Let’s see -
- Techland
An excellent development studio that would solve the open world survival horror genre in first person. Dying Light 2 looks amazing and they’re simply a very high quality studio.
- The Astronauts
Currently developing Witchfire which looks very good and promising. Would probably be a low cost low risk acquisition.
- Asobo Studio
Flight Simulator 2020 and A Plague Tale: Innocence. Already confirmed Plague Tale 2. I would buyout that deal they have with Focus Home Interactive and on we go.
- Splash Damage
I know this is highly unlikely but I really try to acquire them because I know that Gears Tactics is great and if they’re open to developing these types of games, that’s what they would do. Next up would be Halo Tactics.
- Iron Galaxy
I’m not into fighting games anyone but Microsoft owns the Killer Instinct IP and Iron Galaxy did a great job with seasons two and three for the 2013 reboot.
Publisher wise, my top 5 would be Ubisoft, WB interactive, Embracer Group, Electronic Arts and Activision/Blizzard. Never say never but as of now, all are highly unlikely.
Instead, I would pay EA more money to put EA Play in the $10/month version of Game Pass while adding EA Play Pro to Game Pass Ultimate. I would definitely try to get Ubisoft to allow UPlay+ in Game Pass Ultimate.
Aside from that, I would increase Game Pass Ultimate from $15 to $20 but it stays that way for the entire upcoming generation so 6-8 years with no price increase.
While it would devalue Game Pass Ultimate slightly (EA Play Pro and UPlay+ easily make up for it though), I would eliminate Xbox Live Gold before next generation starts.
In fact, I would try to have some stuff finalized especially the elimination of Gold and have it announced in late October as I would do a second round of pre-orders for late November. Basically, a Black Weekend guarantee.
That’s where the $10B would go if it was up to me but could always get shifted/changed if one or two of those top 5 publishers I posted became available to acquire.