Companies don’t throw around billions of dollars to spite each other. If Sony went for Sega it would be because they believe that M&A would accelerate their growth plans.
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not how this works.
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I absolutely say go after CD project red. They make monster rpgs.
The Witcher 3 had a 94 meta and sold 50 million copies.
Cyberpunk sold 20 million as of a year ago, and had a 87 meta. But I fully expect them to “redeem” themselves with phantom liberty, as it’s sort of a relaunch of the game, and think cyberpunk will still sell 30 million+ copies total.
I expect these guys to put out GOTY type AAA games and I think it’s a matter of time before they have a game sell 100 million copies. Cyberpunk was a fluke I think. They rushed release by 2 years.
Also think they have been expanding, and are on path to have two full rpg teams.
Edit- it’s also worth pointing out that most would be satisfied with a game selling 20+ million units, and having a 87 meta. CD where not satisfied, says a lot about their expectations.
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Uh? Thats not how spending billions of dollars in an acquisitions works.
Tencent reports its earnings in yuan, could be currency fluctuations?
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[PURCHASE POST ABK] 2024
Certain Affinity - $55 million
Asobo Studio - $70 million
IOI Interactive - $80 million
[PURCHASE POST C.A.I] 2025
Eidos Montreal - $??? million
Crystal Dynamics - $??? million
[PURCHASE POST E.C] 2025/2026
Remedy Entertainment - $1 billion
SEGA - $3.5 billion
Is how I see things playing out but getting CD project red would be shocking given how embedded they are in their country from a economical stand point. I’d be shocked if they got brought.
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That’s a really good point and it would be very hard to argue that it would change their current plans but the Game Pass factor could likely change future plans because profitability is viewed a bit differently.
If you contrast a possible Crazy Taxi 4 that features a limited scope and leaderboard-based gameplay that is playable for dozens if not hundreds of hours (much like Pac-Man or any other leaderboard-based arcade game) and contrast that with a GAAS Crazy Taxi game with season passes and so on…the first would be more warmly received and a reason for many to either get an Xbox, get Game Pass, or purchase on their PC. The second one, if it’s a hit, can potentially make a lot of money but wouldn’t be a reason for people to get Game Pass because it’s a free to play game. But it may entice people to get an Xbox or play it for free on their existing PCs.
When it comes to the GAAS game: If you’re Microsoft you don’t want to risk a free-to-play GAAS flop that won’t add to Game Pass subscriptions because it’s FTP. If you’re SEGA, you are going to give the FTP game a shot and hope it’s a wild success that can drastically change the fortunes of your company or at the very least pay for itself.
When it comes to the standalone game: If you are Microsoft you do want the diversification of your game library with a game that caters to nostalgic fans who have subsequently moved on to various consoles as a part of your games offering on GP. As such it doesn’t need to be a Triple A game. You have other games in your library that fill that role. If you are SEGA you need each and every title to financially justify itself. You need to be creating a standalone game that can be sold at a price point and volume that will not only pay for itself but demonstrate that it was worth taking this team off of other potential projects including safe homeruns with other IPs like Yakuza.
As a third party developer the goal is to create individual games that can make a lot of money in their own vacuum.
As a first party developer you care about your exclusive suite of games and each game serves a different purpose in enticing people to play on your platform or subscribe to your services.
There are definitely arguments for SEGA wanting to make a standalone game, and arguments for Xbox wanting a GAAS live service Crazy Taxi title. But I do think the arguments are stronger for the opposites.
My point being that there are some different considerations depending on whether you are third party or a first party developer. I do think there would be a difference if Microsoft owned SEGA and how it would alter plans for remakes.
Personally I find the idea of a Jet Set Radio or Crazy Taxi live service game to be disappointing. I’m more of a fan of CT, I’ve easily spent a couple hundred bucks playing it in the arcade and another $150 buying the Dreamcast games, and a live service game with season passes doesn’t interest me but I’d give it a shot. It’s just hard to picture a game that would get me to spend $40 on MTX whereas I would easily spend it if it was a standalone game. I’m not saying it can’t work, I’m just saying it will be a challenge and a risk that might pay off.
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No way are Certain Affinity, Asobo Studio, IOI Interactive that cheap. They all will cost over 100 million each.
My guess:
Certain Affinity - 100-150 million
Asobo Studio - 200-300 Million
IOI Interactive - 300-400 million
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Leyou bought a 20% stake of Certain Affinity for $10M so that means they’re valued at 50M
CD and Eidos sold for 300M with multiple IP attached so there’s no way IOI alone cost that much with no IP. They’re also based out of Denmark which probably drops the price when converted to dollars. I’d say 50-100M max.
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That was 2017 though
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Once ABK closes I hope we get a massive individual studios acquisition announcement, I would be fine with 10 new studios lol.
I’m happy for ABK, it’s been a long fight, and it seems to end in a positive way soon. This will be a big win for Xbox. After ABK, I hope like many here to see the acquisition of many partners. To name a few that could be interesting or even decisive: Certain Affinity, Asobo, Crystal Dynamics, Eidos, IOI, People Can Fly, Crytek, Remedy, Paradox, CDPR, Frontier, Thunderful, Int./Night, Stoic, Avalanche Studios, Don’t Nod… Then, I hope that Xbox will realize the dream of many here by acquiring SEGA, and why not complete the big acquisitions with Warner which will be a great opportunity to expand their universe across the small and big screen (and of course to obtain very good studios). It’s a big program for Xbox, I don’t know if it will happen, but the opportunities are many and the future of Xbox looks bright if they continue with this energy.
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Microsoft gaming has a number of directions that they can go in. If they are looking for the quickest way to scale their business through acquisition then I believe that a large mobile focused acquisition would be next. Machine Zone Inc would be my target if that was the case. They are a massive privately owned mobile company based in California. Theyd likely be a 6-10 billion dollar acquisition and give them another massive mobile publisher. They would be highly unlikely to face any regulatory issues with such an acquisition. Its not what I prefer personally because I dont really benefit from it other than Microsoft Gaming becoming even more resilient and well funded. However, it may make the most sense to Microsoft Gaming as a quick way to continue scaling.
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Microsoft likes to buy companies that that covers most of its needs for its Xbox business, and that’s why I believe Sega is next. It has a mobile component like Rovio, kid friendly iconic IP like Sonic, PC with creative assembly and relic, and Japanese IP’s for the “Otaku’s” lol, like Altus, Fantasy Star. Plus it’s in Asia, where mobile gaming makes most of its money. Korean devs are also an option, especially for MMO’s. For console, they probably don’t need a publisher for that, as they can buy studios like IOI, People Can Fly, Certain Affinity, Asobo, etc. for that, or they can do a Xbox publishing deal. Mobile devs are more likely for the next purchases also if they won’t go for Sega, so any big mobile devs that haven’t been bought yet is fair game. Of course if they do plan on Sega, they might need to lay low for a bit.
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Would love Xbox to add two companies that make really unique games that would be amazing on gamepass:
ThatGameCompany and Supergiant
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Supergiant was in the 12 finalist in the list of possible acquisitions right? That and IOI…
I suspect IOI is the next one 
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That was old, over 6 years ago. They worth way more now.
Square could have got way more for CD and Eidos.
Asobo is way bigger now. IOI is also bigger with 2 teams, one of them making a AAA James Bond game.
CA is also bigger. I stand by what i said about them all being over 100 million each.
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Selfishly, I prefer Supergiant to be next added as it would mean Hades 2 on gamepass 
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I’m not sure if you guys saw this post or not, but if it is true 60% of PlayStation games will be GaaS games, then Microsoft and Xbox can really make a go at getting PlayStation gamers to convert to Xbox gamers.
PlayStation fans are known for being big fans of single-player cinematic types of games, so getting those developers are a must and next they’ll become fans of Game Pass.
I think it is well known at this point, but getting Asobo, Eidos, Larian, Crystal Dynamics, CD Projekt Red, Crytek, Platinum and Sega will really change how people look at Xbox.
Now with Microsoft wanting a bigger stake in mobile gaming, then they have to go after Take Two because it gives Microsoft everything they need. You get Zynga for mobile, Rockstar for single player and multiplayer, Firaxis for strategy and 2k Games for sports.
Now that wouldn’t be a company I think they should purse right now, more so after ABK has been fully incorporated, then the individual developers were bought and then after a Japanese publisher is bought.
So time wise 2028 or 2030, then Microsoft can be on their way to 80 to 100 million Game Pass users.
Honestly after ABK I think Microsoft’s chances of getting one of the big 3: EA, Take-Two or Epic Games is essentially impossible.
I do agree with the single player angle though! Asobo, Crystal D, IOI, Remedy etc should all be high on their lists IMO, as you say it would really change the perception of Xbox.
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