Director of Japan Creator Partnerships (Xbox)
"In this role, you will develop strong professional relationships with key executive partners across the Japan gaming ecosystem. You will identify opportunities and create strategic growth plans for partnerships with some of the world's largest Game Creators."
So sony is just going to let microsoft buy out the industry? Theyre going to have to do more then buy these start up games as a service studios if they want their brand to survive in the next 10 years.
This role is to convince Japanese publishers to release their games on Xbox too, or depending the case put their game on GP or to get some (pretty likely timed) console exclusive. The guy in charge of Japan inside their 3rd party relationships team. Not to acquire them.
Maybe after the Square Enix / Embracer Group deal closes, we could expect something. If not at Fall/Winter 202, then maybe in 2023. I don't really think Sony will only watch how MS buys more publishers, because they hired a while back for a new position as director for complex acquisitions and mergers. All the investments we have seen so far were to strengthening their GaaS; Porting/supporting Studios and Cloud portfolio. Maybe Sony will buy further small studios like Emberlab, Deviation etc. but that's never all of it.
Square Enix selling off their western studios means they're preparing to get acquired, imo. I think Sony will buy them.
Yes, it could be possible that if Square Enix sells the remaining company to someone like Sony they may need to close the western studios acquisitions before announcing it or starting that other process due to paperwork, regulatory stuff etc.
For the different regulatory and paperwork reasons, if Sony would be the one to buy it could also want to close the Bungie or Haven acquisitions before starting the next big acquisition.
I totally could see Sony buying a Japanese publisher, specially one that would turn Sony the market leader or a key actor in key, strategical genres/game types that they basically don't cover via 1st party to have that genre secured and to don't depend on 3rd parties and avoid having to moneyhat constantly there: rpg, fighting, horror, soulsborne.
If they also have a great presence in other consoles, PC and mobile better because Sony also wants moneys from the other platforms. And if they also have big names they can use in PS+ or movies/anime/tv shows even better. And if can help in GaaS, eSports and VR even more.
But I think Sony will also continue making small acquisitions in some of these specific areas: someone to adapt their IPs to mobile, some talented porting studio more or two, a handful talented VR teams, a handful outsourcing studios, someone very successful in eSports (not limited to gamedevs), someone very talented and successful in a particular niche/genre not covered by Sony's 1st party, etc.
but I hope in the future they will acquire Square Enix maybe their games quality will improve.
