https://x.com/crystaldynamics/status/1704583569002348962?s=46&t=x67OgPnK2PNMkoMLA_j70A
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Now I really hope the Activision deal is completed soon, don’t want Crystal Dynamics closing down and I also don’t want more layoffs. I feel bad for those involved in this
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Maybe I’m misremembering things, but I could have sworn the CEO of Comcast saying that they want to get into the video game market and so that was part of the reason he wanted to merge with Warner Bros, before Discovery got them instead.
So if that is the case, I think that Comcast would want the whole company, not parts.
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I know it would be a scary time for the employees with the uncertainty surrounding a studio closure. However, from Microsoft’s perspective, why not wait for the studio to close, and get the talent for free? Crystal Dynamics is already working with The Initiative, hire the talent then merge the two teams.
The problem with that you don’t get the Tomb Raider IP and that would be a good series to own.
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You’re correct that at that time, the acquisition under discussion was not the whole company, but was the videogame division.
You can see this alluded to in the emails that leaked, because Spencer mentions that the lack of IP ownership was one of the big obstacles in the way there. If they were buying the whole company, then most of the IPs would be owned barring a few licenced ones. So working backwards, that’s confirmation that they were only taking about the gaming part.
At that stage, the whole of WB was believed to be valued over 100 bln, so it also would have been a bigger acquisition than Nintendo or ABK would have been, and he’s not talking about it like it was a ‘big big’ acqui, so that’s double confirmation they’re only talking about the gaming division.
Since that time, the current leadership at WB no longer believes offloading the gaming div is in in their best interest. Or at least, they didn’t as of last year. After the huge success of Hogwarts, I think they’re “safe” from being sold for a while.
I remember that story also, I also remember Comcast at least being in talks to acquire EA so they are definitely looking to get in the gaming business.
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The CFO of the company said to investors last week that gaming is going to play a key role in the growth of the company and that they are going to invest even more into it.
I think they might acquire a studio for themselves.
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They already said they r playing long game with Nintendo lol
Hence why Phil himself said you have to play the long game, They are making a killing now, but things won’t always be great for them. Once all the people that grew up with Nintendo either start losing interest or aging out and mobile phones take over even more, Nintendo’s console base will shrink. I agree with Phil’s assessment. Nintendo’s future is not on their own hardware, that doesn’t mean it’s on Xbox, but just like Playstation is slowly starting to do, Nintendo will have to start putting their games on PC and other platforms to keep the money coming in. By the time that time comes, Nintendo will be so behind they will need a business partner to help modernize them and catch them up with the times. I believe that would be Microsoft.
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It is a interesting prospect, I just wonder how long it may take for this to happen.
I think I would be more surprised if in 20 years cloud isn’t the ‘norm’. Consuming games will be just as easy as Netflix/Spotify. We will just need a screen and a internet connection.
Nintendo will likely need Azure/AWS to make that transition, so I don’t think it’s too far outside the realm of reality.
https://x.com/stephentotilo/status/1704839239974727926?s=46&t=x67OgPnK2PNMkoMLA_j70A
https://x.com/stephentotilo/status/1704870220429434927?s=46&t=x67OgPnK2PNMkoMLA_j70A
The best scenario would be that ABK is validated before the end of the month and that Microsoft begins negotiations to acquire Gearbox, Crystal Dynamics, and Eidos (and perhaps other studios that Embracer would like to sell). Unfortunately, things may turn out differently, and it would be really sad for Microsoft to miss this opportunity.
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Well I am sure most people will disagree with my opinion or even call it hate but nintendo isnt like xbox or playstation, the idea of having them under microsoft is just atrocious for the industry, like seriously I dont even trust them with xbox, there is a reason why they decided to grow years ago starting with making a park and now making movies of their ips, do you really think that a franchise like mario is going to lost interest before god of war or halo? I really dont understand this take of nintendo going away from making new hardware when the switch is one of their most popular consoles ever, neither the idea of everything being on the cloud or using drm, thats one of the reasons why I dont like the idea of cdpr joining because I am sure microsoft will destroy gog just because the anti drm policy
They could make a partnership but not an acquisition
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I don’t ever see them being acquired either, but Consoles won’t be around forever. We already have smartphones nearing or at Switch power levels and with the Steamdeck, Rog Ally, and now Legion go, PC’s are going to start eating up mobile marketshare as well. Consoles won’t be around forever, whether it’s Cloud, PC, Native Android, or IOS platforms at some point Consoles will go away. When that time comes Nintendo especially will be in trouble. They have virtually no Online infrastructure and no PC presence at all. Sony will be the next hit hardest by the console going the way of the dodo, but they are making strides to prepare for it with Nixxes and pumping out PC versions faster these days. I think Phil can see where things are headed and wants to make sure Xbox is fully prepared to be without the Xbox one day.
Nintendo is going to need some major help when that time comes and they can either lose market value until Tencent, Google, or Amazon pick them up for cheap or partner with someone to catch up. If I were in charge of XBox and that partnership ever came up I would make it a non negotiable that all of Nintendo’s games become available on Gamepass. If I were Phil now I would break down this exclusive wall today by announcing that Xbox is fully prepared to release their games on any platform that wants them as long as said platform agrees to release their games in return.
I can imagine a glorious world where every game is released on anything capable of playing games and you can choose your preference of hardware and price point to play with phones, PC’s Handhelds, consoles as long as they last, and whatever else is available.
But enough, with the Nintendo talk I know mods are probably going to start cracking down on non Acquistion discussions soon, so I am on the WBD, Square, Sega, Platinum, Certain Affinity, Asobo, People can fly, Crystal Dynamics /Eidos, and IO interactive hunt…
Power has never been a problem for nintendo, there is a reason why the wii and switch sold a lot, they were an innovative idea to attract the casual audience, smartphones are stronger now but that doesnt mean everybody is going to go for them before a console, they are different markets and most people will prefer to not waste their battery or use touch controls, even phil said that xcloud is just another option, not a replacement, even the 360 had a better online infrastructure than the switch and it sold well, nintendo doesnt need to be like playstation or xbox to survive
Nintendo has been growing through partnerships to become an entertaiment company beyond videogames, is clear they dont want to be owned by other company, they have always been overprotective with their ips because without them there will be no reason to buy their hardware at all so making that deal with xbox or anybody else would just kill their consoles, thats why the nvdia shield got games from the wii instead of new ones, but I will just leave it like that
I just hope that some of you guys realize that microsoft isnt our friend, they could easily get rid of the xbox division in a future so thinking that nintendo should depend on them is just bad
People are going crazy over this Nintendo thing. Microsoft was already interested in Nintendo when they launched Xbox. It’s no surprise, Nintendo is THE giant of the industry. Everyone would dream of acquiring Nintendo to expand into the industry. But it’s just a dream and Phil Spencer knows it very well. No matter the scenario, there’s no chance regulators will let Microsoft acquire Nintendo.
Personally, I have more questions about Xbox’s ambitions by 2030. Microsoft wants to double revenues and reach 100 million GP subscribers. It seems complicated to me in an industry that is totally biased and subject to Playstation. Microsoft will have to continue to invest massively in the industry to have any chance of achieving this. Like I said, SEGA + Warner Discovery would probably be the best realistic scenario regarding publisher acquisitions.
Weakening Playstation by acquiring a publisher like Capcom could also be interesting given that the Playstation community is very attached to these games. Very unlikely that this will happen given Capcom’s success, but it would definitely be worth dropping a huge bag of cash to get them.
Either way, I hope Microsoft is still committed to being “all in on Xbox” after ABK because the fight has only just begun. Let’s hope for glorious days ahead for Xbox.
They are not gonna buy Nintendo, because they are not selling and they are marked as an essential company the Japanese FTC so why we still talking about this. Non of the companies are our friends, they do what’s best for their shareholders so if they sell, it’s because the boardroom wants them to. Nintendo is in a good spot right now, but it won’t always be the case, especially for future generations who didn’t grow up with Nintendo IP’s. A massive shift can happen in the gaming world in just a few years. At least they are protected by the Japanese government.
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