I'm not sure how likely any of that is, especially Kadokawa given that they're in a large number of industries that are not at all relevant to gaming or electronics.
Sony's future and possible studio/publisher acquisitions
- Thread starter Eternal_Wings
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Only publisher MS can buy with little scrutiny imo is Paradox. Largely a pc centric company with very little console presence
Microsoft can't buy anymore big publishers for a long time simply because they have to fully integrate Zenimax & ABK, which will take time. They also have to clean up workplace culture with ABK, something they promised they'd do, which will take a long time as well. Plus, they need to work on producing some real results with these acquisitions. That means producing substantial revenue & profit growth, consistent quality releases. Which will take at least a few years.
Them rushing to buy yet another major publisher would be the dumbest thing they could do given what they already need to deal with. Regulators would reject it, simply pointing out the contradictions in reasons for MS making another buy so soon after both Zenimax and ABK. Even more gamers would reject it, seeing it for the greed and anti-consumerism that it rightfully is. Their own shareholders will reject it, asking why so much money is being spent in gaming without at least seeing if revenue & profit results justify what's already been spent previously.
The only people egging on another major publisher acquisition by MS, or fearing they're going to do one so soon, are simply ignorant console warriors. I don't care which side you're on; think about this rationally. Yes, Sony/SIE do need to eventually buy a publisher or two (one Japanese/Asian, one Western would be ideal), and they need to invest in & buy shares in as many of the major ones as possbile, like what they did with Squaresoft back in the day. And, getting some high-up people working at these big 3P, or even on their BoD, to protect PlayStation's best interests while still doing what's otherwise best for those publishers, will be a necessary move too IMO.
But we're already seeing some movement in these areas i.e the partnership with NCSoft and Shift Up. I'm 100% sure it won't be stopping there.
It would make more sense for Sony to purchase them not just for games they publish but the anime, and other merchandise. It fits the Sony entertainment narrative they have but it's highly unlikely that they would or will. I mean they have control of most of Japan's anime streaming rights as it is right now.
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Optimal solution would be Square Enix + CDPR. Both of these companies would close the gaps in Sony‘s portfolio and solve some variety issues.
By optimising their development and infrastructure would help these companies to evolve. Sony equipment plus more resources, would be a huge growth boost for both.
By optimising their development and infrastructure would help these companies to evolve. Sony equipment plus more resources, would be a huge growth boost for both.
Been thinking more about everything... Square, From (Kadokawa) and IOI or Remedy would be the way I'd go...
Square and Kadokawa help in Japan and Asia in a strong way and tackle the real RPG issue Sony has, even though they aren't WRPG's. However it counters the whole song and dance Phil did with Square. I think they are both powerful moves that cannot be countered.
IOI or Remedy takes one or two strong European studios away from Xbox and diversifies the lineup, adding to the network of European studios. Remedy is quite efficient at making games...so that would be fantastic.
I expect Sony to go after Korean companies as we have heard though... which is predictable but also costs I believe are rising a lot in Korea. Didn't we just hear that Twitch were shutting down there due to internet costs.
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I have seen on Reset Era someone saying a big acquisition (bigger by a lot than Bungie) will be revealed in the new fiscal year 2024, according to reports. I wonder who it is…
I can ask around but it's doubtful anyone would have knowledge of such a big deal, anyone that would talk....
I just say that I am hopeful for them to make a meaningful move.
"Hopes" are not the same as rumors, there weren't any credible ones about Discovery wanting a sale only months after first buying it.
Edit: But then you think Sony debated buying Marvel for 50 billion dollars, versus the 4 billion Disney actually paid for it so why am I even bothering.
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Yeah according to some dude, I think Navra (something like that) said in Q1 there will be a bigger acquisition than Bungie revealed by Sony. He/she didn’t mention any company. Just this input…
Keep in mind that new fiscal year in Japan begins at April 1st 2024. Q1 = April, May and June. So if true in that window we will see news.
True, but I do remember nate or somebody on era implying that MS were going to buy another publisher back when Bethesda was first bought. They aren't supposed to just be revealing plans like that to randoms on the internet, but MS seems to be allowed to get away with alot these days.
Nate will take literally anyone as a source, him saying something carries less weight than random 4chan posts. And from the trial we know they at leadt had serious discussions about buying several things that didn't work out, including multiple publishers, so his "source" was likely talking about something like that that never worked out.
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Sony and MS always have been open saying that they'll continue acquiring, no need to be an insider to know this.
I mean, the most recent news in this front is that MS said that after ABK they'll continue acquiring. And Sony said a few months ago that not in the short term due to market conditions, but that in the mid to long term they'll go back to heavily invest in acquisitions, focusing specially in their entertainment (including gaming) divisions.
Sony's current mid term (3 years) plan ends this March. It's fair to assume they'll announce another mid term plan that will include another budget for acquisitions and investments, as the current one had. We'll see there the scale of the amount of money they plan to spend during that 3 years period.
Sony also mentioned that plan to use the money they'll get from selling around 80% or their finantials/banks division on acquisitions, but also said that the process of selling it will take 2-3 years. So maybe when the Sony guy said mid to long term he meant that they plan to wait until they complete selling this before they start spending big on acquisitions.
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1. I think MS will go on a cool down period while they fully absorb ABK and hopefully they aren't allowed to just keep devouring publishers until every other platform has their games library decimated.
2. I don't think Sony ought to take that long to start acquiring things. All the good stuff will be taken if they wait too long.
Yes, I agree that MS (and Sony, because they said so) will take some time before continuing with meaningful acquisitions.
But at the same time, I think they won't miss good opportunities if they suddenly appear, specially if are "cheap" and "small" companies that would be pretty helpful for them for a little cost (as the recent Sony acquisitions of iSize or Audeze).
Regarding having issue with regulators, I think only the acquisitions of EA or Take 2 could raise their eyebrows but they are smaller than ABK, so if they allowed MS get ABK very likely would also agree the acquisition of any other considerably smaller publisher if MS is who does it, specially if they wait some years and continue releasing many games on PS and if the ABK acquisition -as expected- doesn't highly push the Xbox and GP numbers.
I think regulators would be way more aggresive against Sony trying to acquire a top publisher because they are the market leader in consoles, non-mobile game subs, console VR and pretty likely cloud gaming. Specially if Sony keeps improving their marketshare vs MS and maybe also if distances from Tencent as the top 1 overall top grossing gaming company.
Things would be extremely disappointing if all of your views/predictions came true. I think Sony will act relatively sooner rather than later though.
It isn't my views or predictions, it's what Sony and MS said they will do. They'll continue acquiring, but just not right now. They said they'll take some time and that will take some cash by selling their finantial/banks stuff.
Regarding what regulators would do yes, it's my opinion / prediction looking at what they look at, I think it's common sense that they would be more strict against the market leader in gaming and multiple gaming submarkets than against the third/last one of the race in several areas.
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Honestly, other than mobile its not like Sony is all that weak in any one area (WRPGs, I guess, if you want to seperate that out), and Playstation continues to sell well, its very easy to make a business case for not acquiring anything or focusing on internal growth.