Look at all that money Microsoft has under their mattress. You mean to tell me that those $1 Game Pass deals aren’t going to make Microsoft fold?
Seriously though, Tik Tok is not pulling from the Xbox budget. Unless Microsoft operates differently from other corporations, each of their divisions is given budgets and their own goals. No 1st party investment by the Xbox division should be impacted. I’m still not convinced it’s WB though. I think the IP stuff is going to be hard to navigate on both sides. Microsoft can outbid everyone but then do they cancel all those Playstation versions that have been in development and waste that money? EA wouldn’t. Do they agree to sign long term licensing deals for WB properties for which they don’t own or have full creative control over? EA is more malleable there. Microsoft has a lot more money but EA may be the better fit from a business standpoint (not saying it’s best from a gamer perspective).
As a hypothetical, for less money Microsoft could land Bungie, IOI, Asobo and People Can Fly. Those studios would retain complete creative control over whichever IPs they choose to work on. Microsoft would be able to monetize the IP mindshare boost beyond gaming.
They would stop these 1 USD deals very soon. It was to get people interested in Game Pass. Soon you have to pay full price like Gold.
Tik Tok has nothing to do with Xbox. Phil said Minecraft was beyond their budget and Github was definitely beyond the budget of Team Foundation. But Microsoft may try to negotiate a deal only for NetherRealm, since they need a KI studio more than other WB studios.
IOI is not happening. Rather than Bungie, I would rather have Microsoft remove 100 key staff from 343i(you dont need them if you are only going to update Halo Infinite) for a new studio and make a Destiny like game but as a full fledged MMO. Asobo would be great, but we are not sure if it would ever happen. Wasnt Farm 51 supposed to be the Polish studio ?
What if Microsoft gets NetherRealm and Mortal Kombat IP, while EA gets the rest just like Kodak’s digital camera patents were bought by multiple tech giants ? https://www.wired.com/2012/12/kodak-patents/
Thing about WB, we don’t even know if ATT is going to think it’s worth it after all these negotiations. It wouldn’t be the first time a corporation has tested the waters on something and backed out of a potential sale. ATT is looking for a very specific type of deal. One that will gain them a lot of cash up front and then still afford them the opportunity to have a strong revenue stream from the licenses. WB is profitable. ATT is doing this to reduce immediate debt. If they don’t get a large enough bag, it won’t be worth giving up a valuable, producing asset. If they cannot guarantee that all these licenses will return them additional residual income over the next 5 to 10 years, that may also be a reason not to do the deal.
I’m only saying this to prep people why this has a lot of obstacles to happening. If the deal doesn’t work out on both sides, it’s not because Microsoft isn’t serious about gaming, got outbid or messed up. They don’t want to get hamstrung and these things are tricky. It’s a lot more difficult to make a large strategic purchase fit than a bunch of smaller ones.
Awesome to have this place! Thanks for putting it all together!
I tried to get back in Grounded yesterday and the notification that says this is an early access game stays on the screen and I can’t get into any of the menus. Should I just reinstall? On One X btw
What you think about upcoming Xbox Store update? I’m only one person who thinks MS needs to do this with all Xbox Dashboard? Also Game Pass new app and Family Settings looks very clean and stylish
