Sony: "Giving Microsoft control of Activision games like Call of Duty" has "major negative implications"

[Loy310]

You should watch this to maybe understand how most people covering this have been wrong, and why CMA is raising red flags:

If no one agreed with what Sony was saying then this would have gotten pushed through without anyone making a fuss over in UK.

A lot of these folks on yt and in the media are gonna drain your time and energy getting views on this topic, even if they have no clue what the fuck they are talking about. All they need is the catch phrases to bring in viewers. Its like a gold rush, get in on the ground level or you lose. A lot of chans/websites are gonna pick up subs and ad rev over the next year or 2 on the topic of acquisition, and that's the point.

 

[Deleted member 13]

Here's how I see it.

MS buying up big studios is more about filling their already existing studios that lack talent. I don't think MS wants to control or create a monopoly in the gaming industry. When you look at the actual content for MS, they are lacking in popularity of their own IPs. They literally have no choice but to buy up the studios that garner the best sales and the largest influence across the gaming industry. It's more of a defensive move imo due to the lack of popularity. They got an excellent deal with buying Asobo Studios because that's one of those talented companies that rivals a Sony-based studio.

Sony doesn't have the resources to buy large studios like that and to me, they shouldn't buy them even if they had the money. Sony basically has most of the talent in the industry and MS could be looking at that as a monopoly (even though it's not).

Let the Xbox fans enjoy their new studios. The Sony fans do it ad infinity as they have some of the best talent in the industry and nearly all their studios make GOTY content.

There's no need for either camp to be frustrated with each other. We can all talk about this in peace without bashing each other down for 'routing for the cause'.

Lastly, of course it's all about money and investors. Both companies (like every other company) wants to make money. Having the best studios, or the best talent or the most sales, etc.. all contributes to making more money. At the end of the day, let's not pretend that it's not about that.

 

[Papacheeks]

Here's how I see it.

MS buying up big studios is more about filling their already existing studios that lack talent. I don't think MS wants to control or create a monopoly in the gaming industry. When you look at the actual content for MS, they are lacking in popularity of their own IPs. They literally have no choice but to buy up the studios that garner the best sales and the largest influence across the gaming industry. It's more of a defensive move imo due to the lack of popularity. They got an excellent deal with buying Asobo Studios because that's one of those talented companies that rivals a Sony-based studio.

Sony doesn't have the resources to buy large studios like that and to me, they shouldn't buy them even if they had the money. Sony basically has most of the talent in the industry and MS could be looking at that as a monopoly (even though it's not).

Let the Xbox fans enjoy their new studios. The Sony fans do it ad infinity as they have some of the best talent in the industry and nearly all their studios make GOTY content.

There's no need for either camp to be frustrated with each other. We can all talk about this in peace without bashing each other down for 'routing for the cause'.

Lastly, of course it's all about money and investors. Both companies (like every other company) wants to make money. Having the best studios, or the best talent or the most sales, etc.. all contributes to making more money. At the end of the day, let's not pretend that it's not about that.

Even if Sony had the means, it's not in their nature to buy something as large as Acitivsino/Blizzard mainly because of how they internally run things when it comes to studios.

Thats why Bungie is being left alone, it makes no sense for Sony to try and change a self made studio thats been on their own.

Every purchase Sony has made for the most part was never when a studio was in dire straits, or not doing well. Insomniac was fine money wise, but wanted to sell because they wanted to grow and have more assurances of said growth.
Which you do that through a larger company.

Microsoft is literally buying a Publisher. Take Call of Duty out of the talking point, and you are left still with the second largest Tech giant buying the biggest to second largest Third party publisher in the gaming sector.
The ripple effects it will have would be enormous to the revenue streams generated from it. THink retail? Think midnight launches, and retailers that actually make a good amount off of releases like COD.

Think of companies who sell their headsets, peripherals literally based on COD releases. If tomorrow COD became exclusive the implications of it would have negative effects.
The same goes for WOW and Diablo brand wise. PC companies that make keyboards/Mice/Headsets and gaming gear would be affected if WOW was pulled and walled off.

So assurances need to be made. Thats what this is all about. It's not about stopping it, its about having assurances in place that will insure companies wont lose those revenue streams created by those releases.

 

[Dabaus]

It makes sense to publicly try and derail this but i think sony needs to make moves of their own. This deal may yet go through despite theyre best effoers to block it and buying 20 man cellphone game studios isnt going to make a difference. If Haven and Bungie are all sony have to show for by the time this closes then they deserve what they get quite frankly. At the very least they could buy stock shares in key partners like square, capcom, take 2 etc. If i were them i wouldve announced the acquisition of square during microsofts show.

 

[Deleted member 13]

Even if Sony had the means, it's not in their nature to buy something as large as Acitivsino/Blizzard mainly because of how they internally run things when it comes to studios.

Thats why Bungie is being left alone, it makes no sense for Sony to try and change a self made studio thats been on their own.

Every purchase Sony has made for the most part was never when a studio was in dire straits, or not doing well. Insomniac was fine money wise, but wanted to sell because they wanted to grow and have more assurances of said growth.
Which you do that through a larger company.

Microsoft is literally buying a Publisher. Take Call of Duty out of the talking point, and you are left still with the second largest Tech giant buying the biggest to second largest Third party publisher in the gaming sector.
The ripple effects it will have would be enormous to the revenue streams generated from it. THink retail? Think midnight launches, and retailers that actually make a good amount off of releases like COD.

Think of companies who sell their headsets, peripherals literally based on COD releases. If tomorrow COD became exclusive the implications of it would have negative effects.
The same goes for WOW and Diablo brand wise. PC companies that make keyboards/Mice/Headsets and gaming gear would be affected if WOW was pulled and walled off.

So assurances need to be made. Thats what this is all about. It's not about stopping it, its about having assurances in place that will insure companies wont lose those revenue streams created by those releases.

I understand what you are saying.

I still think that Sony doesn't have much to worry about. They have changed some of their tactics for getting sales and as long as they don't lose their talent and as long as their games start to branch out to other forms (i.e. movies), I think Sony will be ok.

 

[Dabaus]

Just thinking about The sheer audacity to go on television and openly admit you’re looking for more acquisitions in the middle of being investigated for the one of the largest acquisitions of all time is some chutzpah. Either Microsoft thinks they’re untouchable because they’re an American corporation or they know the deal will go through by hook or by crook. You’d think they’d keep a low profile but man, it seems bold to me.

 

[KickNamesTakeAss]

Oh its bold alright. I'm not sure how his admission can help the current deal with regulators. Maybe they think they're too rich to stop? Despite regulatory concerns MS seem almost over confident and assured of buying the biggest publisher in gaming. How many more developers / publishers do they need before gamers have no other choice but get a gamepass subscription to continue playing the games they enjoy. This is the goal of "reaching more gamers" just control enough popular IP and reduce gamer choice down to just one.......gamepass (and/or other MS controlled devices).

 

[laynelane]

A lot of these folks on yt and in the media are gonna drain your time and energy getting views on this topic, even if they have no clue what the fuck they are talking about. All they need is the catch phrases to bring in viewers. Its like a gold rush, get in on the ground level or you lose. A lot of chans/websites are gonna pick up subs and ad rev over the next year or 2 on the topic of acquisition, and that's the point.

Yeah, the acquisition/console wars definitely drive engagement and clicks. It's all just noise, basically.

 

[laynelane]

Even if Sony had the means, it's not in their nature to buy something as large as Acitivsino/Blizzard mainly because of how they internally run things when it comes to studios.

Thats why Bungie is being left alone, it makes no sense for Sony to try and change a self made studio thats been on their own.

Thank you. This is something that has been on my mind for a while now, but I wasn't sure how to phrase it. There's been a constant "but Sony" defense around MS' moves whenever there is criticism leveled at them. You know, "but Sony would do much worse if they bought ABK", etc. Which, as you stated, goes completely counter to their strategy around acquisitions.

 

[laynelane]

Just thinking about The sheer audacity to go on television and openly admit you’re looking for more acquisitions in the middle of being investigated for the one of the largest acquisitions of all time is some chutzpah. Either Microsoft thinks they’re untouchable because they’re an American corporation or they know the deal will go through by hook or by crook. You’d think they’d keep a low profile but man, it seems bold to me.

I think it's more that Phil is a showman. He gives his fans and the media what they want and they lap it up. You can see it in how he is virtually untouchable despite the many missteps he's made. He's your "friend" and cares about gamers and will do all he can for them. Plus, he's a "real gamer". If people wanted him to be reserved and dignified around this investigation, he would be. But that's not what they want.

 

[Loy310]

I think it's more that Phil is a showman. He gives his fans and the media what they want and they lap it up. You can see it in how he is virtually untouchable despite the many missteps he's made. He's your "friend" and cares about gamers and will do all he can for them. Plus, he's a "real gamer". If people wanted him to be reserved and dignified around this investigation, he would be. But that's not what they want.

Feel like we time traveled 25 years back to the 90’s where you had to own an n64, a Saturn a PC and a PSX if you want to play all the major ips.
All the “together as one” bullshit phil is spewing and yet the complete opposite is about to happen.
Wonder who gets GTA exclusive, it was always only available on PS so time will tell. I bet it would suck for XB if Sony somehow locked up GTA and RDR for life.
(My post from another site)