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[FBeeEye]

His clarity is fine. He's talking about COD like they did with Minecraft a decade ago. The rest of it is necessary negotiations since Sony keep dragging their feet over it.

I mean he literally said call of duty by name and that it won't be exclusive, what more do you need lol.

He needs to be outraged.

 

[quest]

Stellar Blade's original announcement was for 8th-gen platforms. The team dropped ALL 8th-gen platforms. As they were retargeting 9th-gen, Sony saw an opportunity to help the team out, fund their growth and development and provide technical assistance. They even offered to publish the game for them in multiple regions (presumably global).

Nothing stopped Microsoft from doing similar other than complete disinterest. Show me where Starfield was targeting XBO & PS4 before getting cancelled, otherwise these aren't the same situation.

And even I think a lot of folks super-upset over Starfield being console-exclusive to Xbox are petty. Doesn't change the fact there was a PS version in development that suddenly ceased development when MS acquired Zenimax. That's an event that factually happened, Pete Hines himself more or less said it.

Show me where Starfield was announced for the playstation. Nothing is stopping sony from buying a publisher they spent 4 billion for bungie. I know its only fair when everyone plays by rules that favor Sony. And playstation gets all major studio AAA games. This studio didn't need help they are as big as Obsidian entertainment and inexile combined when Microsoft bought them. They also have tencent money this was to take another game from xbox nothing more.

Project Eve Dev CEO Bought Every Employee A PS5

We've done the maths and that's... a lot. It's a lot.

www.thegamer.com

Although this is its first console game, Shift Up is not a small studio. Boasting 260 employees

 

[Astray]

Can you explain to me like I'm five, to how every single game being available on every single platform will create a monopoly?

Because I'd say its 100 percent the opposite.

Eventually people will congregate to one and never seek out any alternatives.

Look at Steam, it has basically everything available on it, and no matter how many alternative directions its competitors try (GOG with noDRM and fixing old classic titles, Epic with better cuts for Devs + exclusivity + Fortnite + Free games every week), they still reign supreme with no real competition on that PC ecosystem, even Microsoft eventually had to start releasing games there instead of keeping their %100 cut on the MS store.

Gabe Newell basically has access to at least %90 of any gaming software purchases worldwide, that's pretty fucking wild when you think about it and a total monopoly with no real hope for actual competition.

 

[Astray]

Do people not know how contracts work? especially contracts put forward to regulators as concessions to make a deal?

“How do we know he won’t change his mind”

Because then Microsoft get hauled before the EU/CMA et al, fined and forced to divest.

Contracts can be broken though. Go to your local courthouse and you will find tons of cases happening for exactly that.

Ticketmaster and Livenation had behavioral remedies promised and basically reneged on them, it took the rage of Swift fans to make the DoJ act on them.

 

[pasterpl]

hehe the comprehension card.

Bet its gonna blow your mind when I tell you that the problem peope have isn't to do with anything about what's said in the OP.

Technically, all that can be all true. Every single word.

The problem is, that coming from someone that is flat out making libraries of games from otherwise third-party publishers exclusive to their platform, can't really be saying shit like that about the one game and expect anyone to take him seriously.

Get it now?

And you are still not getting it. Phil said;

“When we say available everywhere or not exclusive….It’s not about a skin on a gun. It’s not about a certain kind of mode of the game. The same version of the game will be available on all platforms, which is really what we do today.’

Then he goes and gives Minecraft as an example of platform parity.

Underlined the most important stuff - when they(ms) say that the game is not exclusive and will be available everywhere it will ship with the same content for platforms, when they make game exclusive eg. Starfield it doesn’t matter. But you go on and on in this thread about games exclusivity when Phil didn’t mentioned that, he is talking about parity of games that they decide to make multi platform eg. Minecraft. It is simple, if they decide that the next Doom is multi platform it will have content parity across all platforms, if the decide it will be exclusive it will be only Xbox and PC. Phil in this interview is talking only about content parity he gives you example of exclusive quest in Hogwarts on Playstation and counter this approach with Minecraft parity across all platforms.

 

[Coconutt]

 

[Ozriel]

Why fucking buy them then! Why couldn't Microsoft just build a solid first party team and get them to develop incredible franchises for XBOX like Sony did with their teams when the PS3 was an utter disaster? It makes no sense. Every excuse makes no sense.

They’re building teams. The Initiative is new, and they’ve expanded Playground into another team for Fable.

Ironically, we’ve had threads on Fable with complaints that the new team hadn’t put out an open world RPG in 4+ years.

They’ve also partnered with external studios like IOI and Avalanche. Not to mention a substantial first party base that’s already working on games.

Their main issue is how slow their pipeline is to delivery, combined with shoddy marketing and baffling decisions made in the past. Not to mention some leadership issues. It’ll get rolling eventually, but for now there are glaring gaps in their AAA output.

They want Activision for mobile, Gamepass content and COD revenue. None of that requires COD exclusivity.

 

[Ainem Enamas]

No extra stuff on another console is very good but console exclusive games are another thing because game developers can focus more on specific forms of art!

 

[Talkin Hawkin]

COD being day and date on Gamepass is a big issue for Sony. That gives them a significant advantage in gaming subs (which they lead in) and cloud gaming (which they lead in).

The most popular version of CoD is the FTP warzone.

How wil having a FtP game on gamepass help xbox or hinder Sony?

 

[ironmang]

Why fucking buy them then! Why couldn't Microsoft just build a solid first party team and get them to develop incredible franchises for XBOX like Sony did with their teams when the PS3 was an utter disaster? It makes no sense. Every excuse makes no sense.

So they have more control over the franchise and can put it on gamepass or prevent Sony from getting exclusive content deals.

Unlike console warriors, these companies care about whatever makes the most money, not just who has the most exclusives.

Why'd they buy Minecraft if they're just going to share it with everyone?

 

[Clear]

Phil's not going to be around forever, and his successor(s) may take a different view, so his statements don't really carry that much weight in a business sense.
Hence the need to offer 10 year binding contracts.

 

[FBeeEye]

well this deal isn t going through. no matter what he promises his words mean nothing after what he did with bethesda.

it shouldnt go through at all.

What did he do with Bethesda? I don't get you guys. One moment Bethesda makes buggy games, no one wants Starfield, and Starfield looks worse than a PS3 game. The next moment y'all are mad salty that the game is exclusive.

 

[Ev1L AuRoN]

One must be naive to believe a word of Phill, Why spend 69kk to buy a company and maintain the status quo. No siree.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

The most popular version of CoD is the FTP warzone.

How wil having a FtP game on gamepass help xbox or hinder Sony?

Look at sales charts every year

If having the top selling games on PS is suddenly "free" via Gamepass that could make a difference

 

[FBeeEye]

Remember when they categorically said Xbox wasn’t just a way to get MS software into your living room and then almost literally the day after it released Ballmer said it absolutely was just a way to get MS software into your living rooms?

Remember when they said there was no evidence of systemic flaws in 360 design and they were simply replacing them as a show of goodwill and then it turned out they’d put aside a vast sum To cover anticipated returns?

What MS says isn‘t what MS dles.

MS are still fighting the OS wars. Xbox is still just a front in that.

I don't remember any of this. Receipts, please.

 

[The_Mike]

Look at Steam, it has basically everything available on it, and no matter how many alternative directions its competitors try (GOG with noDRM and fixing old classic titles, Epic with better cuts for Devs + exclusivity + Fortnite + Free games every week), they still reign supreme with no real competition on that PC ecosystem, even Microsoft eventually had to start releasing games there instead of keeping their %100 cut on the MS store.

Player has choices, players picking their favorite store.

In what way is that monopoly?
Microsoft has a really bad rep about their store. They had a Windows Store GFWL years ago which they shut down, removing all games people have purchased.
I dont mind using their current store, but I understand why people won't.
Epic Launcher launched with a really lackluster store. I bought one game on their store, World War Z. After they handed it out for free later, I felt like I wasted money on it and dont buy anything there anymore.
I occasionally buy on GOG, or, its a while since at least, because I am one of those booting Steam up.

But, Steam being popular doesnt make a monopoly. Monopoly is theres no other place to buy your games. There is.

You can even buy steam keys from third party sites. So you can even buy games from other places than Steam, and activate them on Steam.

 

[Talkin Hawkin]

Look at sales charts every year

If having the top selling games on PS is suddenly "free" via Gamepass that could make a difference

I don't doubt it. I do doubt the claim that millions would jump ship and buy a £300 console to get CoD for free. CoD on gamepass will do very little for Microsoft if they are struggling to increase their install base.

 

[FBeeEye]

So they have more control over the franchise and can put it on gamepass or prevent Sony from getting exclusive content deals.

Unlike console warriors, these companies care about whatever makes the most money, not just who has the most exclusives.

Why'd they buy Minecraft if they're just going to share it with everyone?

Microsoft owning COD is beneficial to all gamers. Microsoft not owning COD is only beneficial to PlayStation owners.

These are facts and why the usual suspects are mad salty.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

I don't doubt it. I do doubt the claim that millions would jump ship and buy a £300 console to get CoD for free. CoD on gamepass will do very little for Microsoft if they are struggling to increase their install base.

I am not so much talking about tomorrow per say but long term when it comes time to buy their next console

 

[Philfrag]

Big Business is going to fuck you either way. You just have to decide whether its Microsoft or Sony you want to fuck you. Personally I would like the Microsoft dick in me as I'm already invested in the PC platform, but I can completely understand those that want the Sony dick if they're already committed to the Playstation. In regards to monopolies and buyouts etc - well its just the nature of big business. Its funny watching these companies play the ethical discourse when they all do it. Sony's just pissed its been playing catch up with both the acquisitions and live services. Even though you have to give it to Sony for still caring about the first party single player experience, but It feels like they're also incredibly annoyed that Microsoft doesn't even seem to care about that. I think a lot of this back and forth is a game of optics, Sony need to just let Microsoft have the Activision acquisition without coming across so entitled, it makes them look like they need the COD franchise when in fact they could just compete in that market. If anyone can do it, its Sony. Microsoft are playing the optical game a lot better. They have their vision, they do business like they don't even need to compete. It comes across as a lot more graceful, no matter how much you think they're lying. Of course it doesn't matter anyway as its big business and they all lie anyway.

 

[Bernardougf]



True. And even more people waiting to bring that flag down. Meltdowns on both sides is going to make this forum reach record posting levels for months if not years to come!

Well IMO, accompanying this forum for a long time, the xbox extremists are some of the most delusional fanboys I've ever seen and this kind of people tends to have stronger reactions for good or bad ... so I think this type of meltdown is going to be bigger therefore more interesting to see... anyway as you said it the show is going to happen no matter what is the outcome... we just have to wait

 

[Thirty7ven]

Just give him the fucking thing already so he can boast about how he helped create call of duty.

 

[Topher]

Naw of course it would have something to do with it, but at the same time I'm not just gonna sit and complain about it. It is what it is. I'm not going to keyboard warrior bitch and moan and try to dispute whether there was ever an Xbox version in the works that was "stolen"

Bending over backwards to defend it when it really doesn't need defending isn't any better, bud.

 

[BennyBlanco]

If they sign a 10 year deal, then it will be exclusive in 10 years. Phil will be long gone and all his predecessor has to say is "things change".

 

[FBeeEye]

And he doesn’t have to. Why would anyone in their right mind pay €79 for a crossplay title and play it on another platform when it’s on gamepass?

A. They don't have GamePass
B. They don't own an Xbox

The real benefit for everyone else though is not having the game content-crippled by Sony money hatting.

This is the genesis of Phil's point. Paying devs to content-cripple other versions of the games is a disgusting practice.

Without competition, I'm sure Sony would be worse than 80s Nintendo. That's why I'm for the Activision deal.

 

[Ozriel]

Contracts can be broken though. Go to your local courthouse and you will find tons of cases happening for exactly that.

Ticketmaster and Livenation had behavioral remedies promised and basically reneged on them, it took the rage of Swift fans to make the DoJ act on them.

I’m not sure why I need to point out to you that Sony, Nintendo, Nvidia et al are significantly bigger and have orders of magnitude more lawyers than aggrieved concert goers.

The last time a ‘technical error’ made Microsoft stop implementing browser ballot concessions made to the EU, the likes of Google reported to the commission and they were fined nearly 560 million euros in 2013…and that was considered ‘lenient’ because they argued it was a technical error. The EU decided to punish them as a deterrent.

If you think Satya and Phil plan to get fined 10% of annual revenue to keep COD 2027 exclusive to Xbox

 

[twilo99]

Just like Minecraft. It makes business sense.

It doesn’t fit the the narrative that they will make everything exclusive to PC and Xbox tho..and maybe Nintendo.

Is it technically an exclusive if it’s available on two or three platforms?

 

[twilo99]

I don’t understand what the big deal with CoD is, yes Sony is heavily reliant on it, but I don’t think it will be a thing in 4/5 years time anyway

 

[drganon]

Microsoft owning COD is beneficial to all gamers. Microsoft not owning COD is only beneficial to PlayStation owners.

These are facts and why the usual suspects are mad salty.

Once again, the shit you pull out of your ass don't count as facts.

 

[Thirty7ven]

There’s no problem with Starfield being Xbox/PC exclusive. The problem is the whole holier than thou attitude that doesn’t pass the smell test.

When Elder Scrolls get announced as Xbox/PC exclusive it will look even worse. I’m sure by then Kotick will be the one in charge of the Xbox division too. Can’t wait.

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

I don't doubt it. I do doubt the claim that millions would jump ship and buy a £300 console to get CoD for free. CoD on gamepass will do very little for Microsoft if they are struggling to increase their install base.

Are you aware that there are millions of people that buy consoles for mostly just one game? FIFA, COD, GTA...etc. Or that buy consoles simply to play a particular game with their friends?

 

[Thirty7ven]

I don’t understand what the big deal with CoD is, yes Sony is heavily reliant on it, but I don’t think it will be a thing in 4/5 years time anyway

Well you know sometimes we have to look inside and realize we don’t know what the fuck we are talking about.

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

I don’t understand what the big deal with CoD is, yes Sony is heavily reliant on it, but I don’t think it will be a thing in 4/5 years time anyway

Ok, tell that to MS. et them sell off the IP so this deal can go through. They have been given that option you know?

Microsoft owning COD is beneficial to all gamers. Microsoft not owning COD is only beneficial to PlayStation owners.

These are facts and why the usual suspects are mad salty.

This is very concerning. Not even that you would say something like that, but that there are people like you that actually believe this.

 

[pasterpl]

I mean him talking about intentions is exactly why this is getting such scrutiny from regulators. How does the regulator guard against the likelihood that:

- He suddenly changes his mind.
- He get overruled by his superiors.
- He gets replaced by someone who IS interested in the exclusivity game.
- Someone else buys Xbox from MS and decides that exclusivity serves their agenda?

Etc etc.

We are not even delving into the possibility that he's an outright bullshit artist, we don't have access to his and MS's private internal comms, but regulators do, which is why they have all objected to the deal and dragged MS into this battle to begin with.

Behavioural remedies that result in legally binding contracts for long periods of time with huge fines if these contracts are in any way broken by ms. And even bigger exit fees if ms would like to stop applying these.

 

[bluecowboys]

I said this before and I will say it again. Sony is upset that MS will be able to advertise this game and have it on game pass day one.

For a lot of consumers (not all) it may as well be exclusive to Xbox. Who would want to get this on PlayStation when Xbox game pass has the game practically for “free”.

 

[twilo99]

Ok, tell that to MS. et them sell off the IP so this deal can go through. They have been given that option you know?


This is very concerning. Not even that you would say something like that, but that there are people like you that actually believe this.

And miss on all that potential revenue while CoD is relevant? Why would they do that?

That can be a lot $$ until CoD dies

 

[Kvally]

Well IMO, accompanying this forum for a long time, the xbox extremists are some of the most delusional fanboys I've ever seen and this kind of people tends to have stronger reactions for good or bad

I see it equally on both sides.

 

[Ozriel]

One must be naive to believe a word of Phill, Why spend 69kk to buy a company and maintain the status quo. No siree.

They spent billions on Minecraft and maintained status quo.
They’re not going to maintain status quo with Call of Duty. They’ll put it on Gamepass.

Look at sales charts every year

If having the top selling games on PS is suddenly "free" via Gamepass that could make a difference

Yes. A difference in the number of Xbox consoles sold or Gamepass subscribers.
No meaningful difference in the number of PlayStation consoles sold since they’ve got an enviable library of first party games that people really love.

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

And miss on all that potential revenue while CoD is relevant? Why would they do that?

That can be a lot $$ until CoD dies

So COD is a big deal then? Make up your mind.

 

[ironmang]

I don't doubt it. I do doubt the claim that millions would jump ship and buy a £300 console to get CoD for free. CoD on gamepass will do very little for Microsoft if they are struggling to increase their install base.

People can own multiple consoles at once. You don't have to "jump ship".

I think you underestimate how big of a selling point that'd be too. Why else would Sony have a deal to keep COD off gamepass?

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

I don’t understand what the big deal with CoD is, yes Sony is heavily reliant on it, but I don’t think it will be a thing in 4/5 years time anyway

Just a quick look shows this last COD made $1 Billion dollars in just 10 days and COD in total has made $31 Billion which is 4X the reported amount for the entire Grand Theft Auto series

I think its safe to say in 4/5 years it will still be a monster

 

[Astray]

Player has choices, players picking their favorite store.

In what way is that monopoly?
Microsoft has a really bad rep about their store. They had a Windows Store GFWL years ago which they shut down, removing all games people have purchased.
I dont mind using their current store, but I understand why people won't.
Epic Launcher launched with a really lackluster store. I bought one game on their store, World War Z. After they handed it out for free later, I felt like I wasted money on it and dont buy anything there anymore.
I occasionally buy on GOG, or, its a while since at least, because I am one of those booting Steam up.

But, Steam being popular doesnt make a monopoly. Monopoly is theres no other place to buy your games. There is.

You can even buy steam keys from third party sites. So you can even buy games from other places than Steam, and activate them on Steam.

Gamers chose Sony this past console gen, and now indications seem to be that they are choosing them again. Why is that such an issue there but is not an issue with Steam?

Either call it out for both or don't at all.

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

Behavioural remedies that result in legally binding contracts for long periods of time with huge fines if these contracts are in any way broken by ms. And even bigger exit fees if ms would like to stop applying these.

I said it in the MS Activision OT... weeks ago.

MS would never make COD exclusive to Xbox. I also pointed out why they don't need to. Again....

THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

 

[Astray]

I’m sure by then Kotick will be the one in charge of the Xbox division too. Can’t wait.

Dude anyone who thinks Kotick (or at least his closest lieutenants) won't be running Xbox within 3 years after if this deal closes is absolutely deluded.

The man has a proven track record of generating revenues that Spencer and co can't even dream of. He's an unrepentant asshole but he's also an absolute shark, and a master of this gaming business. He will oust Spencer in due time.

You simply don't abandon talent like that.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Yes. A difference in the number of Xbox consoles sold or Gamepass subscribers.
No meaningful difference in the number of PlayStation consoles sold since they’ve got an enviable library of first party games that people really love.

Oh in no way do I think COD possibly coming to Gamepass would hurt PS sales

But I do think internally MS would see it move the needle though and imo thats all this investment needs as they would still be making the Billions off PS users

I just know there is a large segment of people who don't play exclusives and buy a console for the yearly releases like COD, Fifa, Madden, NBA 2k and the free shooters and mainly play where their friends play

My nephews being a great example of this

 

[bluecowboys]

They spent billions on Minecraft and maintained status quo.
They’re not going to maintain status quo with Call of Duty. They’ll put it on Gamepass.

They spent billions on Minecraft and maintained status quo.
They’re not going to maintain status quo with Call of Duty. They’ll put it on Gamepass.



Yes. A difference in the number of Xbox consoles sold or Gamepass subscribers.
No meaningful difference in the number of PlayStation consoles sold since they’ve got an enviable library of first party games that people really love.

I’m not sure about that. The best selling PS4 game was Spider-Man / God of war and only about 20% of PS owners at best bought the game.

Also the status quo is still maintained because the way you purchase the game didn’t change. You just have more options now.

 

[DForce]

Microsoft owning COD is beneficial to all gamers. Microsoft not owning COD is only beneficial to PlayStation owners.

These are facts and why the usual suspects are mad salty.

All gamers are benefiting from Call of Duty right now.

It's likely that COD will be removed from PS platforms after the contract is up.

No one believes this twisted logic you're sewing other than the Xbox fanboys on this thread. lol

 

[Heisenberg007]

There’s no problem with Starfield being Xbox/PC exclusive. The problem is the whole holier than thou attitude that doesn’t pass the smell test.

When Elder Scrolls get announced as Xbox/PC exclusive it will look even worse. I’m sure by then Kotick will be the one in charge of the Xbox division too. Can’t wait.

Yep, exactly. That's where I'm, too, at this point.

You want to buy a multiplatform studio or publisher and make its multiplatform games exclusive? Fine. Do it. But

(1) don't cry about Sony's timed exclusivity deals, and
(2) don't pretend that you're the good guy, don't lie before the acquisition closes that you have no incentive or intention to make these games exclusive, and don't preach "gaming is for everyone" and "when we all play; everyone wins" bullshit.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Dude anyone who thinks Kotick (or at least his closest lieutenants) won't be running Xbox within 3 years after if this deal closes is absolutely deluded.

The man has a proven track record of generating revenues that Spencer and co can't even dream of. He's an unrepentant asshole but he's also an absolute shark, and a master of this gaming business. He will oust Spencer in due time.

You simply don't abandon talent like that.

People tend to glass over the fact Kotick saved and made Acti what it is today

 

[DenchDeckard]

There’s no problem with Starfield being Xbox/PC exclusive. The problem is the whole holier than thou attitude that doesn’t pass the smell test.

When Elder Scrolls get announced as Xbox/PC exclusive it will look even worse. I’m sure by then Kotick will be the one in charge of the Xbox division too. Can’t wait.

And what will you feel like when Bungies next IP is a Sony / PC title?

We know it's in development, and 100% would have had an Xbox version planned. It may still come to Xbox it might not...How can you say for a fact that the next Elder Scrolls wont come to Playstation?