Microsoft Tries to Buy Activision Blizzard

[Neon Ignition]

Yep, I don't think Acti sets a precedent. Whilst it's a massive buy that seems likely to clear the bar required I don't think it will lead to more. That MS will have been allowed to buy a company that big including a franchise that large would likely automatically lead to the downfall of attempting to buy other big players like EA or Take Two because that would mean buying out too many big players. Likewise, Sony can't afford to play that game so I'd be watching the likes of Chinese or Saudi buyers much more on that front

[Lebowski]

Yep, if it's live service it would make sense to cast a wide net, I think Elder Scrolls VI is mostly questionable mostly because Skyrim led to it having a widespread fanbase so much like Call of Duty it blocks that established fanbase on multiple systems and handcuffs the next games ability to sell the same as its predecessor did. Starfield etc though have no existing base to consider but presumably ES isn't seen by MS as being as evergreen and large scale as Minecraft, COD etc so holds more value held back to Xbox along with everything else.

I can see Elder Scrolls VI being a Xbox exclusive Starfeild was supposed to be multi-platform game at its inception and has flipped to being an exclusive. which is weird as its trading off being Skyrim in space Todd howard said so himself*, but only making it available to xbox players is really limiting its market reach.


*

It's like Skyrim in space". https://www.ign.com/articles/starfie...mmer-of-gaming

[Neon Ignition]

Well... Sony did decide to go all in on trashing Microsoft just to try and stop them getting one franchise...

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-microsoft-became-washingtons-favorite-tech-giant-11648872240

• "Sony's anti-competitive tactics deserve discussion, and we welcome further investigation to ensure a level playing field in the video game industry," Microsoft spokesperson David Cuddy told Axios.
• While Microsoft isn't saying just how involved it was in orchestrating this push, its government affairs team has discussed these issues with members of Congress, Axios understands.

Sony's about to deal with the return hard pitch from Microsoft here on out it seems

[Yakumo]

Well... Sony did decide to go all in on trashing Microsoft just to try and stop them getting one franchise...

Embedded Tweet

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-microsoft-became-washingtons-favorite-tech-giant-11648872240

• "Sony's anti-competitive tactics deserve discussion, and we welcome further investigation to ensure a level playing field in the video game industry," Microsoft spokesperson David Cuddy told Axios.
• While Microsoft isn't saying just how involved it was in orchestrating this push, its government affairs team has discussed these issues with members of Congress, Axios understands.

Sony's about to deal with the return hard pitch from Microsoft here on out it seems

You know, that doesn't surprise me. Even in the days of the 360 stores promoted the hell out of PlayStation 3 even when that was the inferior system. I remember Bayonetta (was a big deal over here) heavily being promoted on the PS3 yet that version was total **** while the excellent 360 version was never mentioned.
This trend has continued up to this very day.
I know Sony paid stores for shelf space. Even back in the days of the original PlayStation we at HMV received orders to give more front and center shelf space to PlayStation because they had paid for "promotion". Funny how no other company or developer ever paid for promotion in the 3 years I worked there.

[Neon Ignition]

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"The Senator who raised this and 6 of the 10 Reps are from Microsoft's home stateAnd MS' government affairs people have discussed this issue with members of CongressNot hard to guess why this is coming upMore in the story, including the full letters https://axios.com/2023/03/27/con"gress-xbox-playstation-japa"n

[Cassius_Smoke]

Well MS is a mega Corp with friends in high places, and Sony was tickling the dragons tail. Sony had every right to oppose the deal, but it should have done it like a grown up. If they've been breaching trade deal laws, then they ****ed up in a big way. I'm surprised their Lawers didn't point this out.

[nonny]

Japanese FTC have essentially approved it now. That's 8 regulatory bodies so far approving or at least saying they don't see it being anti-competitive.

[Neon Ignition]

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CMA has dropped all console related concerns. MS now only needs to sort out the Cloud side to clear

[fishbowlhead]

If you can’t beat them, buy them, eh MS.

[nonny]

If you can’t beat them, buy them, eh MS.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/3/23623363/microsoft-sony-ftc-activision-blocking-rights-exclusivity

And Sony pays to keep titles from game pass so their strategy is "if you can't beat them, block them..."

Guess that is also their strategy for this deal come to think of it...

[fishbowlhead]

And why not? Got to do something against companies as big as MS. Oh well they’ve closed the £1 loophole, see how your tune is when your paying full price for it when your sub rolls round, and it’s going to only go up in price now.

[Cassius_Smoke]

I keep saying it, but Sony paying Square to have Final Fantasy is a million miles away from paying billions of dollars to buy a company and have NONE of its games appearing on other consoles.

[Neon Ignition]

If they end up like Rare they won't be appearing on Xbox either

[Deuteros]

I keep saying it, but Sony paying Square to have Final Fantasy is a million miles away from paying billions of dollars to buy a company and have NONE of its games appearing on other consoles.

Where did you read that was the case at hand?

[hudson]

cmon, cards on the table time.

Who are the Xbots and who are the Sony Cyborgs in here, huh?