Maybe rather than acquisitions that would set off the FTC and CMA, MS could just become the publisher for the games they want. So for example “IP rights holder Sega” enters into an agreement with MS to license all of their IP. MS publishes everything and Sega gets a IP holder royalty from every game sale.
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dont think it will happen and tbh FTC and CMA doesnt really have the proper cases to backup their claims microsoft will continue to acquire now those two can get mad all the time but that doesnt change the situation if they dont have anything to backup their claims
I don’t think Microsoft would want crystal dynamics now that embraced sold the tomb raider ip off to Amazon.
Curious if talks are now ongoing for studios with the activison deal close to possibly wrapping up
Amazon is leasing the Tomb Raider IP from Embracer for 600M. Embracer still owns the IP
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embracer didnt sell it tho
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Jez had previously said that Microsoft had discussions with Take Two and Capcom. Today, the most obvious acquisitions based on good relationships would be SEGA and Paradox (perhaps CDPR if considered a publisher).
Most games from Square Enix and Koei Tecmo are not released on Xbox. Microsoft might want to solve this problem by acquiring these companies, but I don’t think that’s the ideal solution. Microsoft acquired companies they had good relationships with, I think they will continue to do so. So in this specific case (acquiring a company to prevent Sony’s pressure to block content), I think Capcom and Warner are more logical acquisitions because they have a good relationship with Xbox (and generate enough profit), but Sony signs aggressive marketing deals with them to keep them away from Xbox.
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Capcom and sega games were both on the showcase. I think both are logical acquisitions and my guess is that they will acquire them to solve their japanese problem that they always say about “out of sight out of mind”. Otherwise my guess is that if they still have an appetite for big acquisitions Warner bros is probably the next likely one next since they are clearly struggling with all their selling of assets, shutdowns, and underperforming movies (really only their games are what keeping them afloat).
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I wonder if I’m a few years from now Xbox/Sony and some of the bigger publishers (EA/TakeTwo/Bamco etc) own most of the industry.
By that I mean things like capcom, Sega, square, Ubisoft etc all being brought by one of those above.
I do t fully remember but in the Nintendo V Sega days wasn’t most games only on one platform.
Either way, Xbox, Sony and however else get your wallets out.
Hopefully not regarding the consolidation, but I feel like if people get more and more used to subscription services game sales will tank and companies that don’t have a subscription will need to align with one that does. We’ll see though.
And yeah, Sega had pretty bad (or no) support from Konami, Capcom, Square, Enix, etc back in the day. They basically had to create their own games to fill those gaps.
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I think Capcom would be harder than SEGA. Capcom is doing amazingly well nowadays and I dunno why, I feel like they wouldnt want to sell. SEGA, on the other hand, I totally see it, the history together dates back to the og Xbox.
Sega will be the next big one to watch, I’m sure of it. Although I suspect that will involve another battle with the CMA.
I’m more intrigued to see what smaller studios they bring in. Crystal, Eidos, Asobo, and all those that are quite close with Microsoft in some aspect in the past hopefully.
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Think they should grab those smaller studios now(Asobo, Crystal, Eidos etc). Let the trade deal with the United States & UK play out that will defang the CMA and hopefully Khan will be gone once her term expires then comes Sega or Capcom 2024. After that Microsoft Corporation then should target all of Warner-Discovery (since we know Xbox is a separate subsidiary inside of Microsoft) and by default Xbox would obtain WB Games & Midways back catalog.
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Honestly as much as I love SEGA, I would much prefer they start building up a few studios like: Asobo, Crystal Dynamics, Eidos, IOI and possibly a few Ubisoft studios/IPs’s (Splinter Cell?).
I feel it’s these type of games which Xbox need for their first party portfolio (i.e. Sony style games). No I don’t want Xbox to copy PS, but they are already FPS & RPG heavy, therefore I feel sprinkling a few more of these games as first party exclusives will change the perception of Xbox.
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I remember reading that Bobby Kotick wanted ABK to go after WBD too!
As much as we don’t have to like him, he didn’t get to where he is without smarts. It is a brilliant play, even more so now they are (potentially) under MS.
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Ah sorry I heard it was sold not leased
But either way depending how long that lease is and the terms it could make getting crystal dynamic a pointless venture as part of the studio is working with amazon on a tomb raider game.
I don’t think that would work for Xbox or hell really any publisher but embracer who is bleeding cash
Thanks to the ABK deal mass consolidation gets talked about a lot but I think it’s very unlikely in the current environment. Firstly interest rate are at some of their highest levels world wide and most of the companies already in the gaming industry(barring big tech) don’t have the cash on hand to fund major purchases. Second there a huge amount of games studios out there and new ones being formed all the time, even with the studios Microsoft have bought, senior game Devs have left to go form their own studios. It’s a very fluid industry
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Yup, Paradox and Microsoft have had a great working relationship for years, Heck, I even want to say the most recent Paradox event was hosted/sponsored by Xbox.
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We saw the growth of PC revenue. Paradox continues that and builds on it.
Look at games like CK3, Stellaris, HOI4, these are turning into games as a ‘service’ CK2 ran with dlc/content packs for 7 years, CK3 just released the fantastic tours and tournaments, and Stellaris chugging right along with perhaps one of its best dlc packs that they have recently released in Galatic Paragons.
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I am still waiting for paradox games to support play anywhere… I’m starting to think it will only happen if they get bought
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Kotick’s argument makes even more sense with Xbox. Warner would have access to the huge Xbox catalog (Halo, TES, Fallout, Starfield, Fable, Warcraft, Minecraft, Starcraft, Diablo…) to develop films and series, and Xbox would have access to the very good Warner and DC catalog to develop games. The synergy would be great, but acquiring Warner would likely be a long fight.
Yes, Paradox has worked on Shadowrun and BattleTech (Microsoft IP), and is currently developing The Lamplighters League exclusively for Xbox. The Paradox games economy system would work great with GP and it would be awesome to see Obsidian on the World of Darkness IP. I think Paradox would be a great acquisition.
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