Sony's future and possible studio/publisher acquisitions

[Eternal_Wings]

Unless you own it, every thing is negotiable and in the table. Microsoft is playing the long game systematically targeting PlayStations partners and games associated with them to be on their plat. Sony thinks they can sit on the sidelines and just sell consoles as a counter balance isn’t a long term solution. Especially when MS is buying IPs.

Guys this week Microsoft is aiming to close the deal. We all know Sony has been waiting for it, they hoped till the very last day to fail. Sony will do acquisitions next fiscal year when they allocate a new budget for M&A. We know Japanese fiscal years begins on April. That’s coincidentally the date where Jim Ryan leaves Sony and Hiroki overtakes as interim CEO. If they should do big acquisitions then I wouldn’t bet that we will hear before 2024 May or later. 2024 will be definitely more exciting than 2023 for sure.

 

[Johnic]

Unless you own it, every thing is negotiable and in the table.

This is what people don't get. "But Sony doesn't need to acquire SE, they have a good relationship." And then Octo traveler is not on PS. Money talks and there's no loyalty. Look at Sega. They owe their success to PS and their consumers yet they sold out to MS.

 

[Dabaus]

This is what people don't get. "But Sony doesn't need to acquire SE, they have a good relationship." And then Octo traveler is not on PS. Money talks and there's no loyalty. Look at Sega. They owe their success to PS and their consumers yet they sold out to MS.

This. Who would’ve thought that the yakuza series that started on ps2 and has been a PS exclusive for so long would now be more associated with Xbox than PlayStation? Same for persona. “Well that’s just sega.” Ok well that’s just sega until it isn’t.

“But ps5 sales, muh market share.” None of These companies are operating on any form of loyalty or rational business sense. If Microsoft writes the check and it’s big enough they’ll change allegiance even if it doesn’t make sense to us but because it makes sense for the bottom line. Sony has had 2 years basically to formally invest in close partners but instead decided to buy garage band startups and a cell phone company with 10 employees.

 

[Johnic]

"Well that’s just sega.” Ok well that’s just sega until it isn’t.

 

[Dabaus]

It’s just ninja theory
It’s just bethesda
It’s just activsion
It’s just sega.

 

[reziel]

This is what people don't get. "But Sony doesn't need to acquire SE, they have a good relationship." And then Octo traveler is not on PS. Money talks and there's no loyalty. Look at Sega. They owe their success to PS and their consumers yet they sold out to MS.

The main reason is who is in charge at the time. Rather then the long standing positive partnership companies may have one new leader could step in and convince or force their decision on the company to sell to someone who obviously wouldn't be a good choice at all. For example wasn't the current Square Enix head pushing for NFTs and now they appear to be giving Gamepass a second go? @Eternal_Wings I know you're active on following Square were the previous deals for FF7 Remake and FF16 before the new head stepped in do you know by any chance?

 

[Gods&Monsters]

I know you're active on following Square were the previous deals for FF7 Remake and FF16 before the new head stepped in do you know by any chance?

The new head just came in this year in like June. Of course it was way before. Those deals were years ago in 2019 or before.

He was there for the launch of FF16 and the FF14 fanfest with Phil on stage (). Everything before that was someone else.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

The main reason is who is in charge at the time. Rather then the long standing positive partnership companies may have one new leader could step in and convince or force their decision on the company to sell to someone who obviously wouldn't be a good choice at all. For example wasn't the current Square Enix head pushing for NFTs and now they appear to be giving Gamepass a second go? @Eternal_Wings I know you're active on following Square were the previous deals for FF7 Remake and FF16 before the new head stepped in do you know by any chance?

Square Enix is not happy about their games ending up in subscription services. Octopath Traveler II port for Xbox is not hitting Xbox Gamepass. Square Enix reported in 2021, 2022 in their investor calls they weren’t satisfied with grow with much being referable to subscription services like XGP.
OT II and FF14 will be the last attempt to see if Xbox users buy these games.

 

[reziel]

Square Enix is not happy about their games ending up in subscription services. Octopath Traveler II port for Xbox is not hitting Xbox Gamepass. Square Enix reported in 2021, 2022 in their investor calls they weren’t satisfied with grow with much being referable to subscription services like XGP.
OT II and FF14 will be the last attempt to see if Xbox users buy these games.

OT 2 makes sense but I remember FF14 being free to play or subscription based so I wouldn't expect that to have a big impact on their decision to pull games from them in the future plus its an MMO so they have consistant long term support.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

OT 2 makes sense but I remember FF14 being free to play or subscription based so I wouldn't expect that to have a big impact on their decision to pull games from them in the future plus its an MMO so they have consistant long term support.

FF14 will have less than 100 players, I am predicting this now. They will see how much work it is to set up an account and half of them will stop there. The complexity of the game will scare off most Xbox players. This definitely not a game for Xbox fans.
It’s also not free forever, just to certain parts of the game. If you pass these parts you will have to pay a monthly fee for playing FF14. FF14 along OT II is definitely going to flop hard on Xbox. Calling it now.

 

[Playstation Sucka]

Is Embracer a good acquisition target for sony ?? They have a lot of studios that haven't proved their merits but they do have some large IPs like LOTR,Spawn and Borderlands to name a few

 

[Eternal_Wings]

Is Embracer a good acquisition target for sony ?? They have a lot of studios that haven't proved their merits but they do have some large IPs like LOTR,Spawn and Borderlands to name a few

I don’t think so tbh. Maybe trying to buyout some IPs is the better and more efficient way.

 

[Playstation Sucka]

I don’t think so tbh. Maybe trying to buyout some IPs is the better and more efficient way.

But the workforce is important too I mean it's fine buying the IPs but it won't really push the needle and you would have a Konami situation

 

[reziel]

OK I take it back on Sony buying Atlus from Sega it's pretty much a done deal that they're in Xbox's pocket now. All their Persona trailers mention everything Microsoft owns but deliberately do not include Playstation or Nintendo in their videos even on their main channel. The Persona franchises is officially going to die now.

 

[avenovah]

Kamiya deserves special treatment like Kojima and Miyazaki.

 

[Puff]

Sony should hurry up

 

[Eternal_Wings]

Sony should hurry up

The same PR BS he is saying since 2020.
Sega, Square etc. rejected him already.
Capcom made it clear not to sell if Microsoft asks and to decline “politely” lol.

Capcom Says It Would "Gracefully Decline" Acquisition Offer From Microsoft

Capcom doesn't plan on acquiring others, either.

www.gamespot.com

Microsoft will never get a Japanese pub. His fantasy wish list will stay forever a dream. Even Sony was on that list. Just because they desire for it, doesn’t mean in result it will become a reality. Don’t forget what Phil Spencer said about Nintendo: “We will be playing the long game”. He has no shame at all, prime example of corporate scumbags.

 

[Playstation Sucka]

Sony should hurry up

They will be targeting single studios not publishers it will be a tough prospect for them going forward

 

[ksdixon]

They will be targeting single studios not publishers it will be a tough prospect for them going forward

They should co-develop/co-finance choice PS associsted 3P IPs, and have defecto PS exclusitivity through that arrangement. But through exclusitivity/co-dev, games should actually use more of PS5's under the hood shit instead of dragging PS4/PC/Switch/XB along for the ride.

Do they need to "own", or just have strategic shoring-up of 3P IP/3P Relationships?

 

[reziel]

They will be targeting single studios not publishers it will be a tough prospect for them going forward

Same old same old people saying that they either going after Sega or Bamco, and on the smaller side is Platinum games.