Microsoft's acquisition of Activison Blizzard

[adamsapple]

And now it’ll flop terribly because nobody buys or plays games on Xbox… poor game

 

[Darth Vader]

But then please don't get sad talking about MS saying on paper that Sony pays to block games from game pass.

Where did I say that?

This isn't whataboutism. This is pointing out the hypocrisy of many here, likely including yourself, that don't take that piece of document at its word.

So you're assuming my position without knowing my position while trying to use that as a gotcha, all while bringing separate arguments into the fold? hmmmmmm

Whataboutism is an argumentative tactic where a person or group responds to an accusation or difficult question by deflection. Instead of addressing the point made, they counter it with “but what about X?”.

It's directly relevant to this discussion about securing exclusive content.

Nope, it isn't. The argument, the whole argument about this acquisition, is one company wanting to complete an acquisition worth 70B, or about 70% of their competition's value. You have been the one trying to inser the "but what about exclusive deals" argument as if you can equate an exclusive deal for a game with an acquisition of a whole publisher with 12 studios.

That's not a self debunk lol, the amount of third party exclusive games so far has been more notable than the PS4 gen in a similar time frame.

We can all see that, you choose to ignore it.

Your claim: There's more
My counter: Show us where there's more
Your response: Everybody knows there's more

I'm just asking for you to prove your claim with data, that's it.

Again, not sure which part of that you think is a self debunk. When talking about either Sony or MS paying to secure exclusive content from third parties, Imran's statement is directly relevant even if it isn't specifically talking about Death Stranding. Don't get stuck on the semantics of one titles name to try and pass off the whole thing.

Two things: First, you yet again try and bring examples about game exclusivity as if somehow that's in the same realm of existence as buying a whole publisher. Second, I clarified that your argument is weak for two reasons (in bold below). Your understanding of "securing exclusives" is, of course, strickly relegated to a position of "buying exclusivity", when Sony has shown time and again (and via leaked documents) that they fund games to be developed. Games that would not exist if they didnt' pay for them to be made in the first place.

And still, I gave the statement the benefit of the doubt because I fully believe Sony tried to both secure exclusives and also to get games made for them.

First, leaked documents are not leaker statements. Completely different things. But I digress. That's not what he says. You're again trying to equate paying for a game to be developed to pay for its exclusivity. Imran does not clarify which scenario (probably both) was on the table. Another self debunk.

Would be nice if you also showed similar eagerness to quote the poster who used Bethesda's name when talking about third party stuff or when thicc called Perfect Dark a 3P game in his novella.

I'm not aware of Perfect Dark's history, but this triggered me to review. Within the context @thicc_girls_are_teh_best provided yes, Perfect Dark is a first party game. However, Perfect Dark started as a third party franchise. Actually, as a lot of Xbox franchises have, but that's a discussion for another day.

Can you please provide a quote for the "bethesda" thing?

Plenty of sources and instances of individuals or court documents recently stating them paying to keep content off of rival platforms. Not gonna present you a list, you can google it yourself.

So you are not willing to substantiate your arguments? Nice. It's good to see you're arguing in good faith

Don't think I ever said that. The "X" was stolen from "Y" is the shtick of some other sad posters here tho.

Stop lying. I never said "stolen", I said "taken". And yes, yes you did. First quote is your claim. I then provided a list of Xbox console exclusives. You then replied with the second quote. I'll bold it out for you so that you don't get lost:

Weird flex, but ok. Sony have made more timed exclusivity deals to keep games off of Xbox this gen than the previous. If that's not intentional starvation of the competition, not sure what is. Don't forget, multiple Bethesda games were and future games were being planned, to be a full year timed exclusive to Sony. That's the kind of thing that bleeds competition.

Just look at the names of the games in your own article.

Do you think those have the same sway as huge franchises like Final Fantasy, Silent Hill, huge AAA projects like Death Stranding or the heavily rumored MGS remake ?

And yet you choose to deliberately not point out thicc's mistake of citing Perfect Dark in 3P exclusive content while invoking my usage of Death Stranding multiple times.

Sad, expected you to be above the other crazies, but I guess you aren't.

Can you prove it was deliberate? No, you can't, and it wasn't. As for me being "above the other crazies", I'm not above or below anyone.

 

[Swift_Star]

Not really a goalpost move. I stand by what I said: Stalker is s huge franchise and is moneyhatted by Microsoft. I think the main takeaway here is that Sony gamers don’t really mind timed exclusivity because the games will be available after certain date anyway. I also stand by what I said a bunch of times: Japanese publishers and devs aren’t so keen on launching games on Xbox and this won’t change regardless of marketshare so if you like Japanese games, there’s literally no reason to buy an Xbox.

 

[Darth Vader]

Not really a goalpost move. I stand by what I said: Stalker is s huge franchise and is moneyhatted by Microsoft. I think the main takeaway here is that Sony gamers don’t really mind timed exclusivity because the games will be available after certain date anyway. I also stand by what I said a bunch of times: Japanese publishers and devs aren’t so keen on launching games on Xbox and this won’t change regardless of marketshare so if you like Japanese games, there’s literally no reason to buy an Xbox.

Not sure if I fit the mold of "Sony gamers", but I mind timed exclusives (with an *)

> Timed exclusives where they're paying to keep the game off other platforms? I don't like them
> Timed exclusives where they provide manpower or financing for the game? I'm ok with them

 

[Swift_Star]

Not sure if I fit the mold of "Sony gamers", but I mind timed exclusives (with an *)

> Timed exclusives where they're paying to keep the game off other platforms? I don't like them
> Timed exclusives where they provide manpower or financing for the game? I'm ok with them

I don’t mind them at all, because most of the time they’re games I don’t care about but I’m okay with waiting. Too much on my plate rn. I waited for Rise and it was fine, because even tough I have a switch, I didn’t want to bear the shortcomings of the console. And I’m glad I did it.

 

[Ezekiel]

Not sure if I fit the mold of "Sony gamers", but I mind timed exclusives (with an *)

> Timed exclusives where they're paying to keep the game off other platforms? I don't like them
> Timed exclusives where they provide manpower or financing for the game? I'm ok with them

It's really impossible to know which scenario a timed exclusive game will be in though, unless the dev comes out and says "we couldn't have made this without a partner", but even then, people will be sceptical, because it could just be a part of their marketing arrangement to say that. No dev would say "we've been payed to not release on a certain platform". That wouldn't be good PR.

Timed exclusives, no matter the 'reason' it's done, is a part of the industry since the beginning. Those deals are made to benefit the platform holders and the publishers/devs, not the players.

 

[Ezekiel]

Yep, it was either that or Sony's draconian contracts where you were locked into marketing agreements where you were prohibited from putting a game on game pass, let alone xbox.

Glad we see eye to eye.

Do you still fail to see how a marketing deal works?

You think a platform holder would pay for marketing rights for trailers and the ability to show off the game at their shows, and not prevent that publisher/dev to make other marketing arrangements on the side with another platform holder to include that game in their subscription service day one, effectively bypassing their marketing arrangement?

 

[Darth Vader]

I don’t mind them at all, because most of the time they’re games I don’t care about but I’m okay with waiting. Too much on my plate rn. I waited for Rise and it was fine, because even tough I have a switch, I didn’t want to bear the shortcomings of the console. And I’m glad I did it.

That's fair, I just wanted to add that I don't like some of them (clarified in my post)

It's really impossible to know which scenario a timed exclusive game will be in though, unless the dev comes out and says "we couldn't have made this without a partner", but even then, people will be sceptical, because it could just be a part of their marketing arrangement to say that. No dev would say "we've been payed to not release on a certain platform". That wouldn't be good PR.

I agree that you can't know which scenario each game falls into, but I can still be against one of them.

 

[Plextorage]

Q2And you've mentioned it every time after even though I stopped. so ..

Awesome. No need to bring it again

But it isn't exclusive anymore.

It is not, but it never was announced as timed. Just full exclusive before MS decided to end the deal. But it counts in every single measure when it comes to compare 3rd party deals

Just like the Hogwarts missions won't be exclusive anymore after the arbitrary 1 or 2 year timeline they've imposed, whichever limit they've imposed.

Thing is, it was announced as timed. See the damn difference?

However, when will FF16, FFR7 or Rebirth come to Xbox? No one knows. The lock is so tight.

Same can be applied to Stalker 2, Darktide, Valheim, Gunk etc.

Microsoft owns the Quantum Break IP.

Wait, what? How i mentioned Quantum Break?? Yes, you're right that MS owns and IP, yes, since i've mentioned it. Anyway, meant to say CrossfireX which was developed by Remedy and Smilegate. So, MS did 3rd party deal for CrossfireX.

STALKER 2, reportedly based on some marketing documents, is only a 3~6 month exclusive. And are you acknowledging that STALKER 2 is as important as big and important as FF16

Yes, i acknowledgeding that. Stalker 2 is a full AAA game, first one has still a very big fanbase till this day. So, yes, it is important and big as FFXVI. No need do diminish Stalker 2 for whatever reason. Exclusivity is uknown still despite that info from Epic/Apple case. It counts as MS 3rd party deal and there is no need to ignore it

 

[Gods&Monsters]

just remember that MS bought a big 3rd party publisher ( Bethesda) with huge IP library and instantly locked games from other platforms, starting with HiFi. Think about it before you are go full hypocrisy.

Don't bother arguing with that robot. Every regulator agrees that those games were taken away, Bethesda themselves agree and apologized, Sony called them out. Everybody outside of their GAF/Era echo chamber knows it.

In their minds, Final Fantasy 16 is the biggest game out there. Ark 2, Stalker 2, Starfield, Redfall, nothing comes close. Yet FFXVI is not out, 3 years into the gen, and the PS5 is still selling like hotcakes without it. Somehow that's the game missing on Xbox that would change everything.

 

[Plextorage]

Yep, it was either that or Sony's draconian contracts where you were locked into marketing agreements where you were prohibited from putting a game on game pass, let alone xbox.

Glad we see eye to eye.

Draconian? LOL

Do you still fail to see how a marketing deal works?

You think a platform holder would pay for marketing rights for trailers and the ability to show off the game at their shows, and not prevent that publisher/dev to make other marketing arrangements on the side with another platform holder to include that game in their subscription service day one, effectively bypassing their marketing arrangement?

Draconian, he said. Naaah, MS doesn't do that. Poor MS, only Sony does that. :/

 

[riesgoyfortuna]

Trillion dollar company can’t afford to outbid Sony?

Its funny how these mongrels were bragging about ms money one year ago and now they are the poor underdog

 

[Deleted member 417]

Well if we are going back 8 years we might as well go back 16 and talk about them forcing 6axis bullshit into Lair. Scalebound was cancelled because it couldn't meet quality standards across all XBO skus.

And crackdown and halo hit those same quality standards? The xbone and 1x were more capable than the Series s and x respectively

 

[Zeroing]

Even @adamsapple would agree that Google buying big 3rd publishers would be something to worry. They are known for making android, doesn’t mean they understand gaming. Just because Stadia failed doesn’t mean Google is entitled to buy everything without anyone questioning - is google an underdog as well???

Not saying Microsoft does not understands or cares about gaming - but their decisions and their market share, shows they never had focus and never view gaming as something that is important.

So why is Microsoft buying big publishers? pay for win? Get a bigger slice of the industry before Apple, Google, Amazon?

It is normal to question Microsoft true intentions, I doubt it’s to save the gaming industry or because they are the “underdog”

My rant is over.

 

[daniel5043]

Don't bother arguing with that robot. Every regulator agrees that those games were taken away, Bethesda themselves agree and apologized, Sony called them out. Everybody outside of their GAF/Era echo chamber knows it.

In their minds, Final Fantasy 16 is the biggest game out there. Ark 2, Stalker 2, Starfield, Redfall, nothing comes close. Yet FFXVI is not out, 3 years into the gen, and the PS5 is still selling like hotcakes without it. Somehow that's the game missing on Xbox that would change everything.

I can say whole heartily that ark 2 will outsell ff 16 by the end of this generation

 

[Deleted member 417]

Put adamsapple on ignore, his new orders are obviously to shit up and derail the thread.

He moves goalposts, lies and does mental gymnastics to accuse you of being wrong.

He is a shit tier poster with nothing to offer

 

[Zeroing]

Put adamsapple on ignore, his new orders are obviously to shit up and derail the thread.

He moves goalposts, lies and does mental gymnastics to accuse you of being wrong.

He is a shit tier poster with nothing to offer

I’ve been on Era activision thread, it was like playing playing a souls game with 5% health and no weapons, I’m amazed how long I lasted there before it was game over.

This thread is so much easier, Adam is not even a boss fight.

 

[Deleted member 417]

I’ve been on Era activision thread, it was like playing playing a souls game with 5% health and no weapons, I’m amazed how long I lasted there before it was game over.

This thread is so much easier, Adam is not even a boss fight.

That's because era is a shit hole. Maybe I am in the wrong but I don't want to come into the thread and see 3 new pages of arguments because of era/gaf level slap fights.

Having opinions is one thing. Denying facts, logic and getting caught out in his own hypocrisy is boring.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

But it isn't exclusive anymore.

Just like the Hogwarts missions won't be exclusive anymore after the arbitrary 1 or 2 year timeline they've imposed, whichever limit they've imposed.

However, when will FF16, FFR7 or Rebirth come to Xbox? No one knows. The lock is so tight.

Why do you care so much if they do or don't? You beat this drum so much, lack of main FF games on Xbox troubles you deeply. If you're an Xbox person chances are you also have a PC...you can go play the FF games there once they arrive. All the same measure, I'm sure PS gamers wished they didn't need to go through an entire PS3 generation without the Mass Effect games, but if they really wanted to play them...they bought a 360.

It's the same as some people complaining about Starfield not coming to PS5; we know that it was definitely coming to PS5 before MS acquired Zenimax and shelved the PS5 version, but it doesn't change the fact that console-wise it's an Xbox exclusive. If you want to play the game on console, buy a Series X or S. Or if you have a decent PC, go play the game there.

You're crying and complaining about mainline FF games on Xbox the same way some PS people (usually on Twitter) cry over Starfield not coming to Xbox. At least we know there's financial data that proves an obvious incentive why Square-Enix would not bring new main FF games to Xbox platforms. Why bother when Xbox contributed to a paltry sum of total sales revenue?

That same justification can't be used for Starfield because FO4 and Skyrim moved at least equal rate of sales on PS/Xbox consoles in both instances.

 

[Cool hand luke]

It's the same as some people complaining about Starfield not coming to PS5; we know that it was definitely coming to PS5 before MS acquired Zenimax and shelved the PS5 version, but it doesn't change the fact that console-wise it's an Xbox exclusive. If you want to play the game on console, buy a Series X or S. Or if you have a decent PC, go play the game there.

Or wait until Xbox hardware dies and Microsoft publishes it elsewhere.