Microsoft Tries to Buy Activision Blizzard

[Wools]

Remember when Xbox came onto the scene with Halo, Amped, Moto GP, Ralli Sport Challenge, it was such a fresh console with new games, new IP’s.

Now, 10 years since they stopped investing in new games and closed down some of their classic studios, they resort to just buying up the competition for sequel after endless sequel.

I’m gutted Microsoft have lost their way so spectacularly.

[CMcK]

I don’t get why people think this isn’t an investment in making new games. Microsoft are about to acquire 30 game development studios. Some of them will surely be working on new games and not just existing properties.

Kotaku calling Actiblizz beleaguered is flat out daft.

[Neon Ignition]

Hopefully we'll find out pretty quick as with so many of them tied into co-working on so few titles/franchises it should be clear on whether MS bought themselves a massive game making behemoth or a COD factory

[kryss]

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hur hur

[fishbowlhead]

Hopefully we'll find out pretty quick as with so many of them tied into co-working on so few titles/franchises it should be clear on whether MS bought themselves a massive game making behemoth or a COD factory

Cod factory.

[nonny]

There's a good Digital Foundry video up what discussing the pros and cons of this...

The argument here that they could have just spent it setting up from scratch is misguided. Yes they could have but they'd be doing that in a pandemic, sourcing building and infrastructure, then luring/hiring talent to come work for them, creating their own IP from scratch going through hours of R&D, then releasing into the market where these existing franchises still exist and compete.

Here they can still venture into new IP but the cost covers mitigating all the risks associated with the setup above.

Yes it lets them sell COD as a brand name, but equally they could go in and break up the COD factory process, tell the studios the work ethic is now a new COD every 2-3 years and give them space to be creative on new passion projects. On top of this I would fully expect COD warzone remains everywhere as it's a F2P cash monster. It could do with some new management but those battle royale kids love it (count me out).

Outside of this it's potentially great news for the PC side of things with WoW and hopefully Starcraft. From a game pass perspective it bolsters that market.

Really the main negatives are the monopoly discussions and whether MS would meddle in the studios and force them into working on specific IP or working practices. To be honest looking at how hands off they've been with Bethesda and how they've let studios like Playground Games take on Fable instead of just being a Forza Horizon factory... I think MS knows what will be the right strategy here. It just remains to be seen whether they get the green light and what they do with it.

[MartyG]

I don’t get why people think this isn’t an investment in making new games. Microsoft are about to acquire 30 game development studios. Some of them will surely be working on new games and not just existing properties.

Kotaku calling Actiblizz beleaguered is flat out daft.

Of course they will, just as they've continued to do with Minecraft, Rare, Bethesda. Microsoft openly admitted shuttering Lionhead was a mistake they regretted, so why would they want to double down on that?

A refresh at the top of Actibliz is going to be good for the company given where it was at; short term gains at any cost rather than a platform holder who has been looking at and continues to look at the long game.

There are loads of IPs that Actiblizz owns that aren't CoD: Blur, Caesar, Candy Crush, Crush Bandicoot,
Diablo, DJ Hero, Empire Earth, Gabriel Knight, Geometry Wars, Guitar Hero, Gun, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Hexen, Interstate 76, King’s Quest, Laura Bow Mysteries, The Lost Vikings, Overwatch, Pantasmagoria, Pitfall, Police Quest, Prototype, Quest for Glory, Singularity, Skylanders, Soldier of Fortune, Space Quest, Spyro the Dragon, Starcraft, Tenchu, TimeShift, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, True Crime, World of Warcraft, Zork

[cutmymilk]

The glass half full view is that Phil Spencer has talked about game preservation in the past, so at the very least we may see everything in that list could easily become remakes/game packs available via Game Pass.

[Cassius_Smoke]

I think this officially puts to bed any exclusivity arguments anyone has against Sony or Nintendo now. Anyone can do anything they want now because it pails in comparison to spending $70b.

[Asura]

There are loads of IPs that Actiblizz owns that aren't CoD: Blur, Caesar, Candy Crush, Crush Bandicoot,
Diablo, DJ Hero, Empire Earth, Gabriel Knight, Geometry Wars, Guitar Hero, Gun, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Hexen, Interstate 76, King’s Quest, Laura Bow Mysteries, The Lost Vikings, Overwatch, Pantasmagoria, Pitfall, Police Quest, Prototype, Quest for Glory, Singularity, Skylanders, Soldier of Fortune, Space Quest, Spyro the Dragon, Starcraft, Tenchu, TimeShift, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, True Crime, World of Warcraft, Zork

Wait, Activision own Tenchu?

[Golgo]

This landscape that MS are sculpting is a double edged sword for me. I'm enjoying Game Pass. I can try lots of games, I may never have got around to playing. However, and it might be just me, but I find it very throw away-ish. I dip into games for minutes and if it don't grab me, I'm out. This is probably very unfair of me. Maybe if I had bought the game, I'd have no choice but to give it a chance.

So, we have this Netflix style gaming service alongside a store to download the game outright, but I fear what the future looks like. Cloud gaming, no physicals, subscription, more throw-away approach from me. Maybe I need to move with the times.

I feel the same way, to be honest. I'd sooner spend the £120 on four games a year that I'd really invest some time in, rather than dipping into stuff. I barely even touch the offering on PS+ and that's meagre by comparison That said, I can 100% understand the appeal for people from a value point of view - you're getting a lot even though you might never play it.

[Hirst]

I'm very upset about this, because what will happen to River Raid? Not just the games but all the expanded universe - the new Netflix series, the films (not just the original trilogy but the upcoming reboot), the pay to play mobile games.

[nonny]

I feel the same way, to be honest. I'd sooner spend the £120 on four games a year that I'd really invest some time in, rather than dipping into stuff. I barely even touch the offering on PS+ and that's meagre by comparison That said, I can 100% understand the appeal for people from a value point of view - you're getting a lot even though you might never play it.

Then just buy those four games... no-one is forcing you to subscribe to game pass. The direct purchase option is going to continue to exist...

[Neon Ignition]

Kotick 2020:




Kotick 2023:

[MartyG]

Wait, Activision own Tenchu?

They did, it looks like it was sold tho, so has sneaked into the list.