I mentioned this previously but after Gears Tactics, I’d love to see a Gears style Wasteland game ei a true cRPG. Gears Tactics has some well implemented RPG elements with loot that I think can transition over real well
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There are a ton of fantastically talented devs that they should pick up. Just because they should though doesn’t mean they will. I’d say: Asobo Bloober Tech land Hello games Supermassive Dontnod Moon Studio MDHR
Between studios wanting & earning their Independence, being publically traded, and being very expensive I don’t see these panning out. They don’t really have to have these devs anyways. They have 15 devs and over 20 teams they have the sheer manpower. I don’t think 343 is capable of being the beacon that Xbox needs. The Halo IP is still worthwhile but I fear MS puts too much faith in 343. Had MS NOT put all their faith in 343 they could have pulled a fantastic launch lineup together. As is the expected launch lineup isn’t bad just kind of flat. Xbox studios have pedigree now. Their future is exceptionally promising they just need to start firing on all cylinders and they will be in great shape.
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I personally keep hoping for:
Asobo, Bloober Team, Playful, People Can Fly and/or Techland
In terms of Japanese studios, that’s where it gets a little trickier. From Software would be ideal, but they’re owned by Kadokawa Corp, unfortunately. White Owls could be cool, but Swery doesn’t have the best track record - a lot of his stuff is pretty buggy. I suppose Microsoft could work towards starting a new studio in Japan, but that won’t bear results for quite some time.
Really hoping we hear something about acquisitions soon. In order for Game Pass to truly excel, it needs a stronger first-party portfolio backing it.
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All of those are/would be great pickups for MS. Not sure if they will aquire more any one of them joining the ranks would be great. I have a soft spot for horror so Bloober would be fantastic. Though my horror pick would be supermassive. The Medium may end up changing my mind though.
Asobo and Bloober seem to make the most sense. Fromsoftware is not gonna happen even if they were not already owned by Kadokawa. There’s no goddamn way Sony would let one of their most revered second parties get snatched up by the competitor like that. Fromsoftware are doing exceptionally well being multiplat themselves so they wouldn’t see a need to become first party.
I mean there wouldn’t be anything Sony could do about it. Also From Software isn’t a second party developer for Sony, they made an exclusive for them with Bloodborne over 5 years ago and everything else since then has been multiplatform. Also From is never going to make an exclusive for Sony again, they’re waaaaay too big and have too much clout to make a first party game now.
I don’t think MS needs to own a Japanese developer, they just need to get Japanese games on Xbox, they already got Yakuza and Dragon Quest, there is no doubt in my mind that Persona is going to hit Xbox eventually too.
Best way into Japan to me would be work REAL close with SEGA. Build relationships with From have each of those studios make an exclusive like bloodborne and Yakuza. Bring japanese games to Xbox through GP that way they are assured success on Xbox regardless of sales. Put all of these on xCloud and PC. Build relationships that they abandoned years ago.
Deadly Premonition is back on the store again… hopefully not as a mistake this time… You know what that means?
WHITE OWLS IS BACK ON THE MENU!
I’m not so sure about that. Japanese culture is a little bit different, and Sony has a very good relationship with From. IF Fromsoft was up for sale, I’m pretty sure that Sony would get first crack. I don’t think they ever will be up for sale though. I think Asobo is a given at this point, if Asobo is willing
Nonsense…business is business regardless of culture, they want to make as much money as humanly possibly and cutting off both PC and Xbox isn’t going to make them as much money as making an exclusive game.
Not to mention owning the IP, Sony owns Demon Souls and Bloodborne where From got to keep Sekiro and probably Elden Ring.
I doubt PC would be cut out ever again, especially given the growth in China and SW Asia for the platform. Honestly, if you can wait for Sony exclusives the PC is undisputed king for content
Im not saying Sony will buy Fromsoftware or Xbox shouldn’t or what not, I’m just saying it’s more likely for Sony to get Fromsoftware than Xbox if they ever got acquired, it’s what makes more sense. I’m a PC guy and Sekiro my GOTY last year and I wouldn’t ever want them to become first party Sony dev haha, so I very much hope and do believe moving forward, Fromsoftware shall make multiplats for the most part, with small exceptions like BB2 being a possibility down the line after Elden Ring because Sony owns that IP. It seems Sony is very adamant on owning IP on second party exclusives, they apparently wanted to own Sunset Overdrive as well which is what drove Insomniac to xbox because they let them own the IP, only now Insomniac itself is owned by Sony haha
personally I don’t think id like to see another acquisition on the scale of the Bethesda one. Don’t get me wrong Xbox did need a big Instant win to bolster the ranks but from now I hope they go back to finding studios with unique ideas and IP Concepts.
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I know they’re working on trying to have a solid platform across pc, console, mobile streaming - I wonder if going after someone like Paradox who does pc + console would make sense? On the other hand, they’re already partners in game pass and Paradox has been expanding a lot in the last few years.
Bethesda was a good fit for many reasons, but something they brought that was at least somewhat lacking across most of the studios was numerous years of experience in pc games. The studios that have made pc games (343, Turn 10, Coalition ) haven’t been doing it for that many years compared to Bethesda, and I could see it being something they look for in future acquisitions even if it’s not the only factor.
After today’s Amazon announcement, somebody is going to buy them all up anyway. Only the large third parties will be independent in the end
They’ve only just begun. 
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