Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard Discussion Thread (Part 1)

[Weaam]

@Boosted_Gear

…and support multi-platform games elsewhere. While Starfield, a new IP from Bethesda, makes sense as an Xbox exclusive for Microsoft to push Xbox Game Pass, Call of Duty has been available on multiple platforms for nearly 20 years.

We’ll still likely see some new Activision Blizzard games going Xbox exclusive where that makes sense, similar to what Microsoft [promised with its Bethesda deal]. But Call of Duty , Activision Blizzard’s biggest franchise, will remain on multiple platforms just like Minecraft .

The delicate balance of choices will be interesting to watch play out, particularly as Sony makes its own multi-platform push with PlayStation exclusives arriving, albeit years later, on PC and [10 live-service games to appear] on multiple platforms (including Xbox!) before March 2026.

fr i expect all Acti GAAS games MP to be multiplatform, even if it’s new IP.

SP exclusive for GP Devices.

https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1491600386876137480?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1491600386876137480|twgr^|twcon^s1_&ref_url=

[Weaam]

@AtticusFincher

The monopoly/consolidation worries seem to have subsided. What changed?

[MasterChief]

@TheBrightestSun

That’s where I disagree. With all the stuff happening right now Sony won’t be the same anymore and will do things differently. Shortage, Microsoft aggressive moves, big tech giants eyeing gaming, mobile gaming growth, rise of subscription services - the market won’t be the same. ATVI gives Microsoft enough clout to lead the gaming industry in the direction Microsoft wants. And they haven’t finished their purchases yet. The market layout has changed.

I mean I hope you’re right but I’m not crossing my fingers, I’m not expecting things to change anytime soon if ever, anyway it’s not all doom and gloom, this generation is already much better than last and will be Xbox’s best but just wish Microsoft had that “fire” they had during the 360 years, I thought that buying Bethesda was a sign of that.

[Justice]

I don’t think Microsoft would make more money by going multiplatform. 15 milions sold on xbox are better than 10 millions on xbox and 15 on PlayStation. The real Money are made with the platform’s store. Going exclusive = more people using your platform

[Hue]

@Justice

I don’t think Microsoft would make more money by going multiplatform. 15 milions sold on xbox are better than 10 millions on xbox and 15 on PlayStation. The real Money are made with the platform’s store. Going exclusive = more people using your platform

https://media.tenor.com/images/b938268fc67cf8f8e3f933e76209f787/tenor.gif(image larger than 10.2 MB)

Getting 70% of sales from all the PS/Switch users in addition to all the Xbox/PC sales won’t make them more money?

[Justice]

More people on your platform is a long term investment. Going multiplatform is a short term monetizaton

@Hue

https://media.tenor.com/images/b938268fc67cf8f8e3f933e76209f787/tenor.gif(image larger than 5.35 MB)

Getting 70% of sales from all the PS/Switch users in addition to all the Xbox/PC sales won’t make them more money?

[profjjj]

@ProgStopper

Once again:

I’m not paying Microsoft $200 bucks a year for them to give Sony multiplatform games that they earn 30% off of when they will use that 30% to do money hat deals that will actively make Xbox a worse platform.

I thought the whole point of Game Pass was to give Microsoft $200 per year so you could play games worth $500 (or $1,000 or whatever). If it is saving you money then why does it matter what is happening on PlayStation?

[Hue]

@Justice

More people on your platform is a long term investment. Going multiplatform is a short term monetizaton

I see where your coming from, but it’s very unlikely all the ABK titles are going to be multiplatform.

CoD was always up in the air, for all we know the Xbox platform may have exclusives maps/modes or release earlier on Xbox.

Being included in a subscription service rather than $70 is also going to be a big pull.

I can’t imagine the shareholders would be happy with them killing their new biggest revenue maker (outside of Candy King) straight away regardless if this may have resulted in them growing their platform/subscription quicker.

We can see Xbox is in it for the long game, it’s best not to rock the boat right away (I’m sure there’s more surprises in the works!).

[EldenDarkwraith]

So will Microsoft need to pay a cross play tax if more gamers play COD on Xbox ?!?

[Hue]

@profjjj

I thought the whole point of Game Pass was to give Microsoft $200 per year so you could play games worth $500 (or $1,000 or whatever). If it is saving you money then why does it matter what is happening on PlayStation?

I agree!

At this point it’s simply ridiculous value.

If some of their studios create multi-platform games I really couldn’t care less (if it’s still on GP!). For me it’s still a win if I don’t have to pay $70 each!

I only care what value GP is giving me and I will stay a subscriber whilst it’s doing so!

[Hue]

@EldenDarkwraith

So will Microsoft need to pay a cross play tax if more gamers play COD on Xbox ?!?

I really can’t see that being a thing going forward.

PS are focusing on multiplatform games as a service games, will other platforms really want to work with them if they risk going over the .85 threshold?

Also I’m sure this crossplay tax would come under the definition of “unreasonable” used in their new standards, this would surely provide Xbox an opportunity to renegotiate the terms or remove games completely.

[Chyld989 (Tom)]

@EldenDarkwraith

So will Microsoft need to pay a cross play tax if more gamers play COD on Xbox ?!?

I would imagine that at the very least Microsoft insists that stupid fees like that get waived.

[Resist]

@profjjj

I thought the whole point of Game Pass was to give Microsoft $200 per year so you could play games worth $500 (or $1,000 or whatever). If it is saving you money then why does it matter what is happening on PlayStation?

Many on this forum care more about MS winning a console war than the value that gamepass is giving them.

[IdiotGuru (Justin)]

@Resist

Many on this forum care more about MS winning a console war than the value that gamepass is giving them.

We should pin this post.

[Thickchunkypoop (Poop)]

@profjjj

I thought the whole point of Game Pass was to give Microsoft $200 per year so you could play games worth $500 (or $1,000 or whatever). If it is saving you money then why does it matter what is happening on PlayStation?

Making games Multi-Platform is taking games away from xbox. The reality is system exclusives drive traffic. The more traffic the more willing devs are to not money hat games and bring them to xbox. It is common to hear games not coming to xbox because there isn’t enough of a user base. Making games Multi-Platform instead of exclusive hurts more then anything

[Resist]

@Thickchunkypoop

Making games Multi-Platform is taking games away from xbox. The reality is system exclusives drive traffic. The more traffic the more willing devs are to not money hat games and bring them to xbox. It is common to hear games not coming to xbox because there isn’t enough of a user base. Making games Multi-Platform instead of exclusive hurts more then anything

Xbox has plenty of exclusives. Starfield will definitely drive people to gamepass and xbox as will all the other projects we know about so far.

[pg2g]

@Thickchunkypoop

Making games Multi-Platform is taking games away from xbox. The reality is system exclusives drive traffic. The more traffic the more willing devs are to not money hat games and bring them to xbox. It is common to hear games not coming to xbox because there isn’t enough of a user base. Making games Multi-Platform instead of exclusive hurts more then anything

I don’t think keeping something multi platform that was already multi platform takes anything away. It doesn’t necessarily improve the situation though. At the worst case you are no worse off than you were 3 weeks ago.

I think people downplay the impact of Game Pass on the success of the console (while somehow continuing to complain about lack of AAA third party on it) and this is 100% a move that will help Game Pass.

[Resist]

speaking of AAAs, most come DO come to xbox. what’s missing for this gen is ff16, ff7re, forspoken, ghostwire (we know this is coming to xbox in a year), and deathloop (ditto).

most AAA games come to xbox.

[DeoGame]

@Resist

speaking of AAAs, most come DO come to xbox. what’s missing for this gen is ff16, ff7re, forspoken, ghostwire (we know this is coming to xbox in a year), and deathloop (ditto).

most AAA games come to xbox.

KOTOR Remake (although Sony is publishing that, granted in the same way MS published Tomb Raider/Dead Rising) and supposedly Bioshock as well.

But yeah, at least speaking in terms of the West, most of the AAAs and even the AAs/Indies make their way over, even if some are a bit later due to market share.

Japan is a different story. “Exclusively not on Xbox” is an unfortunately common occurrence from publishers barring the top AAA, and even they do it far more frequently than western publishers.

[Resist]

@DeoGame

KOTOR Remake (although Sony is publishing that, granted in the same way MS published Tomb Raider/Dead Rising) and supposedly Bioshock as well.

But yeah, at least speaking in terms of the West, most of the AAAs and even the AAs/Indies make their way over, even if some are a bit later due to market share.

Japan is a different story. “Exclusively not on Xbox” is an unfortunately common occurrence from publishers barring the top AAA, and even they do it far more frequently than western publishers.

In the grand scheme of an entire console generation that’s not really the multitude that many here claim.