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[Majmun]

Guess I'll have to buy an Xbox eventually

 

[West Texas CEO]

Guess I'll have to buy an Xbox eventually

At this point, as gamers, we have no real choice.
I've already skipped the denial phase and have gone straight to acceptance.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

 

[Barakov]

Bruh. This is pretty big. They're giving a lot of people a pretty good reason to pick up a Xbox. Those of you that wanted Xbox to play ball, you got your wish. I still look at this as a bad thing. Stil if it means Kotick gets out of videogames this might overall be a win.

 

[DrAspirino]

Sony got grate start with first PS, crushed Sega in one generation got all Japanese developers jumping on their console & build a lot of reputation with western developers & western gamers.
Problem is they didn't want to invest their money in R&D for their new console's eco system.
Even after MS made damn fiasco with xbox one they just laughed doing nothing, well they poked to much sleeping giant now beast is on loose.

Last year I commented this and everyone here disregarded me:

That has been the story all along. You seem to completely ignore how Microsoft gets when they "get serious" about a bussiness they want to get in. We're talking about acquiring companies (either hostile acquisitions or massive share acquisitions), bribing CEOs, forcing their stuff deeply into the OS (remember Internet Explorer? now Windows comes with integrated Xbox app), throwing MASSIVE amounts of money towards something, etc.

If Satya is involved in this, then shit got A LOT more serious. We're talking about using Microsoft's warchest as a whole, not just Xbox division.

Yet here we are, with Microsoft proving my point. As I've said before and will keep saying: if Satya gets involved, then it's "serious bussiness" for Microsoft.

 

[Kdad]

I don't understand this ... can you add pronouns please.

 

[TheAssist]

Imho they bought Call of Duty. Thats the last major franchise Activision has. This lack if any tangible product is why they were able to buy them in the first place.

Blizzard has loads of fantastic IP (IP's that have never been on a Sony system in any major way, yes I know Diablo 1 was on the PS1 for a hot second), but they dont have the devs to support those franchises. They all went out a long time ago.

MS bought CoD and a bunch of hopes and dreams. I hope they are better than Activision to foster a good work climate and recruit good devs on all levels for a long time success. Right now Sony could just support (not even buy) the studios where all the old Blizzard talent went to and spend pennies on them in comparison, but would still get the better games (though I dont think the owners of these studios would want another overlord over them).

This seems like a gamble. I am not yet sold on it. Again, CoD is biiiiiiiiiiig, but the whole rest is a big question mark for me. I havent been interested in anything from this publisher in years and I think for good reason. Their output was abysmal.

Then again no one did anything amazing with all these Star Wars and Marvel IP's for the longest time until Disney threw tons of cash at them and look how this turned out. Maybe thats MS's plan. I dont freaking now. Exiting times.

 

[DragonNCM]

If Sony are smart they stay far away from the subscription business and anything Xbox are getting heavily involved in. It's not an arena they can compete in now that the knifes are out (aka money).

They need to double down on a business model built around their IP, very much like what Nintendo have done for the last decade.

So true,
They need to fallow Nintendo buisnis model.
Now implementing gamepass model will be suicide.

 

[Chukhopops]

Imagine showing that to someone in 2017.

 

[HoofHearted]

Ugh - this is a bit too much...

 

[PuffyCan]

Looking at this and I think they are 4 studios from being able to release one game per month on a 3 year release schedule per studio

 

[MonarchJT]

Anyway a silly search ... oh my god how many Activision games that I have come back to memory :

Blur
Caesar
Call of Duty
Candy Crush
Crash Bandicoot
Diablo
DJ Hero
Empire Earth
Gabriel Knight
Geometry Wars
Guitar Hero
Gun
Hearthstone
Heroes of the Storm
Hexen
Interstate '76
King's Quest
Laura Bow Mysteries
The Lost Vikings
Overwatch
Phantasmagoria
Pitfall
Police Quest
Prototype
Quest for Glory
Singularity
Skylanders
Solider of Fortune
Space Quest
Spyro the Dragon
StarCraft
TimeShift
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
True Crime
World of Warcraft
Zork

 

[B_Boss]

Holy hell…

 

[dorkimoe]

At this point, as gamers, we have no real choice.
I've already skipped the denial phase and have gone straight to acceptance.

Oh the horror

let me get some achievements for candy crush now

 

[KellyNole]

Anyway a silly search ... oh my god how many Activision games that I have come back to memory :

Blur
Caesar
Call of Duty
Candy Crush
Crash Bandicoot
Diablo
DJ Hero
Empire Earth
Gabriel Knight
Geometry Wars
Guitar Hero
Gun
Hearthstone
Heroes of the Storm
Hexen
Interstate '76
King's Quest
Laura Bow Mysteries
The Lost Vikings
Overwatch
Phantasmagoria
Pitfall
Police Quest
Prototype
Quest for Glory
Singularity
Skylanders
Solider of Fortune
Space Quest
Spyro the Dragon
StarCraft
TimeShift
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
True Crime
World of Warcraft
Zork

Add to that list the best Atari game of all time, Kaboom. Port it, please.

 

[HoofHearted]

At this point, as gamers, we have no real choice.
I've already skipped the denial phase and have gone straight to acceptance.

 

[reksveks]

Sony does release their stuff on Steam don't they?

Not day and date but yeah they could do that I guess. I am not sure steam works out in the long term for them.

 

[onQ123]

Well that was a big cash drop but I'm sure this is more about the future because it will be a while before they see the return on Close to $70B

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Microsoft already told everyone what they were planning two years ago. I'm sure those other tech giants have been preparing for war. It's only gamers that laughed at the plan.

From the article:

TBF I think people started laughing when Google basically killed Stadia because Microsoft purchased Zenimax/Bethesda. Even more funny considering the amount of money and resources Google has, and of course the infamous graveyard of abandoned Google products.

Not day and date but yeah they could do that I guess. I am not sure steam works out in the long term for them.

Kind of doesn't. Valve is getting 30% of each sale of the games on that platform, and currently for Sony they already release later so their MSRP is lower (generally).

IMO I don't think Day 1 PC releases start for PlayStation until they get their own PC launcher and storefront...and I do think that's going to happen, maybe in a few years tho.

 

[Bladed Thesis]

Imho they bought Call of Duty. Thats the last major franchise Activision has. This lack if any tangible product is why they were able to buy them in the first place.

Blizzard has loads of fantastic IP (IP's that have never been on a Sony system in any major way, yes I know Diablo 1 was on the PS1 for a hot second), but they dont have the devs to support those franchises. They all went out a long time ago.

MS bought CoD and a bunch of hopes and dreams. I hope they are better than Activision to foster a good work climate and recruit good devs on all levels for a long time success. Right now Sony could just support (not even buy) the studios where all the old Blizzard talent went to and spend pennies on them in comparison, but would still get the better games (though I dont think the owners of these studios would want another overlord over them).

This seems like a gamble. I am not yet sold on it. Again, CoD is biiiiiiiiiiig, but the whole rest is a big question mark for me. I havent been interested in anything from this publisher in years and I think for good reason. Their output was abysmal.

Then again no one did anything amazing with all these Star Wars and Marvel IP's for the longest time until Disney threw tons of cash at them and look how this turned out. Maybe thats MS's plan. I dont freaking now. Exiting times.

It's Call of Duty and Blizzard, all future releases exclusive outside Warzone and other FTP games like Elder Scrolls Online where revenue is generated primarily based on the number of users.

You don't spend 69b to keep things the same with Call of Duty. End of discussion.

 

[Kdad]

Imho they bought Call of Duty. Thats the last major franchise Activision has. This lack if any tangible product is why they were able to buy them in the first place.

Blizzard has loads of fantastic IP (IP's that have never been on a Sony system in any major way, yes I know Diablo 1 was on the PS1 for a hot second), but they dont have the devs to support those franchises. They all went out a long time ago.

MS bought CoD and a bunch of hopes and dreams. I hope they are better than Activision to foster a good work climate and recruit good devs on all levels for a long time success. Right now Sony could just support (not even buy) the studios where all the old Blizzard talent went to and spend pennies on them in comparison, but would still get the better games (though I dont think the owners of these studios would want another overlord over them).

This seems like a gamble. I am not yet sold on it. Again, CoD is biiiiiiiiiiig, but the whole rest is a big question mark for me. I havent been interested in anything from this publisher in years and I think for good reason. Their output was abysmal.

Then again no one did anything amazing with all these Star Wars and Marvel IP's for the longest time until Disney threw tons of cash at them and look how this turned out. Maybe thats MS's plan. I dont freaking now. Exiting times.

King brings in about a billion in net income annually.

 

[Riky]

Microsoft must know when Call Of Duty is planned to go next gen only, that was when the seismic shift to next gen along with next gen GTA happens and when the casual gamer is forced to pick a new console.
Microsoft just made sure that next console is Xbox.
It's also a lot easier to go exclusive when you are only turning your back on the PS5 userbase.
Timing is everything and MS just got a game changer cheaper because of the problems at Activision, no wonder Phil got promoted.
The 360 was big on Bethesda and Call Of Duty third party wise, Phil is about to recreate that dream.

 

[Kdad]

TBF I think people started laughing when Google basically killed Stadia because Microsoft purchased Zenimax/Bethesda. Even more funny considering the amount of money and resources Google has, and of course the infamous graveyard of abandoned Google products.

Yeah..Google is too schizo to be competition for MS...Amazon i can see making further moves

 

[Alkemyst]

Microsoft is the Disney of the gaming industry.

 

[Marvel]

Lol fuck

 

[Kdad]

Microsoft is the Disney of the gaming industry.

Shit...they're going to freeze Bill Gate's head somewhere next aren't they.

 

[LOLCats]

think you may be overvaluing Sony just a teensy bit too much..

Its to make sony fanboys happy, but am i really though (Overvaluing Sony)? Think about tit.

 

[sol_bad]

I'm guessing Ubisoft is next?

 

[elliot5]

Microsoft must know when Call Of Duty is planned to go next gen only, that was when the seismic shift to next gen along with next gen GTA happens and when the casual gamer is forced to pick a new console.
Microsoft just made sure that next console is Xbox.
It's also a lot easier to go exclusive when you are only turning your back on the PS5 userbase.
Timing is everything and MS just got a game changer cheaper because of the problems at Activision, no wonder Phil got promoted.
The 360 was big on Bethesda and Call Of Duty third party wise, Phil is about to recreate that dream.

No more software-better-than-hardware VRS from Infinity Ward for PlayStation. The RDNA2 discourse will rear its ugly head once more! Woohoo!!

 

[TLZ]

Jesus, I went for a Starbucks, open Gaf and the world just changed. Dafuck lol.

I blame you. Look at what you've done.

 

[LOLCats]

Thats not right

 

[LordCBH]

Oh my fucking god lol

 

[reksveks]

IMO I don't think Day 1 PC releases start for PlayStation until they get their own PC launcher and storefront...and I do think that's going to happen, maybe in a few years tho.

I think that's the plan as well. It will be a tough but necessary process for Sony.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Well COD sell majority on PS same with Bethesda titles for the entire gen leading up to their purchase. So Sony would be sacrificing far fewer console sales with an acquisition of a major IP since they hold the console that is by far the most popular especially outside the US and would presumably become even more popular with an exclusive like that

Right, but in both cases that was just one generation. Both of those IPs sold more on 360 the generation prior, even accounting for the fact 360 didn't have much presence outside of US & UK.

Basically, the point is Fallout, COD etc. sold more on PS 8th-gen because PS was the overall bigger platform, and it was the bigger platform because more of the market felt it was the better value so that's where they invested. But brand loyalty is a lot less assured than people think, otherwise Sony would've never regained ground last generation to begin with, and Microsoft wouldn't of gained ground 7th-gen.

Nothing's ever really set in stone when it comes to brand power or marketshare going from one generation to the next; if a platform has the games, the majority will go there. If MS's plans include eventually making COD etc. exclusive to Xbox and PC, the majority who play those currently on PlayStation will just go play them on Xbox and/or PC instead.

I think that's the plan as well. It will be a tough but necessary process for Sony.

Yep, but one thing they'll probably want to do is find a way to monetize the storefront, outside of people buying games and content up there. Because that storefront being on PC would mean at least some chunk of PS console gamers deciding to go PC instead, so Sony'd want to find a way to make up that potential loss.

Monetize the storefront with subscription levels that bring PS+/PS Now/Spartacus perks, and another option where it's free but ad-supported (McDonalds!), might be a way for them to do it. But until they can, it'll prob be a while.

 

[ShaikhCroft]

Maybe MS will revive the Soldier of Fortune or True Crime franchise!

 

[OmegaSpirit32X]

Sega have nothing that move gamers like COD Overwatch StarCraft and Warcraft let's be honest here

Could appeal to the more neiche crowd.
They have Sonic the Hedgehog, Yakuza, Puyo Puyo and Shin Megami Tensei/Persona all of which have their big cult followings. and Sonic is breaking into the mainstream again too with the new movie.
This being said I would've rather if PlayStation bought them. I'd kill for Insomniac making a Sonic game.

 

[Roronoa Zoro]

Right, but in both cases that was just one generation. Both of those IPs sold more on 360 the generation prior, even accounting for the fact 360 didn't have much presence outside of US & UK.

Basically, the point is Fallout, COD etc. sold more on PS 8th-gen because PS was the overall bigger platform, and it was the bigger platform because more of the market felt it was the better value so that's where they invested. But brand loyalty is a lot less assured than people think, otherwise Sony would've never regained ground last generation to begin with, and Microsoft wouldn't of gained ground 7th-gen.

Nothing's ever really set in stone when it comes to brand power or marketshare going from one generation to the next; if a platform has the games, the majority will go there. If MS's plans include eventually making COD etc. exclusive to Xbox and PC, the majority who play those currently on PlayStation will just go play them on Xbox and/or PC instead.

Oh Sony has to strike soon to make that play. For one they won't be making nearly as much in a couple years time if they do nothing. For two they will lose the market leader software sales. If they wanna continue to be home to any casual gamers who like sports games and COD and GTA they will need to counter COD with a GTA sized bomb or several. It'll suck for everyone who used to play all those on one platform to have to choose but that's what MS decided to start

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Sony got grate start with first PS, crushed Sega in one generation got all Japanese developers jumping on their console & build a lot of reputation with western developers & western gamers.
Problem is they didn't want to invest their money in R&D for their new console's eco system.
Even after MS made damn fiasco with xbox one they just laughed doing nothing, well they poked to much sleeping giant now beast is on loose.

Eh TBF Sega mostly crushed themselves that generation; they were way too reactionary, divided, and tried taking on a company with over 10x their money and resources head-on.

There was only one way that was going to end, sadly. But at least they're still making some kick-ass games (quite a few in fact).

Oh Sony has to strike soon to make that play. For one they won't be making nearly as much in a couple years time if they do nothing. For two they will lose the market leader software sales. If they wanna continue to be home to any casual gamers who like sports games and COD and GTA they will need to counter COD with a GTA sized bomb or several. It'll suck for everyone who used to play all those on one platform to have to choose but that's what MS decided to start

Only issue here is that there's only so much Sony can do spending-wise to make that level of a purchase without taking out loans or mixing it up with stocks & cash (or maybe stock, cash & loans). At some point they just simply can't compete at that level; this MS/ACTI move is outside of their territory (without potentially jeopardizing their entire company financially, anyway).

Sony has to play to their strengths. Nintendo's not out reacting by making a ton of acquisitions, are they? And they're even smaller than Sony. If a company like Nintendo can carve enough of a niche to do their own thing, why can't Sony? If Sony "have" to respond to MS on this, then doesn't that just mean they don't have enough of an identity to play to their own strengths? Expecting a sudden major response from them would be too reactionary for them IMHO.

Again, Sony'll be fine. I'm sure they'll acquire a few other studios, but compared to companies like Microsoft buying power is not one of their major strengths. It's their narrative-driven single-player style games and their film/television properties, and how they can integrate them together. They also have it good right now with arguably the #1 superhero IP in film with Spiderman (sorry MCU fans), and look like they're building up some kind of shared universe between Spiderman & Marvel films/shows and their 1P superhero games.

 

[Dave_at_Home]

Wow. Stunned at the news just like most here. Either this gets Game Pass on Sony's platform (more likely not), or at the very least they strike up a deal to keep Call of Duty on PS5. Xbox out here trying to make it hurt.

Tony Hawk on Game Pass anyone?

 

[HoofHearted]

Its to make sony fanboys happy, but am i really though (Overvaluing Sony)? Think about tit.

Oh definitely you are.. at least based on their current market cap.. Now whether or not others value more or less.. that's an entirely different discussion.

 

[DaGwaphics]

At this point, as gamers, we have no real choice.
I've already skipped the denial phase and have gone straight to acceptance.

If you can stomach the prices you can always get a gaming PC instead.

 

[Fitzchiv]

I'm not sure what people expected from the company that competes to be the most valuable in the world, and after last gen. They decided they were in, so they're in. They might not succeed at everything but when they scent the right path they're absolutely ruthless in it.

 

[ManaByte]

or at the very least they strike up a deal to keep Call of Duty on PS5.

I seriously don't understand this. People said the exact fucking thing about Starfield and Elder Scrolls. Saying "MS was leaving money on the table" not releasing it on PS5. It's the final form of port begging.

 

[Utherellus]

 

[Ryu Kaiba]

Phil is somewhere like

With this playing in the background

 

[Genx3]

I'm speechless...

 

[Lognor]

Nah I wasn’t actually… I don’t believe any of those franchises are on cod or Minecraft’s level. I can see warzone remaining multi and everything else like the yearly releases being exclusive. Why handicap your Fortnite compositor, that’s just dumb as hell.

Yeah, I think most people expect Warzone to stay on PS. I was talking about the annual COD releases. Those will be Xbox only.

 

[ManaByte]

Microsoft Could Straight Up Buy Sony, By the Way

What does the Activision Blizzard deal mean for us, the gamers? It means we won’t have to talk about the Console War for much longer.

hard-drive.net

 

[VN1X]

Looking at all these side by side I'm only really interested in Arkane, ID and MachineGames tbh.

Tango is too much of a wild card at this point as even though I very much enjoyed TEW 1 & 2 we have no clue how Ghostwire is going to turn out. Rare would be also higher up my list if it wasn't for those concerning rumours/reports regarding Everwild's development. So yeah what I'm basically trying to say is that Sony still #1.

 

[Stuart360]

Always thought Nate was a cool guy.