Absolutely, one if the best parts of netflix the last few years has been their expansion into other regions - it has not only increased their customer base across the world but brought an expanded and more diverse range to their existing customers. It’s not even just a niche audience here either, with how accessible this content is to people this kind of content has been able to break through and hit the mainstream in a way foreign content often can’t. I would LOVE to see Microsoft replicate this kind of success.
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It’s kind of remarkable that Netflix has been able to maintain its position as one of the top services even with powerful competitors joining the playing field. While I believe Amazon Prime Video is now the number one video service in users, I think it got that way only because of its association and inclusion with Amazon Prime.
The staying power of Netflix in the market, even as IP powerhouses like Disney, Warner, Apple and others got involved, is because they made the smart decision to make more of their own content, while expanding globally to diversify and deepen their library.
I imagine Phil’s number one priority is to make meaningful changes to ABK to set it up for success. Based on comments coming out of the court proceedings, it seems that Microsoft Gaming is still on a path to prove itself as one of the primary pillars of Microsoft’s growth engine. I’m eager to see who he appoints to oversee that change and what kind of impact it has on console and subscription service growth.
Subsequently, I’m curious to see the effect of how a large amount of powerful IP (e.g., CoD, Diablo, Overwatch, WoW, etc.) joining the service drives user engagement with AA and indie content. Does it drive it up, or does it shut it out? If it drives up user engagement on AA and indie then I think more content creators worldwide will be willing to take even more risks/be innovative on the service, potentially attracting even more subscribers who want to check out new experiences virtually risk free. That could be a very powerful position in the market, given what we hear about indies feeling like Playstation isn’t the best place for AAs and indies to get discovered and thrive.
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I wonder if after ABK MS can justify to the regulators another publisher that does all their future titles exclusives like Zenimax or should they leave something multi (COD, GTA, Football Manager, Dragon Quest, Resident Evil, Assassins Creed) or should they do all multi like that email from Phil about SEGA.
Personally I’m all for leaning towards multiplatform with future acquisitions. Exclusives are important for drawing people to the platform, but Xbox can comfortably deliver more exclusives than their competitors AND still have room to gain the benefits of multiplatform games on top of that. Such as with Call of Duty - which will bring in truckloads of cash year after year for Xbox.
With the likes of Japan or other similar markets (which is where I see Xbox focusing next)- Xbox is barely a thing and I think it’s going to take a while for that to change. Buying up Japanese publishers and making historic Japanese franchises exclusive will draw in some customers, but it won’t draw them all in and it won’t win them any fans. But they can still acquire these publishers, allow them to retain their multiplatform status and still provide new content to game pass in the process. I suspect this is what they were thinking when they planned a multiplatform Sega under Xbox.
Plus, a more aggressive multiplatform strategy would probably make future acquisitions easier in general.
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Tencent is obviously one of their biggest competitors but has Microsoft ever listed Tencent as a competitor? This tweet doesn’t seem to reference any source.
Microsoft usually refer to Amazon, Google & Apple as their competitors. In relation to consoles they refer to Sony and Nintendo, I just don’t think I have ever seen them specifically state Tencent?
Yeah I’m with you on this, that tweet seems to confidently state that Microsoft wants to overtake tencent but i’ve never seen any quote to support that?
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I’d like to think with Sega you could get away with older IP coming back as exclusives. Like A Jet Set Radio, Panzer Dragoon, etc. Most would just be happy to see games like that return lol.
I do think they’d need to keep a lot of the major stuff multiplatform though, and obviously anything that is very Japanese leaning.
I salivate at the thought of a return to Panzer Dragoon.
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Wonder where that number is coming from, In 2021 my googling said it was $27 billion.
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Not by name AFAIK. But I know Phil and Satya have mention “Chinese companies” who are protected by their governments as a contrast to the FTC who was trying to stop the merger.
Yep I’m not sure, a few articles seem to quote the $32B number.
Either way Tencent still have a significant lead on Xbox (even after ABK).
If (big IF) MS wanted to overtake Tencent in terms of revenue (quickly) they would still need another big publisher which I can’t see happening. It would need to be someone else like EA, T2 or Epic!!! I think we are all tired of this ABK deal 
I think to be fair what I mostly don’t want to see is for Microsoft to buy up multiple more publishers and make them all exclusive - I think they can gain benefits through acquisitions without doing that.
Like I said though, I appreciate the benefit of exclusives - but I think there is room for them to have more exclusives than their competitors while still delivering multiplatform titles on top of that.
So maybe rather than a blanket statement of thinking future acquisitions should be multiplatform, it’d be better if I said I think it should be case by case. By all means - they should have a strong line up of first party exclusives, and titles like revived old IP like you suggest or new IP could prime opportunities as exclusives. But I’d personally like to see them take advantage of situations where there is a strong advantage to a multiplatform approach.
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Tbh Sega is already doing the IP revival thing without MS (poorly IMO, many of the projects like Soul Hackers 2 or HOTD Forever Entertainment remake are mediocre), and we already know that JSR…GAAS is coming. This was even said today
I guess what I’m saying is IDK how being owned by MS changes/enhances these plans, besides old game ports I guess, Quake Remastered shows those wouldn’t be exclusive though.
It would be nice to see MS almost transition the market to more multi platform games…
It may take a while for the others to see sense but ultimately it’s more profit and more brand/IP recognition.
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I see a lot of people calling for xbox to get sega and CD project red next to close up the wrpg market but I wouldnt be surpised if sony was also going after one or both of them and they could afford both imo. I would personally want CD project Red
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We’ll see how the games look, haha. Yeah I was aware of games like Crazy Taxi and JSR, but also that they will be GaaS lol
Perhaps more funding, better tech and more freedom to experiment. I think SONIC for example needs the ORI format for starters. Also, some of Sega’s old IPs are going to need solid investments. Shenmue 3 for example was never greenlit for cost reasons and when it came out it was a shoddy mess due in part to serious cuts. A project like that could have gotten a decent investment than the kick starter funding.
Sega, I get but I say leave CD project Red instead I’d say try for one more publisher in Korea and from there go back to studios like Crytek for the engine and if the chance opens next year go for WBD if need be, split the acquisition with comcast or whoever get the game rights and studios and leave the tv and movie rights to the other partner.
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Don’t think Sony gives a crap about Sega tbh
ya but xbox does which is why they would go after it