Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2022 1:35 pm
GRcade
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Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B. Officially confirmed. Bobby Kotick leaving MS on 29th Dec.
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Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2022 1:39 pm
One thing I think we can all agree on, is my choice plastic game box is better than ypur choice of plastic game box.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2022 1:39 pm
Obviously we're not talking today, we're talking about the future. It doesn't take a genius to work out they're going to make more acquisitions.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 6:02 pm
First, some commentators have asked whether we will continue to make popular content like Activision’s Call of Duty available on competing platforms like Sony’s PlayStation. The obvious concern is that Microsoft could make this title available exclusively on the Xbox console, undermining opportunities for Sony PlayStation users.
To be clear, Microsoft will continue to make Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles available on PlayStation through the term of any existing agreement with Activision. And we have committed to Sony that we will also make them available on PlayStation beyond the existing agreement and into the future so that Sony fans can continue to enjoy the games they love. We are also interested in taking similar steps to support Nintendo’s successful platform. We believe this is the right thing for the industry, for gamers and for our business.
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issu ... -blizzard/
Still a bit vague but moves the needle towards COD 2024 not being exclusive.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 6:07 pm
Victor Mildew wrote:One thing I think we can all agree on, is my choice plastic game box is better than ypur choice of plastic game box.
No screw you and your plastic box my plastic box is best
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 6:50 pm
Microsoft wrote:To be clear, Microsoft will continue to make Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles available on PlayStation through the term of any existing agreement with Activision. And we have committed to Sony that we will also make them available on PlayStation beyond the existing agreement and into the future so that Sony fans can continue to enjoy the games they love.
(And we are) also interested in taking similar steps to support Nintendo's successful platform. We believe this is the right thing for the industry, for gamers and for our business.
Source: Microsoft
It looks like Activision Blizzard games will continue to appear on PlayStation and (occasionally!) Nintendo formats. Great stuff!
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:24 pm
That is nice to have confirmed in black and white, unambiguous language. But I wonder how the “You don’t spend $7.5bn on Bethesda to not make their games exclusive” crowd will react to this news.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:28 pm
kerr9000 wrote:Victor Mildew wrote:One thing I think we can all agree on, is my choice plastic game box is better than ypur choice of plastic game box.
No screw you and your plastic box my plastic box is best
Thems fightin words!
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:30 pm
jiggles wrote:...I wonder how the “You don’t spend $7.5bn on Bethesda to not make their games exclusive” crowd will react to this news.
Intriguingly, I don't think that Microsoft's statement specifically mentions Bethesda as it does with Activision Blizzard... but I'd assume (hope) that the same thing applies!
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:33 pm
jiggles wrote:That is nice to have confirmed in black and white, unambiguous language. But I wonder how the “You don’t spend $7.5bn on Bethesda to not make their games exclusive” crowd will react to this news.
Usual suspects are quiet.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:33 pm
jawa_ wrote:jiggles wrote:...I wonder how the “You don’t spend $7.5bn on Bethesda to not make their games exclusive” crowd will react to this news.
Intriguingly, I don't think that Microsoft's statement specifically mentions Bethesda as it does with Activision Blizzard... but I'd assume (hope) that the same thing applies!
I don’t think they will put Bethesda games on other platforms (at least not day and date), but the argument that they definitely won’t because of the high cost of the Bethesda acquisition is at least proven to be nonsense.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:38 pm
jiggles wrote:I don’t think they will put Bethesda games on other platforms, but the argument that they definitely won’t because of the high cost of the Bethesda acquisition is at least proven to be nonsense.
Possibly... but I wonder why Microsoft will release Activision Blizzard games on non-Xbox/Game Pass formats and yet they seemingly won't release Zenimax/Bethesda games on other formats?
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 8:32 pm
At no point does it definitely say whether they'll be releasing any new games or if they'll just continue to support the games that are already out when the existing agreements come to an end. There's just enough ambiguity there that you could read it either way. Really well written tbf.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:01 pm
Psychic wrote:At no point does it definitely say whether they'll be releasing any new games or if they'll just continue to support the games that are already out when the existing agreements come to an end. There's just enough ambiguity there that you could read it either way...
Yeah, it kinda feels like it's clear-but-not-clear.
Microsoft wrote:To be clear, Microsoft will continue to make Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles available on PlayStation through the term of any existing agreement with Activision. And we have committed to Sony that we will also make them available on PlayStation beyond the existing agreement and into the future so that Sony fans can continue to enjoy the games they love. We are also interested in taking similar steps to support Nintendo’s successful platform. We believe this is the right thing for the industry, for gamers and for our business.
They've positioned themselves as being pretty much "leaders of righteousness in the industry" without being overly specific about exactly what this means. I prefer to think it means that most of their games - now and in the future - will be available across most popular formats but we'll have to wait and see.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:24 pm
Psychic wrote:At no point does it definitely say whether they'll be releasing any new games or if they'll just continue to support the games that are already out when the existing agreements come to an end. There's just enough ambiguity there that you could read it either way. Really well written tbf.
They're just trying to ease regulator's fears so they can get the deal through.
This doesn't mean anything at all really.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:31 pm
kerr9000 wrote:Victor Mildew wrote:One thing I think we can all agree on, is my choice plastic game box is better than ypur choice of plastic game box.
No screw you and your plastic box my plastic box is best
We all know wood is the material of the future for consoles
.Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:54 pm
Sorry if I've repeated points made many times before but this is an easy win for MS no? If people buy CoD on Xbox then Microsoft profit, and if people buy CoD on PS... Microsoft profit! (Potentially moreso if PS version is full price retail and Xbox version is on GamePass)
So they either make a fortune, or players of CoD on Xbox vastly outnumber those on PS, which then gives them a reason to make the game platform exclusive in the future.
Either way it weakens Sony, their main competitor in this area: previously every copy of CoD bought on PS was a win over MS; now, it's hard to see it that way given that MS profit from the transaction.
So they either make a fortune, or players of CoD on Xbox vastly outnumber those on PS, which then gives them a reason to make the game platform exclusive in the future.
Either way it weakens Sony, their main competitor in this area: previously every copy of CoD bought on PS was a win over MS; now, it's hard to see it that way given that MS profit from the transaction.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:30 pm
Well well well, called the doom posting out and this drops.
Banking on €70/80 vs ‘free’ on Gamepass is a bold move, if they can nail the messaging that is. Eases acquisition worries by the FTC also as they will talk to Sony as par for the course in these deals (competitors can complain).
Technically they can renage on these promises or the FTC can put conditions on the acquisition but it’s very unlikely as they are less concerned with ‘entertainment’ acquisitions as opposed to one’s that interfere with national security ‘micro chips’ etc.
Banking on €70/80 vs ‘free’ on Gamepass is a bold move, if they can nail the messaging that is. Eases acquisition worries by the FTC also as they will talk to Sony as par for the course in these deals (competitors can complain).
Technically they can renage on these promises or the FTC can put conditions on the acquisition but it’s very unlikely as they are less concerned with ‘entertainment’ acquisitions as opposed to one’s that interfere with national security ‘micro chips’ etc.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:34 pm
jawa_ wrote:jiggles wrote:...I wonder how the “You don’t spend $7.5bn on Bethesda to not make their games exclusive” crowd will react to this news.
Intriguingly, I don't think that Microsoft's statement specifically mentions Bethesda as it does with Activision Blizzard... but I'd assume (hope) that the same thing applies!
Yep This entire blog is to do with Activision Blizzard.
Re: Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard for $70B.
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:46 am
'This drops' 
Yes, a well worded corporate statement that, as Tomous says, is for all intents and purposes meaningless. Beyond their lawful commitments, there is no guarantee they will continue to have these games on other platforms. There are a million reasons they could come up with between now and 2024 to explain why, actually, they'll be on MS platforms only.
As you say photek, the main element will be helping to push through the acquisition.
Yes, a well worded corporate statement that, as Tomous says, is for all intents and purposes meaningless. Beyond their lawful commitments, there is no guarantee they will continue to have these games on other platforms. There are a million reasons they could come up with between now and 2024 to explain why, actually, they'll be on MS platforms only.
As you say photek, the main element will be helping to push through the acquisition.