lastmessiah
Member
That’s legalese.
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Microsoft: Call of Duty and other popular AB games will continue to be released on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms beyond current agreements
- Thread starter HeisenbergFX4
- Start date
R3claimer117
Member
So that they can continue to play those games sounds like all the live service stuff that’s available on those platforms now like warzone. People reading this as all activision games or all future mainline call of duty games will be disappointed.
Punished Miku
Member
I called this and I was right.
Majukun
Member
the value of gamepass would increase if those games were only present on gamepass, would it not?
some people might still prefer the gamepass option depending on how much they actually play outside of cod (i know people that basically ONLY play cod, so it's their only expense all year in terms of videogames, and a monthly subscription to gamepass to play it would still end up costing them more then just buying the game once, with the added benefit of having actual property of the game.
this of course goes in favour of gamepass if those people also indulge in other franchises, making the deal more and more convenient..but cod being now a gaas naturally sucks playing time from other games, especially for casual players that don't have that many hours to play to begin with
R3claimer117
Member
I was talking about Microsoft read please lolnet revenue for both 2020 and 2021 are both at 8 bln
Activision Blizzard | Activision Blizzard Announces Fourth-Quarter and 2021 Financial Results
The Investor Relations website contains information about Activision Blizzard's business for stockholders, potential investors, and financial analysts.investor.activision.com
Topher
Gold Member
It isn't a loss. Essentially it is a change of assets.
i never thought I would see the day where some guy on twitter had more common sense than the average people in this thread.
But let's keep circle jerking and all act surprised and say "Holy shit no one saw that one coming" when Microsoft announce that these games will be exclusives.
This is the Bethesda deal all over again, and Gaf already forgot about it.
Bethesda bought september 2020,spencer says we love multi platform.
March 2021, acquisition went through, whoopsie these games are exclusive my mistake.
Yeah....no. Microsoft isn't about to say something to regulators just to do a 180 after the deal is done. That is illegal.
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i never thought I would see the day where some guy on twitter had more common sense than the average people in this thread.
But let's keep circle jerking and all act surprised and say "Holy shit no one saw that one coming" when Microsoft announce that these games will be exclusives.
This is the Bethesda deal all over again, and Gaf already forgot about it.
Bethesda bought september 2020,spencer says we love multi platform.
March 2021, acquisition went through, whoopsie these games are exclusive my mistake.
Regulators will make sure that these aren't just words on a blog.
Also regulators don't go away after a deal is approved.
The article is not a post on twitter it's a message to regulators:
Adapting ahead of regulation
They're making concessions to make it happen on their own will.
Kokoloko85
Member
But why? Its not like there gonna make close to the 70billion back from PS5 and Switch sales….. MS over spending on a non guaranteed gamepass success
Topher
Gold Member
There is more involved in acquiring a publicly held corporatin. Bethesda was privately owned.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
The backlash from the other thread was already too strong. Nobody buys Phil's bullshit anymore besidesadamsapple and the likes.
COD is a "Microsoft studio game" like God Of War and Horizon lol
Even Phil knows the FTC won't buy that for 1 second and he's already in full damage control modeBig Tech is shook
"Continue to make available" sounds like they're talking about the games that would be out and available by then getting continued support and not get taken off the storefronts.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Majukun
Member
actibliz net revenue is at 8 bln in the last 2 years, and that incluses microtransaction revenue (unless i read the report wrong)
so it will still take a lot of time for microsoft to make an actual profit out of the deal just by that..and that's without considering that the per copy profit will not be there since the games will likely be free on gamepass.
this of course will increase GP subscriptions, but exclusivity on the platform would have done it much more, which is why i don't understand the move, if they wanted to make gamepass more appealing, having actibliz games exclusive to the platform, much like netflix's original content, would have done wonders.
Bernd Lauert
Banned
That's very specifically worded. I wouldn't pop that champagne just yet.
Dust-by-Monday
Member
Why wouldn't microsoft want the extra money from PS game sales?
ANIMAL1975
Member
Sony moneyhatts TIME exclusives, MS goes and buy the publisher _ not the exclusivity of the game, or the dev team and the IP _ the ALL FRICKING PUBLISHER! and you saying MS is the poor guy in the story
Buying Zenimax and Activision Blizzard is not the same kind of monopoly as buying TIMED exclusives.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman
leads to fear. Fear leads to xbox.
JLB
Banned
This is exactly the same type of PR bullshit you must expect from a corporation.
If a corp is telling you about good intentions, be very aware they are probably not being fully open / honest.
When Microsoft buys a 70b company is not for charity, is to move the balance of power.
In other words, to have enough power to go sit in Sonys and Tencents and Apples and Googles tables and have enough muscle to set better conditions.
In the very specific case of Sony and Playstation, you might expect MS to be fully open to publish every single game on their platforms. But once certain conditions are met. In example, Gamepass available on Playstation.
Another example: Xbox Studios games to have a special deal with a discount of the standard 30% take for the store owner.
Looks some people around here is not old enough to recall good ol MS from the 90. They didnt change their behaviour.
If a corp is telling you about good intentions, be very aware they are probably not being fully open / honest.
When Microsoft buys a 70b company is not for charity, is to move the balance of power.
In other words, to have enough power to go sit in Sonys and Tencents and Apples and Googles tables and have enough muscle to set better conditions.
In the very specific case of Sony and Playstation, you might expect MS to be fully open to publish every single game on their platforms. But once certain conditions are met. In example, Gamepass available on Playstation.
Another example: Xbox Studios games to have a special deal with a discount of the standard 30% take for the store owner.
Looks some people around here is not old enough to recall good ol MS from the 90. They didnt change their behaviour.
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Mr Moose
Member
They weren't going to remove games that are already on the platform...
a multicultural team of v
Member
Yes, blatantly lying and misrepresenting material information about a $70 billion acquisition to shareholders, the SEC, and FTC is definitely an excellent business decision and frankly I don't understand why it isn't taught in textbooks.i never thought I would see the day where some guy on twitter had more common sense than the average people in this thread.
But let's keep circle jerking and all act surprised and say "Holy shit no one saw that one coming" when Microsoft announce that these games will be exclusives.
This is the Bethesda deal all over again, and Gaf already forgot about it.
Bethesda bought september 2020,spencer says we love multi platform.
March 2021, acquisition went through, whoopsie these games are exclusive my mistake.
SenjutsuSage
Banned
This is a super smart decision, not the decision I thought they would make, but it seems they are taking no chances with the regulatory process, and want to do everything in order to help this pass.
They're also agreeing to honor standards as part of this law that is seen as something that heavily targets Apple and Google's app stores.
www.cnbc.com
Read the Language in Microsoft's blog and this CNBC article about what the law offers, and you will see all the similarities about not forcing developers to use their payment system among other things. Microsoft is committing themselves and their company to fully abiding by a law that is seen as not necessarily even targeting them and Xbox. This intelligently places Microsoft as a good and fair actor. And, in my view, do whatever it takes to get that Activision deal through, even if it means leaving all those games on Playstation.
They're also agreeing to honor standards as part of this law that is seen as something that heavily targets Apple and Google's app stores.
Bipartisan bill targets Apple and Google's ability to profit from app stores
App developers have complained to Congress of unfair treatment by Apple and Google.
www.cnbc.com
Read the Language in Microsoft's blog and this CNBC article about what the law offers, and you will see all the similarities about not forcing developers to use their payment system among other things. Microsoft is committing themselves and their company to fully abiding by a law that is seen as not necessarily even targeting them and Xbox. This intelligently places Microsoft as a good and fair actor. And, in my view, do whatever it takes to get that Activision deal through, even if it means leaving all those games on Playstation.
Reizo Ryuu
Member
It's not any kind of monopoly.
The_Mike
I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
Then why didn't regulators fuck up the Bethesda deal when same shit happened there?
Dr Bass
Member
They will get a lot closer to making it back by not limiting the platforms.
Punished Miku
Member
They overpaid by about 20 billion. They have ownership of a 50 billion dollar asset, so that's not money lost. If they ever want to sell at a later date they probably can.
Now you have 20 billion difference to make up, and some of that happened when both of their stocks jumped the day it was announced.
Let's say you have like 18 billion left to make up now. Now you get all revenue / profit from AB.
Also, every year at E3 you can tell all the gaming world that these games are free on Gamepass or you can pay $70. You choose. Not a bad set up if you have plenty of money to do that.
Also you can put their entire back catalog on Gamepass.
And they can also have some of these studios release Xbox exclusives. Call of Duty has a userbase that is similar to Minecraft, so it alone can be treated differently from their entire catalog.
This is a super smart decision, not the decision I thought they would make, but it seems they are taking no chances with the regulatory process, and want to do everything in order to help this pass.
They're also agreeing to honor standards as part of this law that is seen as something that heavily targets Apple and Google's app stores.
Bipartisan bill targets Apple and Google's ability to profit from app stores
App developers have complained to Congress of unfair treatment by Apple and Google.
Read the Language in Microsoft's blog and this CNBC article about what the law offers, and you will see all the similarities about not forcing developers to use their payment system among other things. Microsoft is committing themselves and their company to fully abiding by a law that is seen as not necessarily even targeting them and Xbox. This intelligently places Microsoft as a good and fair actor. And, in my view, do whatever it takes to get that Activision deal through, even if it means leaving all those games on Playstation.
People missing the big picture here.
If MS owns the asset, preserves the good will (audience), and collects all revenue, then it can use it to bolster GP for relatively nothing if the purchase price was based primarily on the first three things.
Coulomb_Barrier
Member
The denial then acceptance phase of this news will be long and painful.
sainraja
Member
They also mention into the future which you denied at first. The statement does not say ALL titles. Only COD & other popular Activision Blizzard games. So based on this statement alone it is pretty clear. What they actually do later who knows. The statement is pretty clear though.
Full statement is:
Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles. They were specific about COD.
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mejin
Member
i never thought I would see the day where some guy on twitter had more common sense than the average people in this thread.
But let's keep circle jerking and all act surprised and say "Holy shit no one saw that one coming" when Microsoft announce that these games will be exclusives.
This is the Bethesda deal all over again, and Gaf already forgot about it.
Bethesda bought september 2020,spencer says we love multi platform.
March 2021, acquisition went through, whoopsie these games are exclusive my mistake.
Topher
Gold Member
Bethesda is privately owned. You've got one guy who owns the business versus thousands of stockholders in a publicly traded company. You might as well ask why does Activision Blizzard have to report income to the SEC and Bethesda didn't.
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Salty Popsicle
Banned
Hard to justify buying COD on PlayStation for $70 when the competing console and PC players can simply pay a $10 subscription and play the game and hundreds of others Day 1. Not to mention there will likely never again be a marketing incentive like exclusive DLC or early map access on PlayStation...those will either cease to exist altogether or will be available only on Microsoft platforms.
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The_Mike
I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
If you try to be a meme lord then at least try to use memes that fits the post.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
lol. which part of "continue to make" you skipped?
TheAmazingSpiderMan
Member
A lot of salty posters here in complete denial, why cant you see this plan is best suited for both companies, going forward MS can charge full retail price for ps owners and for their own platform its available as long as you have a game pass subscription, that in itself is how they can make the most money. Also the same jokers who are saying this’ll be like starfield can’t see past their own denial that cod is the biggest game in terms of casuals that play MP online, please tell us a more popular MP game from Bethesda than cod that makes big bucks on PS platforms?
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thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
Yeah; between this and Sony's Bungie acquisition, it does feel like both were done as a means of staving off a large entity outside of the traditional gaming space (i.e an Apple, Google, Amazon etc.) from buying these companies. Because in both cases, if they're still going to keep the majority of that content, especially MP/service-orientated games, multiplatform, then it's essentially business-as-usual.
I guess through buying the company, they earn all the revenue and profits from that point onward, but they could've also just bought 51% of the shares and obtained a controlling stake, and a decent amount of profits that way, right? If the other purpose was for brand association, standard co-marketing deals could've made that happen I feel. But I'll admit, a lot of this is just me spitballing alternatives in light of what both of these acquisitions seem to do on the surface for the platform holders.
Can't really say what this does for the console side in Microsoft's case, I guess they are riding hard on GamePass as a value proposition, and the desire for people to play the games natively, to drive console adaption rates. And it maybe will be that strong of a value proposition, but I think some of that is outside of their control i.e recessions and lockdowns from a pandemic creating boosts to a proposition that's seemingly driven by the customer saving money.
At least in Sony's case, they can realistically recoup the cost of the Bungie acquisition in a year or little over a year through PlayStation annual profits; Microsoft can recoup the Activision-Blizzard costs in about shy a year, actually, but that'd be company-wide. Xbox division on its own definitely isn't recouping that in a single year or the course of the generation if just talking annual division profits. GamePass growth and, more importantly, long-term retention of regular subs at a health median will have to be very strong over the course of the generation to make up for that and help drive returns faster.
I'm confident they'll find a way to make things work out but now in light of the big IP remaining multi-console I'll admit Microsoft have a lot of work cut out for them not just for Xbox but for GamePass, too. More than they would've if at least some of those went Xbox/PC/GamePass-exclusive, IMHO, if we're talking about Xbox & GamePass growth. Guessing new IP will be exclusive, they just better be some damn good games (same with the known 1P XGS/Zenimax exclusives in development) at a high caliber because no matter what, exclusives still do matter in a notable way.
Fredrik
Member
Weren’t there rumors that they outbid someone much much worse?
Don’t know who though. Tencent? Apple? Google?
Salty Popsicle
Banned
Make battle-passes be included with a GamePass Ultimate subscription or offer discounts on all in-game items with GamePass.
I bet you will get the second request. But when Phil hears the first (free battle passes), its gonna be one of those sweet summer children moments.
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Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
This is the direction the industry is moving, and to be honest, I'm not too mad about it. If more players can continue playing these games on their preferred platform, the better it is. Industry consolidation also won't have a huge negative effect on people who can't buy multiple consoles.
Xbox players can continue playing MLB and Destiny on Xbox. PlayStation players can continue playing COD and OW on PlayStation.
Depending on the ROI and poor sales figures or GamePass growth, I also see Bethesda titles dropping on PlayStation after being timed exclusive on Xbox: Elder Scrolls, Starfield, Fallout, etc.
Xbox players can continue playing MLB and Destiny on Xbox. PlayStation players can continue playing COD and OW on PlayStation.
Depending on the ROI and poor sales figures or GamePass growth, I also see Bethesda titles dropping on PlayStation after being timed exclusive on Xbox: Elder Scrolls, Starfield, Fallout, etc.
Riky
$MSFT
So Phil was telling the truth all along and this was all about bigger competitors like Google, Amazon and Facebook. Seems funny that Stadia got downgraded not long after this acquisition.
Hopefully this means that money hatting third party games is over and the likes of Street Fighter V, FF7R and KOTOR Remake can come to all consoles.
Hopefully this means that money hatting third party games is over and the likes of Street Fighter V, FF7R and KOTOR Remake can come to all consoles.
Salty Popsicle
Banned
The fact that an official statement similar to this one was NOT made after the Bethesda aquisition tells you that all Zenimax Studio games outside of MMOs will never be on PlayStation again. Just in case anyone was still holding out hope fore Elder Scrolls VI on PlayStation 
Coulomb_Barrier
Member
I felt a great disturbance, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to enjoying ActiBlizz's next AAA project on my PS5.
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to enjoying ActiBlizz's next AAA project on my PS5.
Punished Miku
Member
Enjoy being wrong in 2024.
Tripolygon
Banned
That Twitter post makes no sense.
You can't make a concession for a deal to be approved then say whoopsie it was a lie.
Bethesda deal is not on the scale as Activision deal.
I'm hoping both companies see the opportunity in first party games being released across the board after a period of timed exclusivity. Then they each have unique pros / cons beyond hardware differences, each sell as much as possible to the entire audience, and each player can play all the games, some just a little later than others depending on eco-system.
