Xbox Acquisition |OT6| If this is about competition, let us have competition

[Cayde4Ever (Cayde)]

@NierlyCrazy

Have Some Great Licensing Partnerships (Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, etc.)

So who owns Kingdom Hearts technically. Is it Disney or Square?

[CryOn]

@Cayde4Ever

So who owns Kingdom Hearts technically. Is it Disney or Square?

Disney

[Cayde4Ever (Cayde)]

@CryOn

Disney

So there second biggest IP they don’t even own? That’s something

[CryOn]

@Cayde4Ever

So there second biggest IP they don’t even own? That’s something

And their third biggest IP, Dragon Quest, is owned by Yuji Horii.

[pg2g]

@TheBrightestSun

I think in Square Enix nobody cares about anything aside FF. I do think that Microsoft has to do something with JRPG content. So far the platforms to go are Nintendo (for almost everything) and Sony (for FF)

I think Square Enix does a lot of smaller JRPGs that JRPG fans like. FF just gets the mainstream attention.

[NierlyCrazy]

@Cayde4Ever

So who owns Kingdom Hearts technically. Is it Disney or Square?

This is why when people tell me “NieR/Drakengard aren’t that big” and I look at the rest of Square’s IP I feel a bit confused…

It’s probably easily in their top 5 (maybe even 3) after the Western branch sale goes through.

[Resist]

for the hundredth time DISNEY owns KH

and OMEGA FORCE (Hori) owns DQ

[TheBrightestSun]

@Resist

for the hundredth time DISNEY owns KH

and OMEGA FORCE (Hori) owns DQ

Yeah, the main selling point of Square Enix is Final Fantasy IP and FF14.

That’s why I think that if Microsoft solves JRPG problem, Capcom is the best acquisition. Though I wonder what they will make exclusive there…For example if they acquire Sega, I don’t expect anything to become exclusive. Like Persona is becoming multiplatform now and suddenly will become exclusive? I don’t believe that. Though I don’t believe that Microsoft acquires Sega either.

That’s my main issue with all japanese publishers - Microsoft simply is not that big of a platform there so Microsoft will have to keep multiplatform games there.

[Madumbrella (Mad)]

@Cairnst

… I would note in the pro’s list that Square Enix actually has quite a high output of games once you factor in their remakes, remasters and smaller games - I mean they have 13 titles coming out this year alone even if a couple are duds like Babylon’s Fall. IF Microsoft were to acquire them that would mean pretty regular new game releases, as well as a large back catalogue of games (which thanks to their remake/remaster efforts includes a lot of their old titles updated for modern consoles). In addition, a decent amount of these titles just don’t currently come to Xbox, of those 13 titles due this year only 4 are currently scheduled for release on Xbox, so there’d be a lot of content to gain for the platform that simply wouldn’t be there otherwise.

But most of those games are made by studios that square doesnt own right?

[Cairnst (Bill Cairns)]

@Madumbrella

But most of those games are made by studios that square doesnt own right?

Is that a bad thing? They work with a wide number of third party developers alongside their internal teams - in a theoretical acquisition by Microsoft that means much stronger links throughout the Japanese gaming industry and the potential to continue working with these companies or further expand Square Enix with acquisitions.

[AllianceOfficer]

@pg2g

Koei better than Square Enix is crazy talk. How many pages long is the “Koe Game X is not coming to Xbox” thread?

Koei aligns better with what Xbox is doing (though the clear 2 to after are Capcom or Sega). Their business strategies would fit together much easier than Squares.

If you look at what Xbox has done, they are keeping management structures and business strategy mostly in place with these purchases. Then they make a few changes. With Square they’d be acquiring a company that is just completely on a different wavelength everywhere than Xbox.

They are just really incompatible an be I say that as someone that loves JRPG and the Final Fantasy franchise.

[eggplant]

@Resist

for the hundredth time DISNEY owns KH

and OMEGA FORCE (Hori) owns DQ

Omega Force are the Dynasty Warriors developers and they are owned by Koei Tecmo. Armor Project is Yuji Horii’s company.

[TheBrightestSun]

@AllianceOfficer

Koei aligns better with what Xbox is doing (though the clear 2 to after are Capcom or Sega). Their business strategies would fit together much easier than Squares.

In what way?

[Hue]

@TheBrightestSun

That’s my main issue with all japanese publishers - Microsoft simply is not that big of a platform there so Microsoft will have to keep multiplatform games there.

This is why Xbox really need a portable or cloud only handheld, not just for Japan but Asia as a whole where gaming is typically more geared towards mobile.

I appreciate a native portable wouldn’t necessarily be practical as it’s another thing to develop for but at the same time I’m not sure cloud is good enough (yet).

The only other (very unlikely) alternative I can think of is buy Valve and rebrand the services as Xbox GamePass and Steam GamePass then use the Steam Deck as the portable equivalent.

[TheBrightestSun]

@Hue

This is why Xbox really need a portable or cloud only handheld, not just for Japan but Asia as a whole where gaming is typically more geared towards mobile.

I appreciate a native portable wouldn’t necessarily be practical as it’s another thing to develop for but at the same time I’m not sure cloud is good enough (yet).

The only other (very unlikely) alternative I can think of is buy Valve and rebrand the services as Xbox GamePass and Steam GamePass then use the Steam Deck as the portable equivalent.

The main issue is shortages. While I do think that Microsoft might acquire Valve on a long enough timeline, for now the main issue is shortages to build Xbox momentum. Cloud kinda resolves that issue though. Considering that Switch started to toy with cloud versions of the games, I think purely cloud tablet that is easy to produce can do that.

Would be neat if they got all types of devices - consoles, TV apps, PC, handheld, mobile

[Hue]

@TheBrightestSun

Would be neat if they got all types of devices - consoles, TV apps, PC, handheld, mobile

It would be very neat indeed.

I do look forward to seeing what it will be like in the future, I personally think they will solve 4K 60 streaming with low latency soon enough. Hell they are starting to roll out 900MB internet near us and we live in the middle of nowhere .

It makes me wonder if they could eventually acquire some of the Google Stadia business once they close that project down entirely. They were already doing 4K resolution and the latency was better than Xbox IMO.

[TheBrightestSun]

@Hue

I personally think they will solve 4K 60 streaming with low latency soon enough

I would rather think that they will add some local post processing features that would improve the picture locally.

@Hue

Hell they are starting to roll out 900MB internet near us and we live in the middle of nowhere .

Internet infrastructure will become better for sure. I am always surprised how people speak as if they still have 64k internet.

@Hue

It makes me wonder if they could eventually acquire some of the Google Stadia business once they close that project down entirely. They were already doing 4K resolution and the latency was better than Xbox IMO.

Aside not running on Xbox, Stadia tech won’t go to Microsoft. That’s 100%.

[Knottian (Daniel)]

Acquisitions be thy name.

[BRiT]

@Knottian

Acquisitions be thy name.

Yes. Xbox will have them all.

[LeeLayfield (Lee)]

Ultimately I believe it’s a game of chicken and it’s a matter of which pub/dev cracks first. As much as I’d like their to be a strategy you’ve got to get what you can rather than wait on something that may never come.

So if you take your favourites and any sort of strategy (JRPGs/Kids games etc) out the window who do you think cracks first?

Things that could make a pub/dev crack,

• financial situation
• loss of lead/top staff
• no roadmap/direction
• fear of being left behind after all the other are acquired.