I consider ABK as a Microsoft purchase, not an Xbox purchase. I also consider that Sega is useful to Xbox. ABK was a very highly valued 70B$ with lots of yearly profit to acquire, Xbox or not.
Same can be said of SE. Microsoft could do a lot with the mobile division of SE which has been a pillar for SE for quite some time. We know Microsoft’s strategy is not just console Satya even talked a little about it during the court case. If Microsoft goes for SE, I can see why. I definitely though do think Sega would be the better but is Sega even interested.
Are we really going to go back to limiting options because they don’t fit some intangible, ever-changing criteria? SE has plenty of reasons to be avoided for acquisition, and “the relationship status” doesn’t come into play. Besides, Microsoft have already told us who they think is valuable, and SE wasn’t on the finalists last I checked.
That said, even though my targets from 2020 were almost 100% on the money, I never foresaw ABK and often wrote them off because of a lack of closer relationship and the HR issues… so as I’ve tried to remind people, I would be hesitant to say anyone is off the table.
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We all know which major publisher is getting acquired next…
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Anyone who is willing to be bought and can make money is a viable target.
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Would definitely like to see Iron Galaxy get locked down
They sadly missed out on DH before they started taking gaming seriously and they got completely wasted by Amazon
So now that KI is coming back would be nice to finally have them locked down so they’d finally have a dev long term for a fighting game but then again, maybe they will just do an Asobo and sign them to a 10 year deal but obviously a purchase would be ideal
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square enix has made some of my favorite games over the years. I’d be thrilled if they were acquired as then I’d get all there games with play anywhere support which is the real MVP of any acquisition.
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That’s all well and good, and something I largely feel the same about, but that doesn’t change that SE is a bit of a financial conundrum that I don’t see MS pursuing unless they managed to have an extremely low offer accepted 
Seems to be the same thinking as Xbox 
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That’s unfortunate, but Capcom would also be really great.
I love Street Fighter VI!
Microsoft’s last two publisher acquisitions have been distressed publishers (Bethesda as a result of its previous live service flops and Activision because of its serious scandals) so I think Square fits that category the reason why I’m more confident Microsoft won’t buy them is because of their failing mobile business unless their value continues to decrease
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I wouldn’t think ms cares about the financials of whoever they’re acquiring. I’d think they’d prefer someone is doing bad instead of good financially tbh. If there was a list of things they’re looking for I’d imagine financial stability would be the last one, could be wrong.
I just want them to buy Asobo after ABK
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They absolutely do care about the financials, no company becomes a trillion-dollar company by not caring about the financial outlook of any company being acquired…
Every M&A I’ve been part of very much cared about the financial situation of the acquired party.
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I mean, ms wants an audience which square 100% does bring, they want quality games which square does make, and a foot in mobile where se also helps them at. What I mean is, ms is probably not looking to make money selling ff games, they are looking to make money by bringing fans of whoever they’re acquiring over to game pass, and in turn make money. I’d argue if ms knows se is bringing them a lot of the things they’re looking for, the company doing bad financially could be an opportunity for a cheaper price. Also se doing bad right now is not due to lack of games, it’s due to them making crappy deals that handicap their games, them being bought solves most of that.
IICR SE doesn’t even own Dragon Quest and Disney owns Kingdom Hearts, that’s 2 popular ips Microsoft doesn’t get.
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Square would have to be very cheap or Microsoft very desperate for a Japanese publisher to choose Square.
Exactly, it’s essentially Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy mobile.
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Nothing would stop MS from keeping those series being developed in house and published on all platforms though.
Also, SE has a huge back catalog to develop games from. How about a new Mana game, or Chrono Trigger game, or Ogre Battle, etc. Lots of untapped potential imo and the remasters have shown their is demand for their old series to come back.
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The issue is when the IP is jointly owned they could refuse for it to be on game pass which Microsoft would want to avoid
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If they do I hope they also either pick up the Plague Tale IP from Focus Entertainment or acquire Focus Entertainment in its entirety.
I still want Xbox to have more action adventure games like that. In addition to Asobo I still want them to pick up Eidos and Crystal Dynamics from Embracer and IOI.
Maybe they could also pick up Ubisoft Toronto with the Splinter Cell IP.
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