Microsoft is Buying Activision Blizzard $68.7B ***Update: Acquisition Finalized***

[Zazen]

Well, Sony will eventually go down a subscription route with the expansion of Spartacus.. it's inevitable..

Yeah, I have a feeling everything will just be apps like we have for movies and tv shows now. It still sucks though and I feel the quality will drop dramatically except for maybe two or three franchises that are subscription sellers. Its just hard for me to believe this model is profitable for all these developers. More likely we are going to get more bullshit microtransactions and free to play, pay-to-win type nonsense. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[method115]

This is huge news but I wonder if this is going to break some kind of anti trust law?

I don't see CoD leaving PlayStation. Microsoft left Minecraft on PS and Nintendo after they bought them out so I don't think we are going to see a similar situation like when MS bought Bethesda. DOOM and TES are huge IPs but not on the same level as CoD or Warcraft.

I think COD goes exclusive eventually. Maybe 1 or 2 more games then that’s it.

 

[Dizzy]

"Massive exclusivity"..

Literally Xbox, PC, Cloud (which can be used on numerous devices).. what incredibly stringent exclusivity and lack of consumer choice.

COD will likely be multiplatform.. that's the only IP they make consistently under Kotick, so nothing changes for people in that regard.. if they do actually branch out creatively under Microsoft, my point will literally be proven lol.

Pull up the numbers of Switch/PS4/PS5 owners. Hundreds of millions.

Well, Sony will eventually go down a subscription route with the expansion of Spartacus.. it's inevitable..

They’ve already said they aren’t going to release AAA titles day one.

I’d like to avoid half finished games with cat ear cosmetics as long as possible so hopefully that sticks.

 

[Deadwing88]

They’ve already said they aren’t going to release AAA titles day one.

I’d like to avoid half finished games with cat ear cosmetics as long as possible so hopefully that sticks.

Another "we believe in generations" statement.. let's see how long it sticks.

I remember Jim Ryan saying subscription services weren't sustainable.. yet here we are,Spartacus, what every industry analyst is calling PS's attempt at a gamepass rival.

 

[Dizzy]

Another "we believe in generations" statement.. let's see how long it sticks.

I remember Jim Ryan saying subscription services weren't sustainable.. yet here we are,Spartacus, what every industry analyst is calling PS's attempt at a gamepass rival.

Yes, a subscription model that releases AAA titles on day one isn’t sustainable for them…

They started the subscription services, I’m not sure what you’re talking about here. PS+ and PS Now both released first.

If you’ve seen any of the rumors it’s focusing on PlayStation’s back catalog over its generations. That’s not Game Pass.

 

[Hyperglide]

I think COD goes exclusive eventually. Maybe 1 or 2 more games then that’s it.

Will be interesting to see. That would be a very unpopular move. Making games like DOOM, and TES for example an Xbox exclusive is one thing but the most popular 3rd party IP (besides GTA) would make MS look like the boogeyman. I am pretty sure that's why they did it with Minecraft when they bought Mojang. Mind you there hasn't been a new Minecraft since the first one, unless you include the spin-off Dungeons title, but it also wasn't exclusive.

 

[Hyperglide]

I'm know I'm in a small minority when I say I'd rather pay 60 to 70 dollars to support a great developer that I trust will bring their A game. This low-cost subscription service just doesn't appeal to me.

Then don't subscribe. I don't have Game Pass. I buy my games. I do game share though and the person I share with has gamepass but I don't use it.

You won't own it and the product will end up watered down. There's just no way in hell all these AAA devs will push out games like God of War regularly on that type of subscription service. Already got my pre-order down for Forbidden West. If games like this end up going away I'm done for good with gaming. A lot of people seem happy but for me this is shitty news and feels like an end of era. Even one of my favorite youtubers named Mystic seemed a bit down in his video. It's really a bad day to be a Sony fan. They're the only ones keeping me interested in gaming atm.

I hate to be that guy, but I remember you Sony Ponies always saying years ago that M$ has no games and you Xbots have no exclusives blah blah. Then Microsoft puts their money where their mouth is and now you are caught with crow in your mouth. I have no sympathy. Just buy an xbox or buy them through the Microsoft store if you got a decent PC.

Brand loyalty is such a dumb concept anyways.

 

[KaNesDeath]

Making games like DOOM, and TES for example an Xbox exclusive is one thing but the most popular 3rd party IP (besides GTA) would make MS look like the boogeyman.

They'll be exclusive to XBox and Pc. For Sony to have a spot at the trough they'll need to bend the knee on Playstations exclusivity.

 

[Hyperglide]

All of the above I have little to no interest in playing.

And all the DOZENS of studios Microsoft owns, those are their best games in an weak year for gaming like 2021?

Oh sure, a Microsoft-monopoly sounds awesome.

lol confirmation bias. "I don't play those games so they must suck blah blah." Forza Horizon 5 is a god tier racing game but ya it's just some meh game to YOU because "I have no interest in playing."

I guess you don't realize that game development on some titles can take 3-5 years right? Microsoft bought most of those studios when they were already working on current projects or in pre-production on others. Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

[Hyperglide]

They'll be exclusive to XBox and Pc. For Sony to have a spot at the trough they'll need to bend the knee on Playstations exclusivity.

I honestly think Microsoft will make more money off those sweet Microtransactions and loot boxes from the CoD games if they keep it on Sony's platform anyways. So it's in their best interest to keep it there for goodwill and for monetary reasons.

If they want more people to buy Xbox's I think they have more than enough other IP's to pull people over plus, obviously, Game Pass.

 

[Madmick]

Its actually something entirely different. Sony failed to see the gaming landscape changing and are currently scrambling to enter into these spaces years late behind their competitors.

 

[Zazen]

Then don't subscribe. I don't have Game Pass. I buy my games. I do game share though and the person I share with has gamepass but I don't use it.



I hate to be that guy, but I remember you Sony Ponies always saying years ago that M$ has no games and you Xbots have no exclusives blah blah. Then Microsoft puts their money where their mouth is and now you are caught with crow in your mouth. I have no sympathy. Just buy an xbox or buy them through the Microsoft store if you got a decent PC.

Brand loyalty is such a dumb concept anyways.

Never said I'm loyal to them, I own other consoles. I simply like them the best and use the console way more than the others. Also, nice strawman. I rarely post here and never said anything negative about Xbox in the past. I thought their Betheseda pick up was really awesome and fit them quite well but this is just something ugly.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

I mean you've got new franchises coming literally this year.. lmao. You call me a fanboy when you seem literally ignorant of any actual IPs which are coming.. and or pass them off as no "interest to you".

Starfield and Redfall for one.. numerous others have been announced as in development (Avowed, Contraband etc).

Humorous how the two new main IPs you site only have CGI trailers released, with little to no gameplay footage online.

We have no idea if they're going to be awesome, or completely suck.

As for the two other IPs, pretty much the same thing. Its not like Microsoft's XBoxOne generation exclusives were completely void, but they weren't good enough to become the highest selling games of the year because of their quality.

They were developed, released, and quickly died.... like the one Pirate game that Rare released.

In regards to exclusive Xbox games which are in my favourites.. Forza Horizon 2, Gears 1/2, Halo 1/2/3 and honestly the infinite multiplayer is fantastic, Fable 2..

Forza Horizon 2... 2014
Gears 1/2.... 2006/2008
Halo 1/2/3... 2001/2004/2008
Fable 2... 2008

So... of your own list of favorite Microsoft 1st-party titles, you only mention one that was released in the last 12 years.

And you mentioned Halo Infinite's Multiplayer, specifically mentioning its multiplayer, and leaving out its campaign.

Are you starting to understand why the rest of us, who aren't Microsoft fanboys, aren't thrilled by a significant portion of the western gaming market is owned and controlled by ONE corporation? And how its not looking great for the future creativity, innovation, and advancement of gaming?

 

[Deadwing88]

Humorous how the two new main IPs you site only have CGI trailers released, with little to no gameplay footage online.

We have no idea if they're going to be awesome, or completely suck.

As for the two other IPs, pretty much the same thing. Its not like Microsoft's XBoxOne generation exclusives were completely void, but they weren't good enough to become the highest selling games of the year because of their quality.

They were developed, released, and quickly died.... like the one Pirate game that Rare released.



Forza Horizon 2... 2014
Gears 1/2.... 2006/2008
Halo 1/2/3... 2001/2004/2008
Fable 2... 2008

So... of your own list of favorite Microsoft 1st-party titles, you only mention one that was released in the last 12 years.

And you mentioned Halo Infinite's Multiplayer, specifically mentioning its multiplayer, and leaving out its campaign.

Are you starting to understand why the rest of us, who aren't Microsoft fanboys, aren't thrilled by a significant portion of the western gaming market is owned and controlled by ONE corporation? And how its not looking great for the future creativity, innovation, and advancement of gaming?

"Quickly died".. "pirate game"..





Literally one of the most successful new IPs of the last decade.

 

[what-wut]

This buying out competition crap is cheap shite. Anyway looking at the bright side. I hope Sony will revive some brands from the past. Sly Cooper, ape escape. Shadow of colossus universe games. Mark of kri. If Cod ends up exclusive we could get a new fps that's not released every 12 months.

 

[Sycho Sid]

As an aside. How do microtransactions work with Gamepass? Can you purchase them if playing the game through gamepass? What happens to them when the game rotates out?

 

[GearSolidMetal]

"Quickly died".. "pirate game"..





Literally one of the most successful new IPs of the last decade.

"Literally one of the most successful new IPs of the last decade."



There's lies, damned lies, and statistics.

https://steamcharts.com/app/1172620

Last 30 Days 16,527.3 +3,488.4 +26.75% 36,840
December 2021 13,038.9 +5,051.6 +63.24% 31,079
November 2021 7,987.3 -342.7 -4.11% 21,496
October 2021 8,330.0 -1,960.9 -19.05% 17,813
September 2021 10,290.9 -821.4 -7.39% 25,817
August 2021 11,112.3 -10,607.1 -48.84% 19,422
July 2021 21,719.3 -2,701.9 -11.06% 50,314
June 2021 24,421.3 +10,948.7 +81.27% 62,889
May 2021 13,472.6 -5,158.3 -27.69% 43,761
April 2021 18,630.9 +7,924.9 +74.02% 46,670
March 2021 10,706.0 -4,362.3 -28.95% 22,070
February 2021 15,068.3 -6,486.9 -30.09% 27,909
January 2021 21,555.2 +8,305.0 +62.68% 52,916
December 2020 13,250.2 +2,557.7 +23.92% 45,381

Granted, those are only on Steam, the others are on GamePass, who didn't actually pay for the game to play it.

'15 million players' makes it sound like its a HUGE game that would compete against Call of Duty. But in fact the vast majority of those 15 million played it once over the last 3+ years, mostly when it first came out, and abandoned the game, just like so many other Microsoft exclusives.

And thank you for only responding to that one sentence from my last post, because you're admitting you can't respond to the rest of my post.

 

[Neph]

I think it's somewhere in between.

In August 2021 the developers announced they had 4.8 million distinct players for the month on June 2021, a new record for monthly play:

https://www.ign.com/articles/sea-of-thieves-broke-player-records-june-3-years-after-release

 

[Deadwing88]

"Literally one of the most successful new IPs of the last decade."



There's lies, damned lies, and statistics.

https://steamcharts.com/app/1172620

Last 30 Days 16,527.3 +3,488.4 +26.75% 36,840
December 2021 13,038.9 +5,051.6 +63.24% 31,079
November 2021 7,987.3 -342.7 -4.11% 21,496
October 2021 8,330.0 -1,960.9 -19.05% 17,813
September 2021 10,290.9 -821.4 -7.39% 25,817
August 2021 11,112.3 -10,607.1 -48.84% 19,422
July 2021 21,719.3 -2,701.9 -11.06% 50,314
June 2021 24,421.3 +10,948.7 +81.27% 62,889
May 2021 13,472.6 -5,158.3 -27.69% 43,761
April 2021 18,630.9 +7,924.9 +74.02% 46,670
March 2021 10,706.0 -4,362.3 -28.95% 22,070
February 2021 15,068.3 -6,486.9 -30.09% 27,909
January 2021 21,555.2 +8,305.0 +62.68% 52,916
December 2020 13,250.2 +2,557.7 +23.92% 45,381

Granted, those are only on Steam, the others are on GamePass, who didn't actually pay for the game to play it.

'15 million players' makes it sound like its a HUGE game that would compete against Call of Duty. But in fact the vast majority of those 15 million played it once over the last 3+ years, mostly when it first came out, and abandoned the game, just like so many other Microsoft exclusives.

And thank you for only responding to that one sentence from my last post, because you're admitting you can't respond to the rest of my post.

It's 25 million.. not 15 million.. there's your statistic.

Using daily steam figures is utterly nonsensical anyway.. Sea of Thieves was recently announced as having sold 5 million copies on Steam alone, daily steam figures are not a true representative of any individual games success..



I didn't respond to the rest of your post because it's a aimless rant on the basis of my subjective game tastes.. lol..

 

[Strychnine]

People are viewing this through the wrong lens.

It's not a console war... It's a content war.

Microsoft is just ahead of the curve.
It's just that simple.