Since SEGA could operate independently they can make those purchases themselves, as well. A shifting direction can be a boon in attracting talent.
The other thing is that a lot of that talent made arcade games and if they decide to getting back into making arcade games (IE games that needn’t justify a $60 to $70 purchase, but can appear on Game Pass as appropriately scoped fun titles) you can conceivably have one team make a game a year to 18 months.
Here’s another look at the largest Japanese publishers. It looks like the Rovio acquisition might push SEGA above Koei Tecmo? Considering Konami barely publishes games anymore that would place SEGA in the top 3 of Japanese developers outside of Sony/Nintendo.
Damn, Capcom shot up lol
Isn’t a privately held “smaller” company more likely to have an ESOP especially with higher ranking employees?
I think Gearbox, Eidos and Crystal would already be a great acquisition. It would allow Embracer to get a nice amount of money without having to sell a big chunk of their studios. Microsoft would get over 2000 developers and an interesting IP. It would be a win for Xbox. There is a great opportunity to seize with Embracer. If it extends to more studios it’s even better, but these 3 are already very good.
Not necessarily but if its a privately held company your probably talking about ISO’s. So there is normally a vesting schedule and limits to how much you can buy based on how long you have been with the company and you need a certain amount of time with the company to even quality to buy.
Selling is also not as cut and dry either there is a process and limits and schedules. Plus if its bought another company payments for stock held is normally paid out on a schedule which can be years after an acquisition.
Its also most likely the people who would see the most benefit are the owners when a private company is acquired. Its a lot more unlikely that lets say a level designer would hold enough stock that they would be able to just retire the rest of their life on.
Thats obviously not absolute and i have no idea what if any stock options larian offers. Looking at the glassdoor page for larian the reports there say they offer the bare minimum and most of the other reviews were people saying benefits were “laughable” that’s obviously a small sample size. However, based on the information available its probably not a stretch to say they aren’t offering robust stock options to the vast majority of employees. Where a mass exodus would occur if they were acquired
It’s not even about having enough to retire on. It’s if they have enough to get a group of colleagues together to have a go of it on their own. Either way it’s probably not much of a factor. MS has gone through this a number of times already for both smaller devs and larger and it hasn’t seemed to have too much of an impact.
Microsoft can’t acquire everyone and some of these studios are cheap enough for Sony or competitors to pitch in. I think Xbox has enough western rpg studios and would be better of partnering with Larian. I think it’s better for them to keep with the publishers and let the publishers acquire studios based on their vision. The news of SE makes them the kind of target Microsoft goes for. Sega right now would be the best get in Japan in my opinion, but they are not struggling. I would say get Sega if they can and Phantagram/Blueside in South Korea.
I do not think that buying a studio that is late releasing the Xbox version of BG3 is a good idea, it can only lead to a loss of talents. Only buy studios that you have strong connections and feel part of the family.
With the Surprise announcement of Iron Galaxy returning to update Killer Instinct, I can’t help but think Microsoft is in the process or have already locked them down. Their efforts outside of working with Xbox were busts and Xbox does need a team focused on KI/fighting games. They could probably snag IG under the 110 Mill regulator cap. Double Helix would have probably been the more Ideal choice out of the two who worked on the game, but I think Iron Galaxy would be a fine get as a Killer Instinct studio.
Agreed but I do think Iron galaxy has grown having gained experience from their work after KI. They will be in a much better place than before to grow the franchise.
Perhaps Zenimax can acquire 4A games and Astronaut while ABK can go for Crytek, XGS can go for Crystal D and Eidos.
Someone told me they where close to buy square until bethesda came, I am not sure if its true, when it comes to square enix I think they would be a good strategy to enter japan although I am not sure if xbox wants to continue making deals for dragon quest and kingdom hearts because square isnt their owner, in my opinion I see sega or ubisoft being the next ones but who knows
Did amazon has do anything with double helix since the acquisition? At this point it seems like they just shutdown the studio, Iron galaxy would be a good acquisition for the future of killer instinct
After seeing Square Enix’s mobile division tank I thankfully don’t see Microsoft acquiring them anymore unless their value continues to tank and Microsoft gets them for cheap but I still see Sega as their next target especially after their acquisition of Rovio
Hopefully 
Sega or Capcom would be far more interesting buys (especially Sega).
I doubt Capcom is looking to sell. They are going from strength to strength over the last several years.
Sega is still my preference due to the history between it and Xbox plus the sheer diversity of IP and platform coverage. Sega also seems to be getting better over time, even winning publisher of the year recently, suggesting it has a strong leadership team overseeing the care of growing skilled creative teams. The idea of Sega with Microsoft money is exciting.
I’m afraid SE fits the mold of dev/pub in financial hard times that Spencer and team seem to gravitate towards. Maybe the new CEO will turn things around and stabilize it for growth, but it’s risky. Plus SE has always had a strained relationship with Xbox.
Do you know if ubisoft mobile division have been a disaster to? I see them launching new titles constantly but I dont know if they get success at all
Low stock prices means more affordable while high ones mean they are very strong company. However, looking at MS financials, I doubt they are picky about the stock prices and are more interested in who is willing to sell.
SE has no good long time relationship with Xbox (unless being paid for), they are not likely to be bought. Sony bought a premium to keep Bungie personal at home, MS would have to do the same, without any good prospective for the future.
Sega is still my primary “analyst” choice, they check all the required bullets, but I am no analyst 
What relationship does ABK have with Xbox other than the 360 and then it was just Activision. It’s business at the end of the day though I do agree Sega is the better prospect but at some time Microsoft was considering SE and like the other guy said they do like going for companies in distress and SE is one in serious distress. I would hope they simply rekindle their relationship with Square and go for Sega, but Sega might not be interested as they are clearly doing well.