Microsoft is preparing investors on potential acquisition of gaming studios

"we need both MS and sony (also Nintendo) to be successful in order to keep the market alive and kicking."

I keep hearing this and yet havent touched a MS studio game in a decade. IMO they really are irrelevant to me. The studios they have picked lately all had games close to being complete before their release. Now their games are on Steam i will pick a few here and there but a lot of those studios were doing fine without them.
 
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Kerotan said:
I doubt xbox has even made a profit since inception 20 years ago. For a company that's so good at making profits elsewhere they're not very good at it on xbox.
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Hit send too fast.
Microsoft is notorious for axing unprofitable divisions (windows phone, mixer, music streaming, etc). Xbox is profitable.
 
I really like the idea of gamepass but upon looking at my Steam backlog, I don't feel like paying for a subscription knowing I won't use it. However, I'm all for MS propping up and buying studios to match with Sony and not rely on Halo, Forza & Gears..
 
Kerotan said:
I doubt xbox has even made a profit since inception 20 years ago. For a company that's so good at making profits elsewhere they're not very good at it on xbox.
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30s google search will tell you otherwise...but we shouldn't trust CEOs like Satya Nadella

from 2017

"Our gaming business now is more than $9 billion and growing profitably...
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mspoweruser.com

Satya Nadella says Microsoft's gaming business is worth billions and profitable

Update: Satya Nadella commented on Microsoft’s gaming business as well. He said: “Our gaming business now is more than $9 billion and growing profitably. The gaming world is growing faster than ever before from gameplay across multiple devices, to the explosive growth in streaming and eSports...
mspoweruser.com


2018 was even better

www.geekwire.com

How Microsoft’s record-setting $10B gaming year compares to rivals Sony and Nintendo

In a fiscal year littered with firsts, Microsoft's gaming division hit a new high water mark.
www.geekwire.com www.geekwire.com

and it goes on...
 
Kerotan said:
I doubt xbox has even made a profit since inception 20 years ago. For a company that's so good at making profits elsewhere they're not very good at it on xbox.
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You really don't think they've shut it down if it wasn't profitable? How delusional are you?

Just because they don't print Sony money doesn't mean they aren't profitable.
 
Redlight said:
Like Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2?
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Those had already made enough money.

Those 3 had sold over 20mill. copies each before joining the "program". GTA over 100mill.

Why will Cyberpunk not launch day 1 as a GP title? Or any other EA, Activision, Ubisoft title coming this year. They care to much about those $70 day 1 sales.
 
King Harkinian said:
Those had already made enough money.

Those 3 had sold over 20mill. copies each before joining the "program". GTA over 100mill.

Why will Cyberpunk not launch day 1 as a GP title? Or any other EA, Activision, Ubisoft title coming this year. They care to much about those $70 day 1 sales.
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Still, they're on Gamepass aren't they? it ain't just AA filler. There's also plenty who saved $60 on games they didn't pull the trigger on at launch.
 
Doesn't mean they're buying anyone immediately. Just letting them know they will continue to look at opportunities.

People like Klobrile hype up every little thing MS does and says.
 
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The only thing Xbox users have been delivered consistently for the last 8 years is promises of a brighter future.

As for the social media insiders, it's painfully obvious by now they're being fed information by PR from gaming companies to start discussions or deviate them.
 
Torrent of Pork said:
And that cockiness got us the $599 PS3 that Sony told us to go get a 2nd job if you were too poor.
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Exactly, it all good that "Sony had a monopoly and nothing bad happened" until they decide to use that force for the bad, you be even asking for Intellivision Amico to be a strong selling competitor.
 
Dane said:
Exactly, it all good that "Sony had a monopoly and nothing bad happened" until they decide to use that force for the bad, you be even asking for Intellivision Amico to be a strong selling competitor.
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Really? I don't see over 9000 of threads on NV monopoly and $1500 GPUs.
Maybe I'm not looking hard enough?
 
PresetError said:
The only thing Xbox users have been delivered consistently for the last 8 years is promises of a brighter future.

As for the social media insiders, it's painfully obvious by now they're being fed information by PR from gaming companies to start discussions or deviate them.
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Don't know if its actually PR, as if it was it would be much more coordinated to avoid interpretation. They are being fed information by people at the various companies, but I doubt its actually all from PR. At one time i had a random person on a forum tell me inside information on Nvidia. He didn't work for PR, he was an engineer.
 
psorcerer said:
Really? I don't see over 9000 of threads on NV monopoly and $1500 GPUs.
Maybe I'm not looking hard enough?
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Maybe not here because it's mostly a console player forum, but in PC talks they are just mad as with Intel, especially that GTX 10xx was such big step and cost benefit compared to 9xx while RTX brought barely any improvement at the same price except for hardware RT.
 
oldergamer said:
Don't know if its actually PR, as if it was it would be much more coordinated to avoid interpretation. They are being fed information by people at the various companies, but I doubt its actually all from PR. At one time i had a random person on a forum tell me inside information on Nvidia. He didn't work for PR, he was an engineer.
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Yeah, but these social media insiders have a major following and their role is to get the ball rolling on speculation. Companies have a major interest in them setting a debate narrative that either benefits them or is damaging for the competition.

At the same time, these social media insiders following depends on their track record, so I imagine it works like this: they are fed narratives in exchange for future scoops. Say you've heard this and we'll give you accurate info to brag about.
 
CitizenX said:
"we need both MS and sony (also Nintendo) to be successful in order to keep the market alive and kicking."

I keep hearing this and yet havent touched a MS studio game in a decade. IMO they really are irrelevant to me. The studios they have picked lately all had games close to being complete before their release. Now their games are on Steam i will pick a few here and there but a lot of those studios were doing fine without them.
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Without MS you'd be paying a lot more for your PlayStation, Sony wouldn't be pushing as hard for a better online infrastructure, backwards compatibility, buying up exclusives, or releasing as many great games. Just because you don't play Xbox doesn't mean you don't benefit from the competition.
 
DavidGzz said:
Without MS you'd be paying a lot more for your PlayStation, Sony wouldn't be pushing as hard for a better online infrastructure, backwards compatibility, buying up exclusives, or releasing as many great games. Just because you don't play Xbox doesn't mean you don't benefit from the competition.
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You have to be competitive in all aspects to be a direct competitor- Scoreboard. And this day and age if its not a good product you will be called out instantly also there are dozens of ways to get games, the industry will continue to thrive no matter what. there is a TON of talent this isnt 1990 with just a handful of artist and programmers.
 
CitizenX said:
You have to be competitive in all aspects to be a direct competitor- Scoreboard. And this day and age if its not a good product you will be called out instantly also there are dozens of ways to get games, the industry will continue to thrive no matter what. there is a TON of talent this isnt 1990 with just a handful of artist and programmers.
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Bottom line, Sony needs competition. What does being called out by fanboys have to do with Sony seeing MS as competition? You don't think it's keeping Sony on their toes instead of arrogant? You really think they'd be holding back the announcement of the PS5 price and buying up exclusives deals of it were not for Xbox? Sony know better than your average fanboy. Game Pass, Xcloud, and a cheaper XSS are definite threats even if some of you are blind to them.
 
This was always sort of assumed wasn't it?

Interesting to see it in an SEC filing.

Here's hoping it's some unique studio(s) having trouble getting their ideas published and not moneyhats.
 
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Already know this but great to see it re-confirmed. Hoping for -

- WB Games
Microsoft has the money to make a massive blockbuster offer with or without the licenses. The licenses are important but not do or die. I prefer them getting the licenses but only if they become exclusive to Xbox Series X/S and PC. Otherwise, they can leave them with AT&T. The quality of the studios don't need the licenses to create, develop and release amazing games so either way, this would be huge and im 100% hoping it happens.

- Techland
Currently rumored to be going through development issues with Dying Light 2 and possibly monetary issues as well. Acquiring Techland would add another AAA studio to their already impressive first party and give them the stability, funding, time, resources and personnel needed. Plus, Dying Light 2 could then become an Xbox Series X/S and PC exclusive. And yes, I would buy out the publishing rights from Square Enix easily regardless of the cost.

- The Astronauts
Solid AA developer who's currently working on Witchfire which looks real good but they're a small development studio who could possibly be acquired for a good price.

There's a few others im hoping for but if the above were to happen, they would be extremely stacked. Overall -

- 343 Industries (Halo Infinite)
- The Coalition (Gears 6)
- Playground Games (Fable, Forza Horizon 5)
- Turn 10 Studios (Forza Motorsport, reboot)
- The Initiative (rumored to be working on Perfect Dark)
- Ninja Theory (Hellblade 2, Project Mara)
- Obsidian Entertainment (Avowed, The Outer Worlds & two expansions, Grounded, The Outer Worlds 2 and a smaller game led by Josh Sawyer)
- InXile Entertainment (Wasteland 3 on August 28th, next gen AAA RPG)
- Rare (Everwild)
- Undead Labs (State of Decay 3)
- Double Fine (Psychonauts 2)
- Compulsion Games (next gen AAA title)
- World's Edge (Age of Empires franchise)
- Mojang (Minecraft)

- Rocksteady (Suicide Squad)
- WB Montreal (Batman game)
- Monolith (Possibly a new Lords of the Ring game)
- NetherRealm (Injustice 3, they own the MK license)
- A few other minor studios they have working on smaller projects
- They also have a Harry Potter game in development but I have no clue who's working on it

- The Astronauts (Witchfire - AA FPS horror looter shooter)
- Techland (Dying Light 2, DLC for Dying Light)

Looking over all this, I truly hope all of this happens. I would so be so hyped. Total would be 20 studios excluding the minor studios within WB Games and Global Publishing which has Gears Tactics (console), Flight Simulator 2020 and a few other smaller titles. If Microsoft can pull off any of these acquisitions, I would be a happy gamer. :)
 
In my opinion, it would be better for Microsoft to buy a large established Software developer as opposed to many unproven small ones.

We have seen all the trouble they have had with Rare and now 343.

Would be better to buy a single huge developer like Capcom etc.

Not only would they get hold of precious IPs but Capcom are guaranteed to produce the goods without any headache for Microsoft.

Just gave Capcom as an example. There are many others.
 
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CrysisFreak said:
Hope they don't buy talented devs and force them to create AA GamePass filler...
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On the contrary, they seem to be too lenient. Too much freedom.

So much that Rare doesn't know what their next game is. Halo infinite is behind schedule despite so much time and capital investment etc.

Only studios which were good already but lacked capital will thrive. Like Obsidian, Double fine etc.
 
Grinchy said:
I got excited when they bought a bunch of teams back in 2018.

But then I saw that 2 years later, they all just had CGI teasers. That's a lot of time wasted.
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Which studios did they buy that didn't have prior games in development??

We are on an enthusiast forum, your post is console war trolling
 
They should buy studios that have high potential AAA games that are not too far from release (assuming there are some like that, that are up for grabs, which is certainly possible in the current times).
 
Leyasu said:
Which studios did they buy that didn't have prior games in development??

We are on an enthusiast forum, your post is console war trolling
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Yeah, I'm sure the State of Decay team was really hard at work on that trash sequel and couldn't even start the 3rd one in the past 2 years.
 
The_Mike said:
Would be better for Sony to moneyhat them #4theplayers.
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Look at the games that current Sony studios are making now compared to what they made prior. Some were garbage-tier games (go look at the stuff Naughty Dog was putting out on 3D0 for example).

Now look at the games current Xbox studios were making before and after Xbox acquired them. It's the exact opposite.

No, MS doesn't TELL them to make bad games, but they have been unable to even keep the talent consistent, much less make the studios better.

GamePass asking for limited budgets and making profits through GaaS and more microtransactions is likely only going to amplify their past issues.
 
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The_Mike said:
Would be better for Sony to moneyhat them #4theplayers.

Seriously though, do you really believe that Microsoft directly forces them to do crappy game pass games.

Do you even know how to make money? Microsoft is a company like any other that wants to make profit. Granted, they miss the spot many times, but they also nail it from time to time.
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At least Sony let their studios have the time and investment to make games they want.

Based on history MS crush the creativity in their devs and have ruined any dev they have bought.

Sony have had their issues with devs and some haven't worked out but their support of studios and their content produced has been very good the past 10 years.

I wouldn't have any faith in MS making good on the promise of any studios bought based on their past and current performance, these people killed Rare, Lionhead and drove out Bungie by grinding them down with sequel after sequel.

They have all to prove, buying a studio don't mean anything.
 
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The_Mike said:
Would be better for Sony to moneyhat them #4theplayers.

Seriously though, do you really believe that Microsoft directly forces them to do crappy game pass games.

Do you even know how to make money? Microsoft is a company like any other that wants to make profit. Granted, they miss the spot many times, but they also nail it from time to time.
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What does Sony have to do with his comment?

Rent Free.

How about nobody buys them and they continue creative freedom?
 
Grinchy said:
Yeah, I'm sure the State of Decay team was really hard at work on that trash sequel and couldn't even start the 3rd one in the past 2 years.
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They've more than likely started pre-development, but yes, Undead Labs has been working on SoD 2 since it released. They've provided multiple updates to the game, DLC, and added it to steam a while back (all of which takes time and work to accomplish). Not sure what you're trying to say, but Undead Labs is a relatively small studio of around 120 or so employees, so expecting them be far into development of a sequel while also working on their current title is a far reach to be honest.
 
Im hoping that Microsoft buys the most beloved studios out there in one big push (CDPR, WB, etc).

Then I want them to make any and all of these games exclusive to XBOX consoles only...and only thru GamePass. Not even available on PC...and def not on PS4.

Next...instead of having CDPR deliver W4, I want them to focus on AA projects they can get out the door fast to fill up GamePass. Get the Batman license and will make it exclusive as well.

Lastly, I want to read video game threads that share their "concern" about the viability of G
CrysisFreak said:
Hope they don't buy talented devs and force them to create AA GamePass filler...
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I disagree.

Im hoping that Microsoft buys the most beloved studios out there in one big push (CDPR, WB, etc).

Then I want them to make any and all of these games exclusive to XBOX consoles only...and only thru GamePass. Not even available on PC...and def not on PS4.

Next...instead of having CDPR deliver W4, I want them to focus on AA projects they can get out the door fast to fill up GamePass. Get the Batman license and will make it exclusive as well.

Lastly, I want to read video game threads that share their "concern" about the viability of GamePass for Microsoft's billions.

Will that make people lose their minds?

Maybe....maybe some men just want to watch the world burn.. No no....I'm not a monster. I'm just a head of the curve.
 
Grinchy said:
Yeah, I'm sure the State of Decay team was really hard at work on that trash sequel and couldn't even start the 3rd one in the past 2 years.
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They have been updating SoD2. But we don't know the full story.

So again, which studios did they buy that didn't have games already in development?
 
CrysisFreak said:
Hope they don't buy talented devs and force them to create AA GamePass filler...
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Yeah thats what I am worried abt too.
I think if Gamepass wont be the next big thing for Xbox they can better leave the industry or just become a publisher.
 
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after the halo infinite debacle this is exactly what they need to do , since they cannot rely on their studios to deliver games on time. my wishlist is Remedy games & Wb games studios i think they would fit in well
 
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They said they will continue to invest, not necessarily that an announcement is imminent.

I do think we'll see Bloober Team and (hopefully) Asobo join XGS. They are hyping The Medium and had a partnership with Blair Witch recently.

While I doubt an announcement is imminent on WB Games, I do hope Microsoft gets them. I think the alternatives are much, much worse. Contrary to recent chatter, I still think WB is still very much for sale. They wanted additional bidding and more interest.
 
Alphagear said:
In my opinion, it would be better for Microsoft to buy a large established Software developer as opposed to many unproven small ones.

We have seen all the trouble they have had with Rare and now 343.

Would be better to buy a single huge developer like Capcom etc.

Not only would they get hold of precious IPs but Capcom are guaranteed to produce the goods without any headache for Microsoft.

Just gave Capcom as an example. There are many others.
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they need to buy or found a japan studio. They could get some forum love doing that (sony too could get even more love doing it)
 
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