Sony's future and possible studio/publisher acquisitions

[avenovah]

Tin foil hat: It’s obvious Microsoft made an offer that can’t be refused one way or another to the cma. So with that as the context do You guys think that senator commenting on Japan was a preemptive from Microsoft to try and prevent a Sony response acquisition in Japan?

Sony Gaming Unit Adds Uber Antitrust Lawyer Amid Expansion Plans

McCurdy, Sony’s new senior director for competition and regulatory affairs, arrives as the company’s gaming subsidiary recently made a key acquisition and scuttled an antitrust class action.

Who knows.

Sony Gaming Unit Adds Uber Antitrust Lawyer Amid Expansion Plans

Sony Interactive Entertainment Corp. has hired a new top antitrust and public policy lawyer in Gregory McCurdy, who held a similar position at Uber Technologies Inc.

news.bloomberglaw.com

 

[Zzero]

Square Enix is the most realistic get for me.

Take 2 is unrealistic though we would all like it.

GTA alone can sell systems.

Other than that I would like Sony to purchase or create several FPS and WRPG studios.

2/3 studios developing FPS titles and a couple of WRPG studios will be enough to counter the loss of Bethesda and eventually COD.

Sony will regret disbanding Zipper Interactive and selling Sony Online Entertainment. They would have been useful now.

Mismanagement of Everquest is probably the biggest outside-of-Japan mistake Sony has done post-2000. And its not even really their fault, MMO upgrades/maintenance was uncharted waters back then.

 

[Dabaus]

I understand Microsoft themselves dont really have influence in Japan, but theyre sleazy enough to US this senator to pressure Japans government to reign sony in. I know that sounds crazy but if its going to effect the US's trade policiy and agreements Japan isnt going to start a trade war for playstation. Its Microsoft, theyre the kings of sleaze and using governments to get their way. Maybe im reading way too much into it but the fact it was even brought up seems like a veiled threat to me.

 

[Yobo]

EA would be an excellent purchase for Sony. It covers everything they lost in the last 2 major acquisitions and adds extra.

I know they get a crap reputation but we're talking about IPs here. And they have plenty. Mass Effect and Dragon Age cover that WRPG hole and Battlefield somewhat fills up that FPS hole. Not as popular as COD but better than nothing.

If there's one thing that Sony's REALLY good at, it's managing studios. They can do a lot with IPs mentioned above.

Don't think EA will happen but they'd fit well into what Sony needs.

I don't see the vision. Bioware is coming off some real flops. If they can get back to what they were great but basically everyone who made Bioware great is gone. Same story for DICE

So not only would Sony need to save a couple massive sinking ships there, but EA is so big it would be closer to a merger. EA would essentially retain a lot of what it is and everything toxic about it

The second part is the bigger problem.I f MS want EA they can have it IMO

Now if EA wanted to depart with some of those devs and IPs it might be worth considering trying to resurrect them

 

[ksdixon]

I keep catching glimpses of saying MS have upset EA somehow, but I don't understand how/when? Haven't XB/EA historically been cozy, or has that just been marketing rights? There were execs going back and forth though, iirc? What's happened recently between them?

In terms of Sony focus on M&A, Sony get FF by default already, and I think the breakdown of other SE-involved titles like Outsiders vastly skew PS sales and/or engagement tail-end. I just don't know how important SE's mobile efforts are in a financial context to Sony.

Capcom are far more important in a games context, I'd say, for Sony, in how they support PSVR in big IP, and among other things their IPs also do heavier numbers on PS too, iirc.

Of the two choices, I'd swing Capcom personally, for a closer sewing-up of Capcom/part Dimps ownership and EVO efforts.

 

[Puff]

Sony needs to hurry up and buy Square & Capcom soon. So I never have to worry about their games ever again.

Greedy Xbots are hoping Microsoft buying JP Publishers

 

[Dabaus]

This 98 percent market share hign junk from that US senator is giving me concern sony wont be able to make a move in japan now and do think sony may have played themselves a bit here. Maybe im worrying too much about that. At this point i think sony sign the deal and go after sqaur enix. If you look at the big picture they would lose cod in 10 years but would have gained bungie, a stake in fromsoftware that they can always increase, and square enix. I think thats an extremely fair trade off for my gaming tastes anyways. With a 70 percent take of revenue (100 percent from PS users) from ff14 and destiny 2 revenue you might be close to making up revenue from the loss of cod, which again wouldnt at worst case scenario be 10 years from now. Microosft getting the US governemt to look at japan market share isnt a road any of us want to go down.

 

[Johnic]

Sony needs to hurry up and buy Square & Capcom soon. So I never have to worry about their games ever again.

Greedy Xbots are hoping Microsoft buying JP Publishers

They pretty much need to stop screwing around with acquisitions. All these GaaS little studios they're buying aren't going to cut it.

Talent is fine and all but they need to starty securing actual IPs. An indie studio isn't going to fill a gap left by loss of IPs they had access to for years. They can at least secure some Japanese publishers, if anything.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

I understand Microsoft themselves dont really have influence in Japan, but theyre sleazy enough to US this senator to pressure Japans government to reign sony in. I know that sounds crazy but if its going to effect the US's trade policiy and agreements Japan isnt going to start a trade war for playstation. Its Microsoft, theyre the kings of sleaze and using governments to get their way. Maybe im reading way too much into it but the fact it was even brought up seems like a veiled threat to me.

I don’t think so. Japan dislike America, this is also due to history. Sony is very important for Japan‘s economy, they are also a company protected by government. Sony has a lot of influence there and are the second wealthiest company after Toyota in Japan. Sony is not only Playstation, people need to understand that.

Bruh this political attack will have consequences for Microsoft and the USA. Did you see who is behind this intrigue?

This woman is being sponsored by Microsoft, she is lobbying for them. Genki called her out for not listening to her rubbish.



She doesn’t know shit about Japanese economy. She is bust patriotic scum. The whole reason behind this attack is more than absurd. What do they think to achieve with this pushed agenda, forcing Japanese to buy their American console? That’s just hilarious. Japanese will never bow down to Microsoft and their shitty products. Pretty sure this political faux pas will have a international aftermath. Japan needs to sanction them for this insult.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

They pretty much need to stop screwing around with acquisitions. All these GaaS little studios they're buying aren't going to cut it.

Talent is fine and all but they need to starty securing actual IPs. An indie studio isn't going to fill a gap left by loss of IPs they had access to for years. They can at least secure some Japanese publishers, if anything.

Come on Guys, Japan is not America‘s lapdog. It’s the different way, Japan is exporting much goods to the USA. The USA has no word or power about what happens in Japan. Do you really think the USA would risk to worsen their realistic with Japan just because Microsoft’s shitty console is not selling there??? Sony isn’t at fault, nothing new that Xbox never sold in Japan. Most Japanese don’t even use Windows. They have custom Linux Operating Systems and Mac OS. Don’t forget the FTC one of the most powerful organisations in North America, is still opposing Microsoft.

 

[Dabaus]

I hate to be Mr pessimistic here but I have to say Sony got completely outplayed. Not only is the deal going through now, but they had to give sensitive documents to the ftc, AND now their desire to categorize Nintendo as a separate low end market may bite them bad in Japan if they attempt to make acquisitions there if Microsoft presses this 98 percent market thing. Jim Ryan and these lawyers should be fired.

This 98 percent high end market thing in Japan might simultaneously paralyze any major moves Sony could do over there and give the excuse Microsoft needs to get their foot in the door. It’s a catastrophe.

 

[Zzero]

Whats this about a senator saying stuff? I follow politics quite closely but this is the first I've heard of this.

 

[Zzero]

I hate to be Mr pessimistic here but I have to say Sony got completely outplayed. Not only is the deal going through now, but they had to give sensitive documents to the ftc, AND now their desire to categorize Nintendo as a separate low end market may bite them bad in Japan if they attempt to make acquisitions there if Microsoft presses this 98 percent market thing. Jim Ryan and these lawyers should be fired.

This 98 percent high end market thing in Japan might simultaneously paralyze any major moves Sony could do over there and give the excuse Microsoft needs to get their foot in the door. It’s a catastrophe.

If its just the JP market then non-JP companies don't have a say in it. And Sony will be allowed to reset its arguments there, just as all other companies are in all other courts.

 

[Dabaus]

If its just the JP market then non-JP companies don't have a say in it. And Sony will be allowed to reset its arguments there, just as all other companies are in all other courts.

I suppose that could be true, but if Sony were to buy any publisher it would have to go through all the same country courts like this activision deal has and whose to say ms won’t want some revenge and bribe of the judges to block it? Sonys strategy has been extremely short sighted in my opinion. They should’ve accepted consolidation is here to stay and got square, capcom, cdpr whoever while regulators were focused on activision blizzard. Heck maybe Sony overloading the system like that would’ve led to all deals, including activision blizzard being blocked?

 

[Johnic]

Come on Guys, Japan is not America‘s lapdog. It’s the different way, Japan is exporting much goods to the USA. The USA has no word or power about what happens in Japan. Do you really think the USA would risk to worsen their realistic with Japan just because Microsoft’s shitty console is not selling there??? Sony isn’t at fault, nothing new that Xbox never sold in Japan. Most Japanese don’t even use Windows. They have custom Linux Operating Systems and Mac OS. Don’t forget the FTC one of the most powerful organisations in North America, is still opposing Microsoft.

It's not just about acquisitions. MS can outbid Sony on anything. Look at their recent cozying up to Sega. The only way to truly prevent something like that is an outright acquisition or buying a large percentage of shares to where you can influence decision making. 3rd party deals are just a bandaid in the long run. Next installment of a particular franchise can go to Xbox if they outbid Sony for it. Again, look at Sega and how MS has been moving on that.

So MS doesn't have to acquire a Japanese publisher to get games but Sony might have to just to keep them. I know an argument can be made about Sony having a good relationship with Japanese devs. But money talks. Look at Square. They have a great relationship with Sony but a lot of games are Switch exclusive.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

It's not just about acquisitions. MS can outbid Sony on anything. Look at their recent cozying up to Sega. The only way to truly prevent something like that is an outright acquisition or buying a large percentage of shares to where you can influence decision making. 3rd party deals are just a bandaid in the long run. Next installment of a particular franchise can go to Xbox if they outbid Sony for it. Again, look at Sega and how MS has been moving on that.

So MS doesn't have to acquire a Japanese publisher to get games but Sony might have to just to keep them. I know an argument can be made about Sony having a good relationship with Japanese devs. But money talks. Look at Square. They have a great relationship with Sony but a lot of games are Switch exclusive.

Stop it please, I can’t hear this outbid nonsense anymore. This a myth born by Xbox fanboys. Japanese government forbids hostile takeovers and are very strict on foreign companies. You know a company needs to be willing to sell, this „I bid more“ is nonsense and that’s not how business in Japan works. Did you not ask yourself why Octopath Traveler II is not Nintendo Switch exclusive? This very likely because Sony is acquiring Square Enix. When Square Enix would have stayed independent, then Nintendo would have made a deal for Octopath Traveler II.

 

[Deleted member 417]

A lot of doom ITT. Do we really want Sony buying up chunks of the industry as an attempt to gain leverage over a company trying to buy the industry? I thought consolidation was bad?

ABK is a massive company that isn't going to bear fruits or change the landscape of traditional console gaming. The industry may change, and I say let it. Let it become a subscription based service with cheap hardware designed to stream from the cloud.

As Nintendo have shown us; stick with what you are good at and the money still flows. Sony will still be pumping out high-end games on high-end hardware with new technologies, just like they have done for 30 years.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

A lot of doom ITT. Do we really want Sony buying up chunks of the industry as an attempt to gain leverage over a company trying to buy the industry? I thought consolidation was bad?

ABK is a massive company that isn't going to bear fruits or change the landscape of traditional console gaming. The industry may change, and I say let it. Let it become a subscription based service with cheap hardware designed to stream from the cloud.

As Nintendo have shown us; stick with what you are good at and the money still flows. Sony will still be pumping out high-end games on high-end hardware with new technologies, just like they have done for 30 years.

Yes consolidation is bad I would have agreed before Microsoft went on a buying spree. Several Multi-platform studio since 2017, followed by Bethesda and now the biggest publisher worldwide: Activision Blizzard!

Sony isn’t close as Nintendo. Nintendo’s franchises are unique, not even COD or GTA can beat Mario, Zelda and Pokémon.

Sony is very dependent by 3rd Party partners. Square Enix and Capcom are from utmost importance to secure! Playing nice and insisting on just buying 10 people Studio doesn’t work anymore. Sony needs to at least secure their partners in Japan. I am not pointing on Microsoft, Tencent and Netease are also a potential danger for Sony.

 

[Johnic]

A lot of doom ITT. Do we really want Sony buying up chunks of the industry as an attempt to gain leverage over a company trying to buy the industry? I thought consolidation was bad?

ABK is a massive company that isn't going to bear fruits or change the landscape of traditional console gaming. The industry may change, and I say let it. Let it become a subscription based service with cheap hardware designed to stream from the cloud.

As Nintendo have shown us; stick with what you are good at and the money still flows. Sony will still be pumping out high-end games on high-end hardware with new technologies, just like they have done for 30 years.

It is bad, problem with that line of thinking is that it's too late now. MS started this, not Sony. They have 2 options now, either do nothing and lose even more or take part and try and secure what they can.

In a perfect world, these companies would use that money to fund new studios and IPs. That's what's been happening until MS decided they want to buy the industry out. So they either partake or get left behind. No other option.

 

[Dabaus]

A lot of doom ITT. Do we really want Sony buying up chunks of the industry as an attempt to gain leverage over a company trying to buy the industry? I thought consolidation was bad?

ABK is a massive company that isn't going to bear fruits or change the landscape of traditional console gaming. The industry may change, and I say let it. Let it become a subscription based service with cheap hardware designed to stream from the cloud.

As Nintendo have shown us; stick with what you are good at and the money still flows. Sony will still be pumping out high-end games on high-end hardware with new technologies, just like they have done for 30 years.

It’s takes 5-6 years to make a aaa game. Sony has 4, maybe 5 top tier studios capable of that. Most of these studios are once a generation games. Sony needs more fire power. If they lost Square or capcom, PlayStation would become a niche brand. I’m sorry but that’s the reality. The reason the brand is so strong is because people are used to getting most aaa games on PlayStation but the longer this consolidation environment continues, and Sony refuses to participate, the worse it’s going to get for them. They’ve sat out long enough, it’s time for them to accept reality.