more so than they seem to be?

They would just buy even more exclusivity deals and raise more prices...I dunno.

Saying that, a large part of me doesn't want Microsoft to just buy publishers and own the industry either....its a tough one.

Xbox has competed this gen just fine without Activision Blizzard. But let's stop with the "unrestrained Sony" hyperbole. Several publishers (including Activision) have raised the price of their games. Raising the price of the PS5 was more stupidity than it was an act of unfettered power when Sony is locked in a market share battle with Microsoft. None of this is due to lack of restraints. And I don't give any more trust to Microsoft than I do Sony if either of them achieved dominating status, which neither of them have. Reminder: Sony isn't the biggest player in the video game industry and isn't number one in any single category. Seems like we are venturing back into this fictional tale that Sony is somehow the monopoly here. They simply are not. No one is untouchable.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Call of Duty, FIFA, and GTAV are available on both platforms, then there needs to be another reason why they would pick one game over the other.

It's funny how Xbox fanboys downplay exclusives for all these years, but when Xbox Series S is having a good month in sales, they say it's due to Xbox Game Pass.

 

[ReBurn]

Real time FIFA riots are going to be LIT !!

Someone should make Football Riot Simulator

 

[DForce]

I knew you wouldn't understand it the reasoning behind your previous post made absolutely no sense.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

Where?

This 60 page thread for starters.

Just Bethesda alone being first-party Xbox now, never mind what happens with Activision Blizzard, already cements that this is the most popular the Xbox brand has ever been. It's about the games, and Xbox has never at any time in its history controlled the kind of popular IP/games that they currently do. That by itself would be enough, but now toss in Game Pass, the real major underlying subject of this thread, and there can be no question as to how much the game has changed.

Xbox Series X|S is currently outselling their best-selling console ever (Xbox 360) by nearly 5 million units. Halo Infinite had the biggest launch in franchise history at 20 million players.

Then there are things like this. Biggest first week in Xbox history, and it was a racing game. What will Starfield do?





Xbox has never been more popular than it is right now. I'll stop posting in the thread now because I'm pretty sure I'm like 2 seconds away from a ban. You develop a ban spider-sense after a while.

 

[reinking]

100% this!!!

it will be corrupt this and corrupt that. it will be fun

Kind of like it is now but switch usernames?

 

[Hestar69]

Sony needs to STFU and let it go..

Maybe...I dunno REVIVE RESISTANCE,KILLZONE(KILLZONE 2 remake even),SOCOM,shit, even bring MAG back! I loved MAG..

 

[Mibu no ookami]

I think it is becoming painfully obvious that this won't go through, but I think if it doesn't Sony will regret it deeply.

It's much easier to counter Call of Duty imo at least, than it will be to corral multiple high-valued IP that will come from Microsoft going after smaller targets (who they probably wouldn't be able to if they bought Activision).

I think this is good for Microsoft, good for Activision, and good for Sony. It's even good for 3rd party publishers. It should be allowed to happen.

 

[Bernkastel]

Call of Duty, FIFA, and GTAV are available on both platforms, then there needs to be another reason why they would pick one game over the other.

It's funny how Xbox fanboys downplay exclusives for all these years, but when Xbox Series S is having a good month in sales, they say it's due to Xbox Game Pass.

Minecraft is also on all platforms. And they said Call of Duty will remain multiplat.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Sony needs to STFU and let it go..

Maybe...I dunno REVIVE RESISTANCE,KILLZONE(KILLZONE 2 remake even),SOCOM,shit, even bring MAG back! I loved MAG..

It's well within their right as a competitor to speak up against anti-competitive behavior to a regulatory agency.

And I'm sure Sony is putting a ton of money into their own FPS/Action games right now. Though I doubt we'll see much from Killzone. That being said, it'll probably take 3-5 years before we see the results of these games. But that is why they're working with Firewalk, the rumored Guerrilla Games shooter e.t.c.

Sony can also work with regulators to get concessions out of this deal, which is also within their rights.

 

[PaintTinJr]

These are the points that the CMA are making that I disagree with. But it seems after reading some of the other cases that have come before the CMA that their purpose is to prevent mergers and acquisitions that create big changes in any industry. Status quo isn't always better for the industry or consumers, but that seems to be the underlying structure they are operating on.

IMO it seems quite logical that the unnatural change of equilibrium is resisted by the regulator as a starting position. It is the way things are in the natural world, change is organic by default - constantly finding equilibrium - and any unnatural changes - like chemical reactions say to manufacture a different substance - requires far more energy and a need for that substance to justify conducting the reaction.

MSFT and ABK being required to justify credible benefits of the Merger to sway the regulator from the current state of equilibrium makes more sense than being neutral or pro-merger by default, because the current state of the market is at a point of equilibrium from the biproduct of companies fighting it out competitively, so even if non-optimal it is still a natural setup.

 

[PaintTinJr]

Minecraft is also on all platforms. And they said Call of Duty will remain multiplat.

They are extinguishing the original java version and its server - in favour of Windows/console versions and paid azure windows native servers. If you look a lot closer it is the opposite of the poster boy it is held up to be, and the RT feature being arbitrarily withheld for just the native Windows version (and XsX, that they didn't release in the end) makes the CoD differentiation argument that Sony has made to the CMA stronger, because it is actual proof of how they operate.

 

[freefornow]

They are extinguishing the original java version and its server

Oh noze!! Won't somebody think of the children!

 

[GhostOfTsu]

Xbox has never been more popular than it is right now. I'll stop posting in the thread now because I'm pretty sure I'm like 2 seconds away from a ban. You develop a ban spider-sense after a while.

You're just missing the best publisher of 2021 and you have all the buzzwords from your marketing dept

Who won in 2019 or 2020? Nobody knows.

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

LOL @ Sony cannot compete without CoD.

Who knew that years of talk about Sony dominating because of quality games or wider support or more of a Japanese focus was all a waste of time, all Sony really needs is the latest Call of Duty

Who would have thought their utter dominance would just vanish into thin air the second they no longer had COD!

Also, bless the CMA and their cotton socks for protecting the current status quo where the market leader can increase price of games and consoles and continue to break sales records and grow market share. Such a win for competition and consumers!

 

[Bernkastel]

They are extinguishing the original java version and its server - in favour of Windows/console versions and paid azure windows native servers. If you look a lot closer it is the opposite of the poster boy it is held up to be, and the RT feature being arbitrarily withheld for just the native Windows version (and XsX, that they didn't release in the end) makes the CoD differentiation argument that Sony has made to the CMA stronger, because it is actual proof of how they operate.

That has nothing to do with my post, it was about Minecraft being multiplat. It does not have any parity for Microsoft platforms, no need to use mental gymnastics to make it seem anything else.
Also, it has been 8 years since they bought Mojang and almost everyone who thought they will drop Java has admitted they were wrong. The biggest free publicity Microsoft ever got is that almost the entire vtuber industry (hololive/holostars/Nijisanji) plays Minecraft so much. And Microsoft never paid a penny for any of this.

Spoiler

Hololive streamers play Minecraft so much that at this point I won't doubt if someone told me Hololive is sponsored by Minecraft.

And Microsoft seems to be aware of this. So they occasionally sponsor hololive streamers.

Spoiler

Why would Microsoft remove the more popular version of Minecraft? Why would they remove the thing that gives them so much free publicity from people who don't even invest in their platform? FYI the Java version of Minecraft gets features before Bedrock version, the Java version seems to receive more attention from Mojang.

 

[Gone]

Just had a thought when I was smoking hookah.
Why won't the CMA stop Sony from releasing 3rd person cinematic games since they have the upper hand in that genre??

 

[phil_t98]

LOL @ Sony cannot compete without CoD.

Who knew that years of talk about Sony dominating because of quality games or wider support or more of a Japanese focus was all a waste of time, all Sony really needs is the latest Call of Duty

It's like the statement that gets branded about Xbox has no games now all of a sudden they do

 

[adamsapple]

They are extinguishing the original java version and its server - in favour of Windows/console versions and paid azure windows native servers. If you look a lot closer it is the opposite of the poster boy it is held up to be, and the RT feature being arbitrarily withheld for just the native Windows version (and XsX, that they didn't release in the end) makes the CoD differentiation argument that Sony has made to the CMA stronger, because it is actual proof of how they operate.

"Spreading FUD" used to be a big meme on GAF years ago, but this post is a prime example that it is still alive and well. There are so many hypotheticals and 'what if' things here that aren't anywhere official.

 

[splattered]

Sony needs to STFU and let it go..

Maybe...I dunno REVIVE RESISTANCE,KILLZONE(KILLZONE 2 remake even),SOCOM,shit, even bring MAG back! I loved MAG..

I loved Killzone and Resistance but never played Socom... would be GREAT if Sony brought em back

 

[adamsapple]

I loved Killzone and Resistance but never played Socom... would be GREAT if Sony brought em back

Not releasing either a KZ or Resistance trilogy remaster pack in the entire generation was a travesty. I would have bought those in a heart beat.

 

[PaintTinJr]

That has nothing to do with my post, it was about Minecraft being multiplat. It does not have any parity for Microsoft platforms, no need to use mental gymnastics to make it seem anything else.
Also, it has been 8 years since they bought Mojang and almost everyone who thought they will drop Java has admitted they were wrong. The biggest free publicity Microsoft ever got is that almost the entire vtuber industry (hololive/holostars/Nijisanji) plays Minecraft so much. And Microsoft never paid a penny for any of this.

Spoiler

And Microsoft seems to be aware of this. So they occasionally sponsor hololive streamers.

Spoiler

Why would Microsoft remove the more popular version of Minecraft? Why would they remove the thing that gives them so much free publicity from people who don't even invest in their platform? FYI the Java version of Minecraft gets features before Bedrock version, the Java version seems to receive more attention from Mojang.

Weird as it may seem because it isn't a traditional Embrace, Extend Extinguish Microsoft strategy against a competitor's product - say like the DirectX one on SGI's Opengl, or the J++ one on Java - Minecraft's Java edition despite being owned by Microsoft is not the Minecraft that they want at all - long term - because it is Opengl based - although recently they upped the graphics requirements massively for the Java version killing of usage by millions of older devices for use with the latest secured servers - and because it is Java based. Recently they tried to push a native launcher for added functionality - over the Java launcher - then they freely upgraded all accounts with a Java copy to have both native and java versions, and then they've opened up cross play for java and native versions on Azure MC servers, which happened at a time when a bug within a java Log2 package used by older MC Java servers pre 1.18 IIRC which can't be fully patched, killing off the means for old device players (using Opengl 2.1) to safely host and play on older MC java server versions, and also at a time when a MC Alpha version Windows server for self-hosting on Windows became available.

So, my point was that the "multi-platform"-ness of MC at the moment isn't the defence of MSFT owning ABK and CoD, because that situation is looking like a work-in-progress and eventually the platform will be Windows as the hosting server -paid by a sub - and then Windows APIs as the single platform on all the other devices as xcloud/gamepass or just the game getting dropped from supported devices like PlayStation IMO.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Not releasing either a KZ or Resistance trilogy remaster pack in the entire generation was a travesty. I would have bought those in a heart beat.

Guerrilla moved on from KZ with Horizon, but that should clue us all in on how difficult it is to make these games. They made Killzone ShadowFall and HZD and the expansion. That's it for the entire generation.

They don't have time to go back and remaster Killzone, and there probably isn't a ton of demand for it either.

Similarly, Insomniac is busy with Spider-Man and Ratchet and Clank, and now Spider-Man, Ratchet and Clank, and Wolverine. Hopefully, they end up doing a non-marvel original IP this gen, but they have no time to revisit Resistance.

At best you could get someone like Bluepoint to do it, but even they're too busy now to work on games with such little demand.

 

[SlimySnake]

You know it really is crazy.

On one hand I'm a fan of xbox and I think if Microsoft can't succeed with a console as good as the series X (and s) and gamepass I don't know how they can persuade the sheer monumental fan base of playstation, or general public to consider their products. Its like sonys dominance is just instilled and can not be shaken. So I see how Microsoft are trying to look somewhere else and purchasing seems to be their option.

I ultimately want better competition because sonys direction of raising the price of games and hardware needs to be restrained imo. Can you imagine how crazy it would get if they felt they were untouchable even more so than they seem to be?

They would just buy even more exclusivity deals and raise more prices...I dunno.

Saying that, a large part of me doesn't want Microsoft to just buy publishers and own the industry either....its a tough one.

This kind of arms race doesnt benefit anyone. What do you think Sony is going to do the day this deal passes? I see two options. Either they close shop and sell to Apple or Amazon or they go on a spending spree on their own as a last ditch fight for survival. GTA is probably too expensive, but Ubisoft, Capcom and Square Enix could all be had for less than $20 billion, and at that point MS is not going to get any deal approved by anyone.

So does that increased competition benefit anyone? Say Sony leaves the business, now MS is the only big dick in town. Thats less competition. Say Sony buys up all those publishers or even one of them. Thats fewer games for Xbox owners. yeah they get CoD, but they lose AC, Far Cry, Avatar, Division, Watch Dogs, RE, FF, and a half a dozen big Ubisoft franchises. So 1 get they were always getting vs 10 games they are no longer getting.

There were better ways to spend $80 billion. Invest in your own existing studios. Go and get talent from ND, SSM, Insomniac, Respawn and IW. Build your own culture. Dont leave 50 employees at Initiative to make an AAA game. Its impossible. Dont hire contractors to finish Halo infinite. It doesnt work. buy smaller satellite studios that can help the main studios release games on time. Invest in education and bring in more talent straight from colleges. Microsoft should not be getting outbid by hollywood CG studios. their profits are literally more than every major hollywood studio combined.

This is just a quick move to end console wars. And tbh, i admire it for its audacity but its not good for gamers.

 

[Menzies]

I have several thoughts on what the CMA has put forward here, purely as an armchair analysis and a person ignorant of their review process. I just don't follow some of their position and framing, such as; -

• What is the reasonable prognostication term for reviewing these deals i.e., are they looking 10 years, 20 years or longer into the future here?
• Is it reasonable for the CMA to default take the position that Microsoft will succeed in cloud streaming, where so many others have failed? And review this deal on those terms?
• Is it reasonable to review this deal on markets that haven't even established themselves and, in all likelihood, take the wind from their sails and lose all momentum?
• Is it reasonable to overlook consumer pricing benefits?

Would love to see the ledger balance sheet that they have to weigh up their prediction likelihood and net pros and cons here.

I think for me, (and hopefully the CMA), this review has highlighted the need for more of an invasive regulatory review within the industry, outside of only acquisitions.

Basically, what I'm seeing is the whole world is fine for Micrsoft to take that $70 billion dollars and use it to secure every single AAA third-party game as an exclusive for the next 10 years with zero interference. And this is fine, because it's one-off deals(?).

 

[adamsapple]

Guerrilla moved on from KZ with Horizon, but that should clue us all in on how difficult it is to make these games. They made Killzone ShadowFall and HZD and the expansion. That's it for the entire generation.

They don't have time to go back and remaster Killzone, and there probably isn't a ton of demand for it either.

Similarly, Insomniac is busy with Spider-Man and Ratchet and Clank, and now Spider-Man, Ratchet and Clank, and Wolverine. Hopefully, they end up doing a non-marvel original IP this gen, but they have no time to revisit Resistance.

At best you could get someone like Bluepoint to do it, but even they're too busy now to work on games with such little demand.

Bluepoint would have been great to do it during the PS4 generation.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

I knew you wouldn't understand it the reasoning behind your previous post made absolutely no sense.

Your reply made no sense and was warrior bullshit.

Or do you agree that Sony can't compete without CoD? That suddenly all of their exclusive games and Japanese support don't matter?

 

[DForce]

Your reply made no sense and was warrior bullshit.

Or do you agree that Sony can't compete without CoD? That suddenly all of their exclusive games and Japanese support don't matter?

No, yours was warrior BS.

Who knew that years of talk about Sony dominating because of quality games or wider support or more of a Japanese focus was all a waste of time, all Sony really needs is the latest Call of Duty

If you used any common sense then you would realize that Call of Duty was a multiplatform game so it wasn't the main factor as to why one gamer picked one console over the other.

 

[DForce]

Minecraft is also on all platforms. And they said Call of Duty will remain multiplat.

Then they would stop saying it will remain on the PlayStation consoles for a few years.

 

[The_Mike]

LOL @ Sony cannot compete without CoD.

Who knew that years of talk about Sony dominating because of quality games or wider support or more of a Japanese focus was all a waste of time, all Sony really needs is the latest Call of Duty

Well call of duty is sonys number one cash cow, which is why Sony is working overtime for not losing it.

Call of Duty sell more on playstation than all your favorite Japanese games combined.

You'll be able to find many gamers outside Gaf who can't mention a single Japanese game, but every single gamer know what call of duty is.

Also, Sony can't compete without call of duty, because Sony has specialised in cinematic single player experiences, because they didn't have to make a multiplayer shooter thanks to call of duty.

Losing call of duty is as crucial to losing fifa.

Sony knows it, and its why Sony are working overtime on this.

Nope. Call of Duty (vanguard sold around 30 million), world of warcraft (5 million subscribers ), Diablo 3 (~30 million), and more. All of these games and it's DLC on game pass will defiantly do more than 20 million.

World of Warcraft won't come to gamepass.
ESO plus isn't on gamepass either. Neither is fallout 1st.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Bluepoint would have been great to do it during the PS4 generation.

I mean their production went towards a much more popular series getting a remaster: Uncharted.

Hard to argue that Resistance and Killzone deserved more than Uncharted (especially with the work that would be involved with remastering Killzone 1).

Gravity Rush probably didn't take much time and made sense from the standpoint that the game reviewed really well but had limited userbase on the Vita.

Shadow of the Colossus makes sense more than Killzone and Resistance as well.

I think at this point you're looking at Vita, PS3 and PS4 games that need renewed life with a big chance of getting a 2nd life like Demons Souls.

Uncharted Golden Abyss
LittleBigPlanet Vita
Bloodborne

But this is a conversation for another topic