I agree unless they can somehow offload most of the extra non-IP management stuff to someone else.
I don’t see Microsoft going all in on releasing DC/Vertigo comics, nor releasing movies anytime soon.
I went with 4-6 months, as a middle option, as I expect we will get new acquisition at least once every year for the next few years.
If the answer is when MS would want to get their next buy tied up – obviously before/during Novemeber. Just like they dropped the news of the Zenimax intention to purchase just before pre-orders opened, they’d want to generate similar hype before Christmas shopping gets into full swing.
But wanting something doesn’t mean delivering it.
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If I am not mistaken WB and DC are self managed Microsoft could just purchase them and let the comics/movie side run themselves like they do with their game studios. I and most people here would agree with me, believe that owning and controlling IP like Batman and I believe even the film and game rights to Harry Potter would bolster Gamepass tremendously. Let WB/DC/HBO continue operating automously, just have Microsoft have the rights to place all of their games on Gamepass for Xbox and PC and rake in the money from everything else with minimal effort. I could be wrong on a few things, but there is no reason Microsoft has to start managing films and comics unless the absolutely want to WB/DC/HBO are more than capable of standing on their own again.
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Microsoft acquiring WB as a whole is obviously really out there, but it’s not the craziest idea in the world.
Amazon bought MGM and is branching out into games, movies, etc. Apple has also been doing the same.
If Microaift wanted to enter the streaming market for movies and shows that’s a killer way to do it. Plus instead of farming out producing Halo series, etc that could be all in house. Maybe getting shows and movies based on things like Psychonauts, Gears, Viva Pinata would be easier.
Again I don’t think it is happening but in some ways it does make sense
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The thing about Amazon buying MGM is that they already have an established streaming service userbase for it and Microsoft doesn’t. Amazon has had experience producing TV shows and stuff while Microsoft does not.
Microsoft wants xbox to be the center of gaming world and you guys want to bring in movies, comics and streaming services to the fold?
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I think we’re also forgetting we’re in the middle of a pandemic where the biggest ways to make money off of movies are theaters…. At least in my area things are starting to get worse again.
I don’t think Microsoft is really that willing to take that large of a risk. I could see maybe a split deal where someone else buys up the movie and comic printing operations, but Microsoft owns the IP and has an exclusivity deal with the partner of some form.
Hopefully that also answers you guys too @tbass @JDBsw67
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I don’t think any of us care whether or not Microsoft gets the film and comics side of WB, The thing we want is for them to get the game studios and own the licenses. Most likely the only way for them to own the licenses is to purchase the whole division, which comes with several movie studios, a streaming service, comic book, and ect. Like @tbassett said it is a long shot and a far out of the comfort zone move, but not entirely impossible, and not a completely stupid move. The Comic book, film studios, and HBO streaming service are already setup and running and can manage themselve, this would just give XBox ownership of the IP for games. So Batman, MK, and maybe even Harry Potter games could be exclusive, or at the very least Gamepass Day 1 games that never leave the service. The plus I see for this is they now have movie studios and distribution to use for their current IP like Halo and Gears for movies and or shows on the HBO streaming service, or Halo graphic novel/comic books if they want to go that route. They don’t have to put any effort towards the non gaming things and they could even spin them off or sell to someone else, or let them manage themselves, but even if they did want to Microsoft is a huge company, it wouldn’t hurt their focus on gaming at all.
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HBOmax is pretty cool. But let’s say in the future bundling gaming and TV shows is a thing. Couldn’t MS just form partnerships with Disneyplus, Netflix, HBomax in the future? Why spend all that money on WB to get that done?
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I think the bigger point is Microsoft is building a library of digital subscriptions. Video is a huge part of digital subscriptions. Building one from the ground up is hard. Apple is doing OK but it took amazon a long time to really get going. HBO max would give Microsoft a ready made popular sub service. It fits the philosophy of what Microsoft is going for. The comics and movie side can be self managed or licensed.
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I don’t think the goal is necessarily movies or streaming service. The goal is to own the IP and studios for Gaming. It is like one of those buy the farm to own the horse metaphors. Microsoft could partner with anyone for movies and tv shows, but that doesn’t get them ownership of the IP’s. They may could work out a deal to outright buy just the IP’s, but considering those are what are most valuable WB may not want to sell them, so the next step is to buy the entirety of WB. Again, not saying it will happen although I think they do need MK, Batman, and HP as exclusive Gamepass games, plus more studios to work on more games in general.
Friendly reminder that WB did sign a longer exclusivity deal with theaters for next year. Not sure the digital service streaming being the main revenue service is working out too well for new blockbuster releases.
I just don’t see Microsoft making such a large purchase on something that might not pan out well. Especially with all the controversy around some of its most important licenses and some of the people working/have worked under them too.
A split deal, it anything, would make more sense for what MS’s current strategy is. Maybe they can take HBO Max too, but in house development of movies/shows seems like a major pivot.
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I’d believe that Microsoft would lease some of their IPs to Warner to multimedia projects while XGS gets a long term license of DC-WB properties for exclusive games.
You need to understand that the whole AT&T + Discovery merge was to sell Warner Media as a whole ( including HBO, and the IP that makes HBO valuable (i.e. WB) ). It is extremely unlikely that the merged company will then decide to sell themselves again to Microsoft.
I would not be surprised if Warner Media+Discovery starts selling some studios from WB Games after finalizing the merge process (the transaction is still ongoing… same as Bethesda acq that took several months to finish). But nothing will happen until the administrative process finishes.
Yeah but you dont need to buy all of WB for that as all the previous acquisitions prove.
No doubt they could get most of the studios if not all without much trouble. Unless they throw down a ton of money though, they will not get ownership of the IP. The IP are the most vaulable asset in that entire merger. At best they could lease the IP to make multiplat games with Gamepass inclusion for a few months.
If they want to own the IP outright and have full control over the games including exclusivity to gamepass and supporting platforms, the most likely scenario is to buy the parent company out completely. If WB Discovery is willing to sell the IP outright the cost to purchase would almost guaranteed be near what it would cost to purchase WB Discoevery as a whole.
They may could get lucky and sign a 3 game deal for Batman to own Rocksteady studios and be able to make 3 Batman games for Xbox and Gamepass, then be able to renew that deal, but even that is very unlikely as WB Discovery will most likely want their IP in as many places as possible with full control over the direction of the game.
Still no follow up from ACG huh? That’s like the third time he does something like this.
I don’t think we should give him attention, about that topic in the future.
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Klobrille, Jez, and Grubb.
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I just asked ACG on his stream. He said he will be discussing it. That’s it. 
where is my 7 studios Acquisition…?
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they don’t know anything
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