Support NeoGAF

[akimbo009]

It's a myth. Games are games. Nobody cares how they come, just that they come. Obsidian has been one of the best-producing studios for Xbox, but was that one "organic?" No. Bethesda will be one of the best producers under Xbox since the launch of the Xbox Series consoles, and will again back it up next year. Nobody cares how that happened, just that it will. It isn't just their release of newer titles or enhancements to existing games like Skyrim Anniversary, but also their support of service games like ESO and Fallout 76, their support of existing games like Doom Eternal with next gen updates and DLC. Fallout 4 is getting a next gen update next year, Deathloop was a critical hit. 2023 will be a banner year for Bethesda under Xbox, and it's also when Ghostwire will show up alongside Redfall, Starfield and who knows what else.

In what way is Moon Studios or Asobo a better purchase than Activision Blizzard? Nobody believes that. The purchases Microsoft are making are the right ones. Be for real. Asobo, if they want to become part of Xbox it will happen one day. Moon Studios has explicitly stated, to my knowledge, they don't want to become part of Xbox. Why force the matter?

Also worth noting, Activision want to get acquired. Their board wants it to happen, their share holders want it to happen, their CEO wants it to happen. It's not some hostile take over.. companies that get acquired - small and large - seek it out and that doesn't come by accident.

 

[64bitmodels]

Obsidian has been one of the best-producing studios for Xbox, but was that one "organic?" No. Bethesda will be one of the best producers under Xbox since the launch of the Xbox Series consoles, and will again back it up next year. Nobody cares how that happened, just that it will. It isn't just their release of newer titles or enhancements to existing games like Skyrim Anniversary, but also their support of service games like ESO and Fallout 76, their support of existing games like Doom Eternal with next gen updates and DLC. Fallout 4 is getting a next gen update next year, Deathloop was a critical hit. 2023 will be a banner year for Bethesda under Xbox, and it's also when Ghostwire will show up alongside Redfall, Starfield and who knows what else.

you mention "It isn't just their release of newer titles" because you know they haven't released jackshit since then.
ghostwire and Deathloop are both PS5 exclusives, they came to PS5 first. They don't count
Supporting Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76 is no different from supporting a post mortem corpse with life support. Fallout 76 is one of the main reasons people have doubts about Starfield. No one cares that it's 'still supported' lmao
Doom Eternal is a multiplat and would have gotten DLC regardless of the purchase because it was a major success. Fallout 4 getting a next gen update is nothing special
everything they've released has been miniscule and hardly noteworthy. Insomniac released 2 new, full next gen showcase games in just 3 years. Bethesda is nothing in comparison to THAT.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

severe underestimation. just look at the output of the studios MS worked with over the years before acquisition as opposed to the output of the studios they bought on a whim

Obsidian? Bethesda? Double Fine? Undead Labs (State of Decay 2 is a very loved title that has kept getting better). Know what I've realized is a trend on here? People who don't play specific Xbox games complain that the studios aren't producing not because they haven't been doing anything, but simply because they themselves aren't fans of the games they've been producing and actively supporting for years. To many on here till it become impossible to say with a straight face, Sea of Thieves was a failure. Fallout 76 is doing better than ever since Microsoft acquired Bethesda. It's a massive turnaround in fact. Maybe it was always planned? Either way, additional studios were brought on and contracted to help with the game since Microsoft acquired Bethesda.

Starfield will be a better product than what it would have been without Microsoft's help and investment, but I don't expect many to acknowledge any of that. Double Fine would be one of those supposed "on a whim" studios, and they produced a critical hit with multiple GOTY recognitions. Psychonauts 2 is a better product because of Microsoft. Obsidian is another "on a whim" buy (hint nothing is bought on a whim - discussions are had, plans are made years in advance) and besides Pentiment and Grounded they've delivered two strong DLC additions to the Outer Worlds under Microsoft. When Microsoft acquired Obsidian, they were already being pitched on Avowed, which is now in development.

So "on a whim" buys make no sense because then Obsidian qualifies as 'on a whim' and they have been easily one of the smartest decisions Microsoft ever made.

 

[KingT731]

tf do you mean by that? Playground Games is arguably the best of MS's studios and is one of the few that actually meets Sony in quality, going by the output. It's also one of the few MS studios that are the result of them organically working with a studio. Playground games had been making Forza titles for years before they were acquired in 2018, the result is Forza Horizon 5 which is the most popular and one of Xbox's best games in recent memory. It's almost like when you have a good working relationship with a developer, an acquisition becomes much easier and has greater gains.

Oh you mean Forza Horizon 4 in Mexico? They also already hade 2 locations prior to being purchased and also has a large 3rd party studio (Eidos-Montreal) working on Fable with them.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

you mention "It isn't just their release of newer titles" because you know they haven't released jackshit since then.
ghostwire and Deathloop are both PS5 exclusives, they came to PS5 first. They don't count
Supporting Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76 is no different from supporting a post mortem corpse with life support. Fallout 76 is one of the main reasons people have doubts about Starfield. No one cares that it's 'still supported' lmao
Doom Eternal is a multiplat and would have gotten DLC regardless of the purchase because it was a major success. Fallout 4 getting a next gen update is nothing special
everything they've released has been miniscule and hardly noteworthy. Insomniac released 2 new, full next gen showcase games in just 3 years. Bethesda is nothing in comparison to THAT.

They are both Microsoft first party IP and produced by studios that Microsoft and Xbox owns. Any new titles or sequels are Xbox's to choose and do with as they see fit. They are guaranteed Game Pass permanent releases. Which platform they come to first is as irrelevant to this discussion as what kind of toppings you like on your pizza. Microsoft has supported both studios fully since the acquisition and has paid the salaries of all employees and provided resources to both studios that did in fact go into completing the games they released on Playstation as well as building their games of the future.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

This thread made me no longer care what happens with this deal lmao.

Obsidian? Bethesda? Double Fine? Undead Labs (State of Decay 2 is a very loved title that has kept getting better). Know what I've realized is a trend on here? People who don't play specific Xbox games complain that the studios aren't producing not because they haven't been doing anything, but simply because they themselves aren't fans of the games they've been producing and actively supporting for years. To many on here till it become impossible to say with a straight face, Sea of Thieves was a failure. Fallout 76 is doing better than ever since Microsoft acquired Bethesda. It's a massive turnaround in fact. Maybe it was always planned? Either way, additional studios were brought on and contracted to help with the game since Microsoft acquired Bethesda.

Starfield will be a better product than what it would have been without Microsoft's help and investment, but I don't expect many to acknowledge any of that. Double Fine would be one of those supposed "on a whim" studios, and they produced a critical hit with multiple GOTY recognitions. Psychonauts 2 is a better product because of Microsoft. Obsidian is another "on a whim" buy (hint nothing is bought on a whim - discussions are had, plans are made years in advance) and besides Pentiment and Grounded they've delivered two strong DLC additions to the Outer Worlds under Microsoft. When Microsoft acquired Obsidian, they were already being pitched on Avowed, which is now in development.

So "on a whim" buys make no sense because then Obsidian qualifies as 'on a whim' and they have been easily one of the smartest decisions Microsoft ever made.

Sea of Thieves is some of the most fun I ever had playing a videogame in my entire life. How anyone wouldn't view that game as a success is beyond me. Almost 5 years old and still routinely grabbing 10k-20k players on Steam, constantly updated with new features and modes at zero cost, etc.

I guess most people just want single player games, shrug.

 

[Banjo64]

In what way is Moon Studios or Asobo a better purchase than Activision Blizzard? Nobody believes that.

A Plague Tale and Ori are better games than anything (remakes aside) that Activision have put out since the original Modern Warfare 1&2.

 

[64bitmodels]

? People who don't play specific Xbox games complain that the studios aren't producing not because they haven't been doing anything, but simply because they themselves aren't fans of the games they've been producing and actively supporting for years

not our fault these games aren't well known/good enough to warrant consistent discussion on this forum. I've seen God of War so many fucking times it's sickening, meanwhile State of Decay is never mentioned outside of people like you trying to inflate Xbox's games number with padded unknown games.

A Plague Tale and Ori are better games than anything (remakes aside) that Activision have put out since the original Modern Warfare 1&2.

Nah, there's also Black Ops. Black ops and WaW are pretty much superior to any other COD game

 

[Banjo64]

not our fault these games aren't well known/good enough to warrant consistent discussion on this forum. I've seen God of War so many fucking times it's sickening, meanwhile State of Decay is never mentioned outside of people like you trying to inflate Xbox's games number with padded unknown games.

Nah, there's also Black Ops

I thought Black Ops was shit compared to MW. Didn’t even feel like CoD. Infinity Ward >>>>>>>>>>> Treyarch.

 

[b6a6es]

"Sony has entered into arrangements with third-party publishers which require the 'exclusion' of Xbox."

Is this true?

It’s completely false, as the *console exclusivity* clearly means being on the dealer’s platform (in this case PS) + PC, so it’s also excluded from Switch, Stadia, Luna, iOS & Android as well, not necessarily a conspiracy theory where it’s (Xbox exclusion only)

 

[gothmog]

@reksveks

https://www.reuters.com/markets/dea...nprecedented-us-challenge-mergers-2022-12-27/

15 out of 22 is a pretty good track record. I was wondering why people kept bringing up that the FTC had a bad track record on this. Guess I should have fact checked them.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

not our fault these games aren't well known/good enough to warrant consistent discussion on this forum. I've seen God of War so many fucking times it's sickening, meanwhile State of Decay is never mentioned outside of people like you trying to inflate Xbox's games number with padded unknown games.

Nah, there's also Black Ops

Thank you for proving my point and why I know I can now safely add you to my ignore list. State of Decay 2 has been one of the BEST supported games out there for years. It's a huge game for the hardcore fanbase that has kept playing it for years now. Hell, even some of the studios sony acquired that worked on God of War 2018 and Ragnarok, Valkyrie Entertainment, also worked on State of Decay 2. State of Decay 2 is a massive simulation game with very hardcore fans that never left. To you the studio has been doing nothing because you simply don't play nor pay attention to what the studio is doing.

So if you openly acknowledge that you're operating from a place of pure ignorance of what they do and what their game is, don't blame others for reacting to that ignorance by telling you that you have no idea what you're talking about when you bring up the "lack of production" of Xbox studios. You're completely out of the information loop altogether. You call it inflating xbox games number with "unknown" games because you're thinking like a fanboy rather than a gamer. How is this any different from the legions of people who play only fortnite or pubg? Just because you don't play it or pay attention to it doesn't make it suddenly not exist.







They just dropped updates 31 and 32 to State of Decay. They've never stopped updating this game with major additions and changes since it launched. It's a night-and day experience from what it was at launch and countless youtube pages cover the game heavily to this day.

 

[Topher]

Obsidian? Bethesda? Double Fine? Undead Labs (State of Decay 2 is a very loved title that has kept getting better). Know what I've realized is a trend on here? People who don't play specific Xbox games complain that the studios aren't producing not because they haven't been doing anything, but simply because they themselves aren't fans of the games they've been producing and actively supporting for years.

Microsoft hasn't been "actively supporting" Bethesda "for years". We are not even at the two year mark since MS bought Bethesda. Beyond that, the trend of gamers not loving Microsoft first party isn't exactly new. The fact that MS first party has really sucked "for years" is the reason for all these acquisitions. Phil Spencer has said this himself. So you can be a fan come hell and high water if you want, but most gamers buy consoles for games and the expectation is that first party will be out front in providing those games. That has simply not been the case for Microsoft and Xbox.

This is why a lot of people are pointing to 2023 has a massively crucial year for Xbox.

I know I can now safely add you to my ignore list.

Don't worry 64bitmodels , you are in good company.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

They just dropped updates 31 and 32 to State of Decay. They've never stopped updating this game with major additions and changes since it launched. It's a night-and day experience from what it was at launch and countless youtube pages cover the game heavily to this day.

If they are still supporting it then maybe they need to do better PR because I never hear about this game. I played it many moons ago, would haven gotten back in if I knew about this.

 

[phil_t98]

FINALLY, YOU GET IT

that's what i've been saying this entire fucking time. And yes, Moon Studio and Asobo are far superior choices to activision for acquisition. Those 2 have worked side by side with Xbox and have made titles exclusively for the Xbox brand over the years and they have benefitted from Microsoft's 'fuck you' levels of money. If MS treated Ninja Theory the same way they did for those studios the acquisition would have gone by much smoother and Hellblade 2 would be out by now. That's organic growth. That's the 'myth' that DarkMage619 wants you to believe doesn't exist

was bungie organic growth?

 

[64bitmodels]

Thank you for proving my point and why I know I can now safely add you to my ignore list.

i was willing to talk some more but if you're going to be like that fine, fuck you. I don't see how you got so fucking upset to literally fucking ignore me because i pointed out that Playstation exclusives get more recognition and buzz than Xbox exclusives

Don't worry 64bitmodels 64bitmodels , you are in good company.

whatever i needed this. i looked at the last few messages and some of them were literally an hour ago, i spend too much time on this forum instead of actually playing games

 

[akimbo009]

15 out of 22 is a pretty good track record. I was wondering why people kept bringing up that the FTC had a bad track record on this. Guess I should have fact checked them.

It's a recent change. Usually these agencies usually don't pursue unless they have a slam dunk. The FTC has changed their approach and willing to lose. The hope is that it either establishes new norms but also dissuades future mergers knowing that the FTC will be more apt to challenge (which is expensive and has risk too).

Seems like a weird strategy, but they also hope most folks just abandon the merger due to time or cost (which I suspect they are trying to do with MS because their case is so bad they have to be hoping for MS/ABK to just pay the break up fees and move on).

 

[Three]

i was willing to talk some more but if you're going to be like that fine, fuck you. I don't see how you got so fucking upset to literally fucking ignore me because i pointed out that Playstation exclusives get more recognition and buzz than Xbox exclusives

whatever i needed this. i looked at the last few messages and some of them were literally an hour ago, i spend too much time on this forum instead of actually playing games

SenjutsuSage getting ready to reply

 

[gothmog]

It's a recent change. Usually these agencies usually don't pursue unless they have a slam dunk. The FTC has changed their approach and willing to lose. The hope is that it either establishes new norms but also dissuades future mergers knowing that the FTC will be more apt to challenge (which is expensive and has risk too).

Seems like a weird strategy, but they also hope most folks just abandon the merger due to time or cost (which I suspect they are trying to do with MS because their case is so bad they have to be hoping for MS/ABK to just pay the break up fees and move on).

Given the power of some of these companies it's a good thing. I imagine we will see a lot more post merger actions as well.

 

[twilo99]

It’s completely false, as the *console exclusivity* clearly means being on the dealer’s platform (in this case PS) + PC, so it’s also excluded from Switch, Stadia, Luna, iOS & Android as well, not necessarily a conspiracy theory where it’s (Xbox exclusion only)

Oh

Yes. It's called third party exclusives or timed exclusives. They both do it.

Are people really falling for the silly wordplay and unable to parse that?

I really do question the IQs of our privileged society.

I thought they were like specifically targeting Xbox or something

 

[akimbo009]

Given the power of some of these companies it's a good thing. I imagine we will see a lot more post merger actions as well.

I don't think you can say blindly "it's a good thing" declaratively. That's kind of what we're dealing with is an ideology driven FTC which results in flimsy legal excuses and prosecutions that end up failing. Leaves uncertainty in the market which isn't a good thing.

It's easy to want to do "something" about big tech but arbitrary decisions ain't the way.

 

[gothmog]

I don't think you can say blindly "it's a good thing" declaratively. That's kind of what we're dealing with is an ideology driven FTC which results in flimsy legal excuses and prosecutions that end up failing. Leaves uncertainty in the market which isn't a good thing.

It's easy to want to do "something" about big tech but arbitrary decisions ain't the way.

We've already seen the damage done without regulation. The courts can figure out if these actions work or not.

 

[Pelta88]

Page 329

And it looks like were finally free of the 7000 word thesis posts nobody was reading. Finally.

 

[DarkMage619]

FINALLY, YOU GET IT

that's what i've been saying this entire fucking time. And yes, Moon Studio and Asobo are far superior choices to activision for acquisition. Those 2 have worked side by side with Xbox and have made titles exclusively for the Xbox brand over the years and they have benefitted from Microsoft's 'fuck you' levels of money. If MS treated Ninja Theory the same way they did for those studios the acquisition would have gone by much smoother and Hellblade 2 would be out by now. That's organic growth. That's the 'myth' that DarkMage619 wants you to believe doesn't exist

Who says that Asobo or Moon(who publicly burned the MS bridge) would be better acquisitions? What if they don't want to be acquired? It is obvious that Activision has far more development resources than anything Moon or Asobo is capable of. You again have no idea what is going on with Ninja Theory so to assume that money is the problem is pretty silly.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

was bungie organic growth?

Bungie acquisition was announced with a completely different wording...which is why it's completed for months...and it is organic growth. They own a single IP that has been connected mostly with Playstation and won't be removed from other platforms.

First line of the announcement:

"Legendary developer to join PlayStation as independent, multi-platform studio and publisher."

Crystal clear.

First paragraph of the article:

"First off, I want to be very clear to the community that Bungie will remain an independent and multi-platform studio and publisher. "

Second paragraph starts like this:

"Bungie’s world-class expertise in multi-platform development and live game services will help us deliver on our vision of expanding PlayStation to hundreds of millions of gamers. "

If the Activision acquisition had been anywhere this crystal clear and not changed 5 times since January it was probably done by now, lol.

 

[feynoob]

whatever i needed this. i looked at the last few messages and some of them were literally an hour ago, i spend too much time on this forum instead of actually playing games

???
I was busy playing games, while you were chatting here.
Come on man. Work on your time. Get that playtime higher.

 

[akimbo009]

Bungie acquisition was announced with a completely different wording...which is why it's completed for months...and it is organic growth. They own a single IP that has been connected mostly with Playstation and won't be removed from other platforms.

First line of the announcement:

"Legendary developer to join PlayStation as independent, multi-platform studio and publisher."

Crystal clear.

First paragraph of the article:

"First off, I want to be very clear to the community that Bungie will remain an independent and multi-platform studio and publisher. "

Second paragraph starts like this:

"Bungie’s world-class expertise in multi-platform development and live game services will help us deliver on our vision of expanding PlayStation to hundreds of millions of gamers. "

If the Activision acquisition had been anywhere this crystal clear and not changed 5 times since January it was probably done by now, lol.

Despite the single IP, it was in partnership with Activision not Sony (despite marketing). Bungie is also an OG MS studio, and more closely associated with them than Sony. (Their offices are a 5 minute drive from on another).

And I don't think anyone believes any net new IP from Bungie will be multi-platform - just Destiny.

 

[gothmog]

Despite the single IP, it was in partnership with Activision not Sony (despite marketing). Bungie is also an OG MS studio, and more closely associated with them than Sony. (Their offices are a 5 minute drive from on another).

And I don't think anyone believes any net new IP from Bungie will be multi-platform - just Destiny.

Fuck that. Bungie is an OG Apple studio. Microsoft bought them to make it an Xbox exclusive. They even iced out PC. Bungie was one of my favorite developers before that with the Marathon games and Myth series.

Edit:

 

[akimbo009]

Fuck that. Bungie is an OG Apple studio. Microsoft bought them to make it an Xbox exclusive. They even iced out PC. Bungie was one of my favorite developers before that with the Marathon games and Myth series.

Edit:

Fuck that even more. That's like an Easter egg. Ain't no one thinks about Apple, Bungie, or even games with Apple in general.

Myth isn't even owned by Bungie anymore - it's owned by Take Two.

And now that you mention Marathon it's looking to get a reboot by Bungie - and if they do make it - it's gonna be exclusive to PlayStation.

 

[adamsapple]

whatever i needed this. i looked at the last few messages and some of them were literally an hour ago, i spend too much time on this forum instead of actually playing games

 

[gothmog]

Fuck that even more. That's like an Easter egg. Ain't no one thinks about Apple, Bungie, or even games with Apple in general.

Myth isn't even owned by Bungie anymore - it's owned by Take Two.

And now that you mention Marathon it's looking to get a reboot by Bungie - and if they do make it - it's gonna be exclusive to PlayStation.

You must be too young to remember how upset people were that Halo wasn't on PC.

I hope the Marathon reboot is worth being exclusive. The descriptions I read didn't sound that enticing.

 

[akimbo009]

You must be too young to remember how upset people were that Halo wasn't on PC.

I hope the Marathon reboot is worth being exclusive. The descriptions I read didn't sound that enticing.

I am not too young - I am old enough to know what's ancient history - and that is ancient history.

 

[64bitmodels]

honestly im glad that MS went in to do the deed with bungie, halo was going to be an RTS on mac if it weren't for their intervention

sorry but RTS isn't as entertaining to me as an FPS, that may or may not change in the future but for the time being I'm glad Halo took the switch. I hate all things apple so there was no way i would have been able to play the game either.

 

[akimbo009]

honestly im glad that MS went in to do the deed with bungie, halo was going to be an RTS on mac if it weren't for their intervention

sorry but RTS isn't as entertaining to me as an FPS, that may or may not change in the future but for the time being I'm glad Halo took the switch. I hate all things apple so there was no way i would have been able to play the game either.

Imagine Halo behind an Apple ecosystem/walled garden... That'd be some horrible shit.

 

[Cheezewizz]

15 out of 22 is a pretty good track record. I was wondering why people kept bringing up that the FTC had a bad track record on this. Guess I should have fact checked them.

Almost all their losses have come in just the last few cases. I think much of the context behind those "bad track record" comments are because of the recent losses they've had. Compared to previously, the FTC almost never lost a case for years at a time. It makes your claim that the regular courts can be easily bought, while the FTC's administrative courts are squeaky clean incredibly bizarre.

The administrative process is to allow companies to negotiate concessions in order to settle the FTC's concerns that make it illegal.

You would think so, but apparently Lina Kahn believes different. She refused to even meet with MS to hear about possible concessions, and has recently tweeted that bargaining and negotiating M/A isn't what the FTC does. That their job is to simply prevent M/A as they see fit.

Nobody else gets to do this. This concept that Microsoft keeps bringing up around being able to keep explaining things until the other party agrees that Microsoft is right is something that other entities have not enjoyed throughout the years of FTC looking into mergers.

But you just said that this is what the administrative process is all about? Now, MS is entitled for wanting to meet and discuss possible remedies? The FTC didn't sue to make concessions, as Kahn clearly explained. They sued to block the acquisition.

I'm sorry, but at least in this thread... today. You seem to be your own worst enemy. This post literally contradicts your previous one, and that was immediately preceded by you being corrected on your 5th amendment claim.

 

[gothmog]

Almost all their losses have come in just the last few cases. I think much of the context behind those "bad track record" comments are because of the recent losses they've had. Compared to previously, the FTC almost never lost a case for years at a time. It makes your claim that the regular courts can be easily bought, while the FTC's administrative courts are squeaky clean incredibly bizarre.

You would think so, but apparently Lina Kahn believes different. She refused to even meet with MS to hear about possible concessions, and has recently tweeted that bargaining and negotiating M/A isn't what the FTC does. That their job is to simply prevent M/A as they see fit.

But you just said that this is what the administrative process is all about? Now, MS is entitled for wanting to meet and discuss possible remedies? The FTC didn't sue to make concessions, as Kahn clearly explained. They sued to block the acquisition.

I'm sorry, but at least in this thread... today. You seem to be your own worst enemy. This post literally contradicts your previous one, and that was immediately preceded by you being corrected on your 5th amendment claim.

You might want to try reading the FTCs own documents. The complaint is step one. Then:

If the respondent elects to contest the charges, the complaint is adjudicated before an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) in a trial-type proceeding conducted under the Commission’s Rules of Practice.

Microsoft meeting with them before the vote was a courtesy, and not the norm. Given what they were offering they weren't even on the same planet.

 

[feynoob]

You might want to try reading the FTCs own documents. The complaint is step one. Then:

If the respondent elects to contest the charges, the complaint is adjudicated before an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) in a trial-type proceeding conducted under the Commission’s Rules of Practice.

Microsoft meeting with them before the vote was a courtesy, and not the norm. Given what they were offering they weren't even on the same planet.

I think people are ignoring the underlying issue here.

FtC refused to have a normal meeting with MS, and decided to take the matter on their hand.

In this case, the FTC are trying to act as the law, instead of actually abiding the law.

I don't know much about law stuff, but you don't go a head without listening to the other party first.

 

[Cheezewizz]

I think people are ignoring the underlying issue here.

FtC refused to have a normal meeting with MS, and decided to take the matter on their hand.

In this case, the FTC are trying to act as the law, instead of actually abiding the law.

I don't know much about law stuff, but you don't go a head without listening to the other party first.

That's a bingo.

 

[gothmog]

I think people are ignoring the underlying issue here.

FtC refused to have a normal meeting with MS, and decided to take the matter on their hand.

In this case, the FTC are trying to act as the law, instead of actually abiding the law.

I don't know much about law stuff, but you don't go a head without listening to the other party first.

So I think they pissed off the FTC. The initial investigations are typically private so people can speak off the record. Microsoft got very public early. I wouldn't meet off the record if the other side was going to blab the details they don't like in public.

 

[akimbo009]

So I think they pissed off the FTC. The initial investigations are typically private so people can speak off the record. Microsoft got very public early. I wouldn't meet off the record if the other side was going to blab the details they don't like in public.

They didn't piss off the FTC. The FTC are going after a ton of mergers they'd generally ignore mostly for ideological reasons. It's not MS it's a FTC chair that is going after tech.

 

[adamsapple]

They didn't piss off the FTC. The FTC are going after a ton of mergers they'd generally ignore mostly for ideological reasons. It's not MS it's a FTC chair that is going after tech.

Basically this, the MS thing is only coming into our purview because it meets our interest, but they have been in the news all summer for other stuff (namely Meta) as well.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Despite the single IP, it was in partnership with Activision not Sony (despite marketing). Bungie is also an OG MS studio, and more closely associated with them than Sony. (Their offices are a 5 minute drive from on another).

And I don't think anyone believes any net new IP from Bungie will be multi-platform - just Destiny.

If Bungies new IP isn't multiplatform then it goes against everything they said so far and lied to regulators everywhere.
There's literally nothing that seems to point in that direction dude...

 

[adamsapple]

The next IP Bungie is working on is with Netease, very likely a mobile and PC game, that project is from before Sony bought them, so it's a moot point for a couple of years at least anyway.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

Who says that Asobo or Moon(who publicly burned the MS bridge) would be better acquisitions? What if they don't want to be acquired? It is obvious that Activision has far more development resources than anything Moon or Asobo is capable of. You again have no idea what is going on with Ninja Theory so to assume that money is the problem is pretty silly.

They're objectively much worse buys than Activision Blizzard or Bethesda. Bethesda alone was a game changer thanks to the studios and IP like Starfield, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Dishonored, Prey, and The Evil Within, as well as all the studios to go along with the various IP. There are other studios that haven't released a major title yet also.

 

[feynoob]

So I think they pissed off the FTC. The initial investigations are typically private so people can speak off the record. Microsoft got very public early. I wouldn't meet off the record if the other side was going to blab the details they don't like in public.

Considering Khan, the FTC decision was set on stone.
MS being a tech corporation is basically a target for her.
Plus we all knew the decision very well, when they decided to sue (that new york story about MS getting sued by the FTC).

 

[Warablo]

If Bungies new IP isn't multiplatform then it goes against everything they said so far and lied to regulators everywhere.
There's literally nothing that seems to point in that direction dude...

Bungie's new ip will be Playstation/PC exclusive

 

[Cheezewizz]

They're objectively much worse buys than Activision Blizzard or Bethesda. Bethesda alone was a game changer thanks to the studios and IP like Starfield, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Dishonored, Prey, and The Evil Within, as well as all the studios to go along with the various IP. There are other studios that haven't released a major title yet also.

Well yeah, I think that goes without saying. Someone Like Asobo really can't compete with Activision or Bethesda, not that I particularly think it should.

That bridge between Moon and MS is definitely burned at this point, and after the rumors regarding the atmosphere there. It's probably for the best if Moon and MS just went their own way.

MS should absolutely pick up Asobo though if they're looking to sell. That studio is apparently full of talent, and is a well oiled machine. If there was a way to account for the size disparity between studios. Like say a talent level or something per capita, then I could see Asobo beating out the likes of Bethesda or Activision. In reality though, the latter two are simply too big to compare Asobo to.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

Well yeah, I think that goes without saying. Someone Like Asobo really can't compete with Activision or Bethesda, not that I particularly think it should.

That bridge between Moon and MS is definitely burned at this point, and after the rumors regarding the atmosphere there. It's probably for the best if Moon and MS just went their own way.

MS should absolutely pick up Asobo though if they're looking to sell. That studio is apparently full of talent, and is a well oiled machine. If there was a way to account for the size disparity between studios. Like say a talent level or something per capita, then I could see Asobo beating out the likes of Bethesda or Activision. In reality though, the latter two are simply too big to compare Asobo to.

Asobo is talented, true, and Microsoft should look into bringing them into the fold along with the likes of Certain Affinity and a few other studios, but Asobo, on a per capita talent basis, still just couldn't compete with the likes of either Bethesda's collective of talent or Activision Blizzard's. There are just way too many dominant disciplines across all the studios. Just think about the things many people take for granted in the systems in games like Diablo 4 or World Warcraft, the many things that have been taken for granted for years in Bethesda's single-player RPGs, but when other games fail to get it right it really stands out. Or the many MP and other systems in games like Call of Duty, the CG talent at Blizzard, the systems and features mastered across the Call of Duty titles. It gets lost in the shuffle, but a lot of the studios under Activision Blizzard have talents well exceeding just their variety of contributions to the Call of Duty franchise. Toys for Bob are one of the most talented studios in the entire biz, for example, and a lot of people forget just what Raven Software is capable of when they work on different IP.

Think about what Arkane excels at, what id software excels at, what Bethesda Game Studios or Zenimax Media Online excel at, what Machine Games excels at, what Tango Gameworks' specialty is. Asobo has demonstrated some real talent, but not quite enough to exceed the collective body of work under Activision or Bethesda even on a per capita basis.

 

[reinking]

Bungie's new ip will be Playstation/PC exclusive

 

[gothmog]

Considering Khan, the FTC decision was set on stone.
MS being a tech corporation is basically a target for her.
Plus we all knew the decision very well, when they decided to sue (that new york story about MS getting sued by the FTC).

Most people were acting like there was no way the FTC was going to sue.