Alright. So here are my thoughts after digesting the news for a bit.
I like this Microsoft that is going all in on gaming. I cautiously applauded their Zenimax acquisition because it confirmed to me that they were in it for good. However, this kind of consolidation feels a bit troubling. Especially if Sony goes out and buys Ubisoft or partners with EA or Nintendo. In the end, gamers will lose.
I am a big proponent of exclusives. The last 8 years, 6 have been exclusives. These games can be riskier, more ambtious and are given time for polish. However, acquiring big publishers like this is not going to make yearly CoDs more ambitious or less buggy. They would still need to ship in November every year. They will still need to be formulaic. Who does this help really? Were Xbox owners ever NOT going to get COD games? It just locks out content on PS platforms.
I think those $70 billion would've been better spent elsewhere. For example, their first party has yet to release a single next gen only game. We are literally 2 years in. They shouldve invested a billion into doubling if not tripling every single studio. Get them more productive so they can get games out every 2 years. Hiring Crystal Dynamics is NOT the answer. They need to build their internal teams.
Acquire smaller studios like KojiPro for a couple of hundred million dollars and give them a massive budget and full creative freedom. Same goes for many other creative geniuses who are currently struggling to put games out. Build them a team. Give them $100 million. Let them make their dream game. Invest in talent, not in publishers.
You can do all of that for a fraction of $70 billion. It would give Xbox gamers MORE value because those would be games not possible without Microsoft's involvement whereas CoD was always going to be on MS systems. All they get now is CoD on Gamepass on Day one. That saves them $70 a year. $60 if you count that month's sub cost. It's good, but investing in NEW games would be a much better use of that money.
I really hope Sony doesnt overreact and go and buy Ubisoft or merge with Nintendo or EA. It would be bad for Xbox gamers, and it would provide zero value to PS fanbase. They dont even have a Gamepass sub for cheaper day one games.
Lastly, best of luck to MS. This is them flexing and while I dont quite love it, I admire it. This is them saying we are here to stay, come at me.