Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion [FTC sues to stop - CMA issues updated preliminary findings]

[Buff_Cupcake]

Remember when all we had to worry about were simpler things like - which new games were coming out? Now we are arguing the nuances of corporate bullshittery on behalf of two corporate giants and their pasty middle aged white dude figureheads as they embarrass themselves publicly.

[sepheroithisgod]

Very happy with the UK's decision. Obviously, it's not over yet, but it seems promising.

[Rozalia1]

Quote

Microsoft’s proposal contained a number of significant shortcomings connected with the growing and fast-moving nature of cloud gaming services:

• It did not sufficiently cover different cloud gaming service business models, including multigame subscription services.
• It was not sufficiently open to providers who might wish to offer versions of games on PC operating systems other than Windows.
• It would standardise the terms and conditions on which games are available, as opposed to them being determined by the dynamism and creativity of competition in the market, as would be expected in the absence of the merger.

Given the remedy applies only to a defined set of Activision games, which can be streamed only in a defined set of cloud gaming services, provided they are purchased in a defined set of online stores, there are significant risks of disagreement and conflict between Microsoft and cloud gaming service providers, particularly over a ten-year period in a rapidly changing market.

 

What the CMA thought of Microsoft infamous 10 year deals. I'm not surprised that Microsoft hid these little facts such as it not being all Activision games and non-Windows operating systems getting locked out. Exactly what you'd expect Microsoft to do.

 

As Microsoft and its supporters have loved to cast Sony as an evil empire I'm going to do this. This result is yet another win for the good guys. It is a beautiful irony that the Cloud, which Microsoft has trumpeted about for a great many years and they used to tell people that actually they weren't dead last, they were actually in first as they were ahead on Cloud services, is what sunk them in the end.

 

Microsoft is outraged at the result naturally. They and Activision have already sent the threatening message to the UK that doing this will hurt the country and blah blah blah as you'd expect. As a result they likely will indeed appeal which will be more time and money wasted for very likely no gain whatsoever as overcoming the CMA on mergers through the CAT has never happened as far as I know (on other issues yes, mergers specifically no). For Xbox this is utter despair as it might well kill the entire division in the end as their business keeps collapsing even with all the buyouts they've made and this one was supposed to prop everything up for them.

 

Now some I'm sure would say that would be a bad thing because competition. No. PlayStation is what it is today because of the tough times and extra competition they faced during the PS3 period. Nintendo was great right from the start but competition only sharpened them. Microsoft are not like these companies. As Steve Jobs famously said, they are tasteless. The big clash of the 360 didn't make them more competitive, it only made them go into full on arrogance which at least with Sony/Nintendo when they had been arrogant previously they at least had absolutely massive amounts of the market which Microsoft did not have during that period. So Xbox's success got us the Xbox One and their dream being made reality of the all in one box, what was supposed to dominate the living room and grant Microsoft a new monopoly. It failed and Microsoft met with massive failure so what did they do? Strive to better compete? Of course not. Enter Gamepass, another scheme to destroy the competition (by destroying the current market by making people averse to buying games) and usher in their so wanted monopoly. Now while we're not at the end of the road just yet, it appears that once again Microsoft's plots are falling apart and can't do the job. They refuse to treat gaming, a creative field unlike the rest of their business, differently so their management even if they had any ability (they don't) would be hamstrung, which has led to massive mismanagement, delays, and they may hide them but everyone knows it has meant massive costs too. In the name of their plot they've degraded heavily their own console sales and third party sales, in essence torching their own business. All this lets not forget while proclaiming to people that Sony/Nintendo are small time players who aren't actual competition to Microsoft in gaming, instead it being Google and Amazon.

 

So no. No tears should be shed for Xbox if they drop out in the future. Companies who torch their own business in an attempt to destroy the competition are better defunct than continuing to exist. There are but two reasons at this point for Microsoft to carry on this nonsense. The first is if Spencer can really work that tongue of his and convince management either that Gamepass will eventually work, or convince them of some other grand plot that can destroy their competition. The other reason is simply hatred. Microsoft entered the market with the mission of going after Sony, Nintendo was never someone they saw as an enemy hence the attempt at a buyout which got them laughed out of the room. Since then they have shown Sony, as they have other companies in other fields like Slack (before they attached themselves to a massive company) distain. For Microsoft losing to Google/Amazon/Apple/you get the idea is fine and whatever, those are titans who can match Microsoft and so it is no disgrace to lose to them. Losing to Sony, again and again, however clearly appears to be a great shame to them and perhaps that alone might allow Xbox to continue existing, bleeding money all the while.

 

1 hour ago, NorthPaul93 said:

I know they can appeal the decision, but from what I understand, it's unlikely the outcome will change in their favor.

 

The CAT can make the CMA go back and fix any procedural issues, but the CMA can simply fix those and hand out the same result. The process seemed done right to me, as Microsoft and their supporters if asked yesterday would have said also, so the chances of even that happening is approaching 0.

 

29 minutes ago, TJ_Solo said:

Some people still think that this dea is "in the bag". The brainwashing is crazy sometimes.

 

For some it'll be because even if they'll never admit it they know that Xbox needs something like this to be able to stay in the game as their business is getting eradicated, so they continue to believe as the other option for them is to despair. For others perhaps it is the PDST of big business where their minds can't process big business actually being defeated so they think that there must be some future twist that turns it all around and big business wins once again.

2 minutes ago, breakingthegreen said:

I dream of a world where Bobby Kotick is arrested for the abusive work culture he fostered, and I hope this is one step closer to that.

 

Speaking of Kotick.

 

 

Just keep threatening them Bobby, worked on your employees after all.

 

13 minutes ago, DrBloodmoney said:

There will still be a lengthly appeals process, and a lot of dealmaking and wrangling, but this does seem to be a pretty rough body-blow for MS in this whole strange saga.

 

With the CMA blocking the deal, the FTC will be much more emboldened in their action in the US -  and MS seemed to be counting on citing the acceptance they assumed they would eventually get from the CMA as precedent in pushing back against the FTC's well publicised reservations they were already having.

 

I suspect that somewhere down the line, some more watered-down, or more compartmentalised version of a merger will likely still happen - there's too much riding on the deal - both face-saving by MS, and the extent to which this was holding off legal and public perception issues at Activision, as well as the straight up financial elements...

 

...but yeah. Interesting.

I guess we'll just have to see what happens if the other regulators start seeing this surprise punch as a call to arms.

 

The CMA was pretty clear and at this point people should be expecting the EU to hammer blow this rather than in any way help Microsoft. To not do so would make the EU look more on the side of big business than the UK and even worse for them, the USA. 

 

I've always held off being full on something just in case a possible reversal happened, but the chances of one now I think are certainly so slim that we can say that we're at the end. Microsoft can thrash about in anger a bit if they like, only wasting time, money, and hurting their gaming business further. It won't win them Activision however.

 

5 minutes ago, Buff_Cupcake said:

Remember when all we had to worry about were simpler things like - which new games were coming out? Now we are arguing the nuances of corporate bullshittery on behalf of two corporate giants and their pasty middle aged white dude figureheads as they embarrass themselves publicly.

 

Yes, before Microsoft invaded (mass buyouts). Don't worry, hopefully we're in the end game and they'll pack it in soon enough.

[DeepEyes7]

Tbh I dont care about ABK, I dont consume their games and my last CoD was MW3, but I understand how big in sales this is to Sony fear losing them...

 

Now my real and selfish preocupation... Now if MS cant buy ABK can they go and buy companies that Im really fond of like Capcom, S-E, Atlus....? Or since those companies are mostly japanese (correct me if Im mistaken) there is any law that said that they cant be fully sold to other companies outside Japan... I think I read something about that on the news about the middle east guy buying actions of Nintendo...

[Rozalia1]

Also, everyone, lets not forget that the CMA kept delaying all of this until Microsoft got put past both deadlines for the deal to close. Microsoft is going to have to pay Activision 3 billion with their failure here. Yet more Xbox losses.

 

13 minutes ago, DeepEyes7 said:

Tbh I dont care about ABK, I dont consume their games and my last CoD was MW3, but I understand how big in sales this is to Sony fear losing them...

 

Now my real and selfish preocupation... Now if MS cant buy ABK can they go and buy companies that Im really fond of like Capcom, S-E, Atlus....? Or since those companies are mostly japanese (correct me if Im mistaken) there is any law that said that they cant be fully sold to other companies outside Japan... I think I read something about that on the news about the middle east guy buying actions of Nintendo...

 

Why would you want Microsoft to buy a Japanese publisher and instantly sink their business? I think even Microsoft knows this hence why they've made zero attempts (not counting Nintendo when they first entered the market).

 

In terms of possibility. Certain companies are straight up protected and completely off limits. Sony and Nintendo obviously. Others are murky. Square Enix might be deemed important enough culturally. Sega being a former platform holder might also. A lot of these companies like Bandai/Sega/Konami/so on have a lot of side businesses in other things that would present trouble for Microsoft buying them (gambling for example). Ultimately the main issue for Microsoft attempting such buyouts is it wouldn't just be Sony that would oppose them, Nintendo would also. Microsoft has always tried to avoid any issues with Nintendo, who is very much famed as a company you do not want to be against in a legal battle as they are ruthless on such matters no matter who you are, big or small.

 

The path forward for Microsoft if they want Japanese companies would be to invest money into creating new studios in Japan, attracting talent to them, and giving it a lot of time as the talent will largely be new and ultimately not very good for a good while. That hasn't and likely won't ever happen because Microsoft, the tasteless company that they are, love nothing but shortcuts.

Edited April 26, 2023 by Rozalia1

[TJ_Solo]

21 minutes ago, DeepEyes7 said:

Tbh I dont care about ABK, I dont consume their games and my last CoD was MW3, but I understand how big in sales this is to Sony fear losing them...

 

Now my real and selfish preocupation... Now if MS cant buy ABK can they go and buy companies that Im really fond of like Capcom, S-E, Atlus....? Or since those companies are mostly japanese (correct me if Im mistaken) there is any law that said that they cant be fully sold to other companies outside Japan... I think I read something about that on the news about the middle east guy buying actions of Nintendo...

 

Why not wish them to fund more games instead of randomly naming companies to buy?
Atus already got bought by SEGA years ago. 

I am really unsure why anyone would want Xbox running a Japanese studio with Xbox struggling with more local studios.

[The_Kopite]

Can I insert a pun here about the CMA (UK) stepping in here to halt Microsoft's progress towards the purchase because they are the experts on 'clouds' in general, given there are so many here in the UK? No? Okay, I'll leave. Just know that obviously there is going to be a lot of 'Strife' over this.....

 

 

[Rozalia1]

Side note. The American big tech companies that Microsoft has screwed with again and again using their good boy act with regulators must all be sending congratulations and gifts to Sony HQ as we speak, especially Apple and Google. Microsoft on record stated that this buyout was so they can attempt to destroy Apple and Google's mobile businesses so they have reason to be happy on that front, but beyond that as @MidnightDragon said, Sony exposed the ugly face of Microsoft to regulators who'll now not be able to use their good boy act to screw others while avoiding the same regulations hitting themselves.

 

When it comes to the third party publishers I wonder if it still works like the olden days. Are they all also sending word to Sony professing their continued loyalty and how they were behind Sony on this all along. I'll tell you someone who certainly will, likely after their boss shuffles off into retirement. Activision. In the past Microsoft supporters have put forward a narrative that if the deal is blocked then Activision will hate Sony and attempt to go against them in all things. Nah. With this failure here, and all the trouble internally they may well now have, Activision will instead be getting on their knees begging Sony for forgiveness and mercy.

 

10 minutes ago, The_Kopite said:

Can I insert a pun here about the CMA (UK) stepping in here to halt Microsoft's progress towards the purchase because they are the experts on 'clouds' in general, given there are so many here in the UK? No? Okay, I'll leave. Just know that obviously there is going to be a lot of 'Strife' over this.....

 

 

 

Cloud Strife struck a big blow to yet another big corporation yes.

 

Microsoft having the deal blocked on Cloud concerns shows us all the power of the cloud.

 

There is certainly some material you can get out of this.

[DeepEyes7]

42 minutes ago, TJ_Solo said:

 

Why not wish them to fund more games instead of randomly naming companies to buy?
Atus already got bought by SEGA years ago. 

I am really unsure why anyone would want Xbox running a Japanese studio with Xbox struggling with more local studios.

 

I don't want MS to buy a Japanese studio, I'm worried if they can do it because then no more games of those companies for PS like it already happened with Bethesda (And money isn't a problem for them), MS can't make their own games so they buy already established companies as they did with Bethesda and like they are trying with ABK.

[Rozalia1]

2 minutes ago, DeepEyes7 said:

I don't want MS to buy a Japanese studio, I'm worried if they can do it because then no more games of those companies for PS like it already happened with Bethesda (And money isn't a problem for them), MS can't make their own games so they buy already established companies as they did with Bethesda and like they are trying with ABK.

 

Ah, that makes a lot more sense. No fan of any such companies should want Microsoft touching them.

 

Refer to my post where I quoted you. You're likely all good on that front.

[MidnightDragon]

I wasn’t expecting that at all. MS won’t give up of course, but that’s great news! 

[TJ_Solo]

7 minutes ago, DeepEyes7 said:

 

I don't want MS to buy a Japanese studio, I'm worried if they can do it because then no more games of those companies for PS like it already happened with Bethesda (And money isn't a problem for them), MS can't make their own games so they buy already established companies as they did with Bethesda and like they are trying with ABK.

 

 

I see. I might be a little defensive on what I expect to read about this decision. 

 

As far as worrying about what Xbox could buy next. They still have to get past the EU and FTC along with this new appeal for the CMA. To me it sounds like they are still too busy with this deal and may not be looking for another fight for another studio or publisher right now.

[MidnightDragon]

1 minute ago, TJ_Solo said:

 

 

I see. I might be a little defensive on what I expect to read about this decision. 

 

As far as worrying about what Xbox could buy next. They still have to get past the EU and FTC along with this new appeal for the CMA. To me it sounds like they are still too busy with this deal and may not be looking for another fight for another studio or publisher right now.

They probably want to get this done first before they focus on another since it wouldn’t help their case.

[ARobinGaming]

Well this has been an eventful day... i read the other day that the Financial times was saying the deal was near to closing I didn't think they meant closing without a deal ? (I know it's not over yet I just wanted to make a joke but as you said @Rozalia1 I think we are nearing the end of this merger and I'm very interested in what the  "fallout" is if it doesn't happen and as you were talking about Xbox disappearing in the future what do you think will happen to all the IPs and Studios they own)

 

Also the fact the Xbox fan Boys on twitter think Microsoft should pull out of the UK due to this is so unserious and I don't know if they are trolling or just don't understand how international companies work ?

Edited April 26, 2023 by ARobinGaming

[MidnightDragon]

15 minutes ago, ARobinGaming said:

Well this has been an eventful day... i read the other day that the Financial times was saying the deal was near to closing I didn't think they meant closing without a deal (I know it's not over yet I just wanted to make a joke but as you said @Rozalia1 I think we are nearing the end of this merger and I'm very interested in what the  "fallout" is if it doesn't happen and as you were talking about Xbox disappearing in the future what do you think will happen to all the IPs and Studios they own)

 

Also the fact the Xbox fan Boys on twitter think Microsoft should pull out of the UK due to this is so unserious and I don't know if they are trolling or just don't understand how international companies work ?

People on Twitter as a whole are stupid, so probably the latter. 
 

Would’ve loved to been a fly on the wall when MS’s brass found out they weren’t getting what they want for now. Probably the first time most of them were told no in their lives.  

[Conor]

Had to check on my friend who just last year was proudly declaring how he had switched to Xbox this generation, he’s gotta be having a rough time

[TheRetroManiac]

This is good news, let's hope the rest follows and maybe this will force MS to actually make good exclusives themselves or risk leaving the scene. I can see them going after something else if they don't get what they want out of this, but them losing here does not help them in the long run.

[Rozalia1]

1 minute ago, ARobinGaming said:

Well this has been an eventful day... i read the other day that the Financial times was saying the deal was near to closing I didn't think they meant closing with out a deal (I know it's not over yet I just wanted to make a joke but as you said @Rozalia1 I think we are nearing the end of this merger and I'm very interested in the "fallout" if it doesn't happen and as you talking about Xbox disappearing in the future what do you think will happen to all the IPs and Studios they own)

 

Also the fact the Xbox fan Boys on twitter think Microsoft should pull out of the UK due to this is so unserious and I don't know if they are trolling or just don't understand how international companies work ?

 

If Microsoft decides to scrap Xbox then there are three options.

 

1: They go third party and put their games on PlayStation/Nintendo. The issues with that is Xbox is massively mismanaged and most of their studios (there are considered exceptions like Playground Games) wouldn't have survived this far if Microsoft wasn't willing to bleed unlimited amounts of money chasing a subscription/streaming monopoly. Potentially being on other platforms might bring in enough money to allow those studios to survive, but it might not and if not then those studios either get seriously downsized or cut entirely. In essence Microsoft's gaming division would progressively get cut more and more until only successful studios (if any) remained. Of course it is possible that Microsoft will hold a grudge against Sony and not put their games on PlayStation which if so will only make it harder for their studios to be a success.

 

2: Microsoft approach Google/Amazon/some big player and offer to sell them everything relating to Xbox for 100 billion or some figure. Xbox has pretty much always bled money so Microsoft comes out a loser if they do this, but Nadella can at least argue that many of the losses weren't under his management (I'd argue otherwise personally but whatever) so he is breaking even or even profiting by doing this. Another possible path would be to sell Xbox's assets partially to different players rather than wholesale, but that is tricky as much of the individual parts of Xbox are horrible and not worth buying on their own.

 

3: The least likely but not impossible option is Microsoft shutters everything. It'd mean all the money they spent went up in flames but they can argue that continuing the business would only burn more money so this saves them money. They also wouldn't sell the assets to big companies because they wouldn't want Google/Amazon/some big player to have them.

 

As for the Microsoft supporters. Perhaps you can't blame them for acting that way really considering how Microsoft itself acts. The talk of the UK putting itself in dire straits, that they would regret such a decision, and that they must "reassess their investments" is already coming out. In essence, threats. Much of it from Activision of course, but everyone knows that Activision has Microsoft's hand up their behind and are who say the things Microsoft finds a bad look if they say directly.

 

1 minute ago, Stan Lee said:

Had to check on my friend who just last year was proudly declaring how he had switched to Xbox this generation, he’s gotta be having a rough time

 

Fell for Microsoft's astroturfed PR. Sad stuff. Though to be fair, even I got worried all those years ago that Microsoft had quite the weapon in Gamepass with all their buyouts but thankfully the future refused to change and Xbox's (incompetent) efforts have failed to destroy the market like they wanted. Instead they have seemingly destroyed their own business which is very fitting. Hoist with their own petard.

[cy1999aek_maik]

I'm wondering if the CMA decision sets a precedent for the FTC and EU to follow? Regardless, I don't think this is worth celebrating. A monopoly hurts the consumer whichever way it goes. If xbox continues to underperform and Microsoft decides to cut their losses and scrap the brand, a Playstation monopoly would be as bad for the consumers as an Xbox monopoly could have been. I was hoping for the deal to be blocked as I considered it another step towards Microsoft's attempt to corner the market, but now I am wondering if Microsoft can actually compete without buying up the market like they had planned to do. And this is coming from the perspective of somebody who is still salty that he won't be able to play the next Arkane Studios games on PS.

[Rozalia1]

9 minutes ago, TheRetroManiac said:

This is good news, let's hope the rest follows and maybe this will force MS to actually make good exclusives themselves or risk leaving the scene. I can see them going after something else if they don't get what they want out of this, but them losing here does not help them in the long run.

 

Microsoft will likely appeal and waste even more time. The EU hammering them next month might cause them to back off but this being Microsoft it wouldn't shock me if they decided to fight all three regulators at the same time.

Just now, cy1999aek_maik said:

I'm wondering if the CMA decision sets a precedent for the FTC and EU to follow? Regardless, I don't think this is worth celebrating. A monopoly hurts the consumer whichever way it goes. If xbox continues to underperform and Microsoft decides to cut their losses and scrap the brand, a Playstation monopoly would be as bad for the consumers as an Xbox monopoly could have been. I was hoping for the deal to be blocked as I considered it another step towards Microsoft's attempt to corner the market, but now I am wondering if Microsoft can actually compete without buying up the market like they had planned to do. And this is coming from the perspective of somebody who is still salty that he won't be able to play the next Arkane Studios games on PS.

 

The FTC went against Microsoft instantly, though this does further support them yes. The EU in theory should now be more likely to also block as they'll not want to look soft on big business when compared to the CMA and especially the FTC.

 

Microsoft are in their current position because of their own bad business and mismanagement. Competition doesn't mean that bad competitors are propped up just for the sake of it. If Sony gets a monopoly (not counting Nintendo) then that will be because they earned it, unlike Microsoft who has gained their monopolies through dirty tactics. I wouldn't worry about it. The next Nintendo platform most likely will be powered enough that you should see stuff like CoD and stuff not skip it any more and both Sony and Nintendo will likely start competing more closely with each other.

[cy1999aek_maik]

8 minutes ago, Rozalia1 said:

 

Microsoft will likely appeal and waste even more time. The EU hammering them next month might cause them to back off but this being Microsoft it wouldn't shock me if they decided to fight all three regulators at the same time.

 

The FTC went against Microsoft instantly, though this does further support them yes. The EU in theory should now be more likely to also block as they'll not want to look soft on big business when compared to the CMA and especially the FTC.

 

Microsoft are in their current position because of their own bad business and mismanagement. Competition doesn't mean that bad competitors are propped up just for the sake of it. If Sony gets a monopoly (not counting Nintendo) then that will be because they earned it, unlike Microsoft who has gained their monopolies through dirty tactics. I wouldn't worry about it. The next Nintendo platform most likely will be powered enough that you should see stuff like CoD and stuff not skip it any more and both Sony and Nintendo will likely start competing more closely with each other.

Fair enough. If nintendo starts competing more closely then fuck microsoft, I don't care about their business, as you said they use dirty tactics. However, whether or not Sony would have earned the monopoly, it would still be a negative for gamers and that was my point. I would love to see the next Nintendo console compete more with PS

[Rozalia1]

1 minute ago, cy1999aek_maik said:

Fair enough. If nintendo starts competing more closely then fuck microsoft, I don't care about their business, as you said they use dirty tactics. However, whether or not Sony would have earned the monopoly, it would still be a negative for gamers and that was my point. I would love to see the next Nintendo console compete more with PS

 

I fully understand. If Xbox had a "soul" and could output good content and make gaming overall better it would indeed be nice. The problem is that as we've seen, Microsoft makes sure that its culture exists within Xbox and that kills creativity as Steve Jobs said. When PlayStation and Nintendo met with setbacks they didn't go for a shortcut, they focused on themselves and heavily improved their business to ultimately be what they are now. Xbox doesn't have that spirit, they only go for shortcuts and only have any level of patience if there is a promised monopoly at the end of the tunnel like with Gamepass. Management like Spencer as bad as he is can't even really be blamed for it because if he however many years ago it was now told Microsoft that they needed to invest in the 1st party and that in 10 years they might start to be able to effectively compete with Sony they'd have killed Xbox there and then. Instead he had to come up with a get rich quick scheme in Gamepass and only after that still wasn't doing it managed to convince Microsoft that having lots of studios was the missing piece.

 

We all want closer competition between the two. If Sony sees off Microsoft then that likely means they'll have to invest into Japan more to try and compete better with Nintendo there, which means more quality Japanese games being made for example. As I also said in a previous post, it would not shock me if Microsoft went third party but keep their stuff off PlayStation and so start backing Nintendo heavily.

[N1cktim]

13 minutes ago, DeepEyes7 said:

 

I don't want MS to buy a Japanese studio, I'm worried if they can do it because then no more games of those companies for PS like it already happened with Bethesda (And money isn't a problem for them), MS can't make their own games so they buy already established companies as they did with Bethesda and like they are trying with ABK.

 

I don't quite understand this stance. Over the past 10-20 years, Sony acquired multiple studios, including Naughty Dog, Guerilla, Media Molecule, Sucker Punch, Insomniac, Bungie, etc. and made them who they are today. A lot of them now produce blockbuster, highly rated exclusive games for PlayStation. They are not available on Xbox. Ultimately, Sony's goal is to make you interested in their games and make you join or keep being a part of the PlayStation ecosystem. That's perfectly fine.

 

Microsoft has been doing the same thing. Yes, given their position in the market, they are able to and make more expensive purchases, for whatever reasons. But in the end, their goal is exactly the same -- to make you join their environment. You're not interested in their output? No problem. There's PlayStation, Nintendo, Steam, etc. Something caught your eye? Awesome. If you want to play a Microsoft game, buy an Xbox. Or play on PC, they give you that option. People complain that Xbox has no exclusives but when they do or try to make/get some, one would complain that they are not available on PlayStation.

 

I just don't get the hate towards Xbox. Or PlayStation. Or any platform really. They are just companies. They compete with each other. It's business. They produce content and we consume. The competition makes each of them strive for better results, which leads to more or better content. Everyone wins. Just because you love, say, PlayStation, you shouldn't necessarily want others to fail.

[Rozalia1]

10 minutes ago, N1cktim said:

I don't quite understand this stance. Over the past 10-20 years, Sony acquired multiple studios, including Naughty Dog, Guerilla, Media Molecule, Sucker Punch, Insomniac, Bungie, etc. and made them who they are today. A lot of them now produce blockbuster, highly rated exclusive games for PlayStation. They are not available on Xbox. Ultimately, Sony's goal is to make you interested in their games and make you join or keep being a part of the PlayStation ecosystem. That's perfectly fine.

 

Microsoft has been doing the same thing. Yes, given their position in the market, they are able to and make more expensive purchases, for whatever reasons. But in the end, their goal is exactly the same -- to make you join their environment. You're not interested in their output? No problem. There's PlayStation, Nintendo, Steam, etc. Something caught your eye? Awesome. If you want to play a Microsoft game, buy an Xbox. Or play on PC, they give you that option. People complain that Xbox has no exclusives but when they do or try to make/get some, one would complain that they are not available on PlayStation.

 

I just don't get the hate towards Xbox. Or PlayStation. Or any platform really. They are just companies. They compete with each other. It's business. They produce content and we consume. The competition makes each of them strive for better results, which leads to more or better content. Everyone wins. Just because you love, say, PlayStation, you shouldn't necessarily want others to fail.

 

Sony and Nintendo largely create exclusives. Microsoft largely buys them. Key difference.

 

As for the Japanese company issue. The amount those companies sell on Xbox is minuscule and while PC sales have improved, it alone ain't going to cover things. So if Microsoft got their hands on them that is it for people's favourite game series. Their sales would completely collapse and those series would only continue if Microsoft committed to losing money on them for an unlimited period of time. As we've also seen from the buyouts Microsoft has already done, key talent would also leave those companies because unlike Sony who paid an extra billion to retain talent at Bungie, Microsoft seems to place no value on talent. Developers to them are seemingly just drones and easily replaceable.

 

No. As Steve Jobs said, there very much is a difference between companies. Xbox, like Microsoft as a whole, doesn't bring any culture to their products and can seemingly only compete with dirty tactics and sheer financial might. There is no value in having such a company in gaming. They're soulless and only seek to harm everyone with their chasing of a monopoly.

[AJ_-_808]

24 minutes ago, N1cktim said:

...

I just don't get the hate towards Xbox. Or PlayStation. Or any platform really. They are just companies. They compete with each other. It's business. They produce content and we consume. The competition makes each of them strive for better results, which leads to more or better content. Everyone wins. Just because you love, say, PlayStation, you shouldn't necessarily want others to fail.

 

Because your understanding of their respective acquisitions is incorrect.  The small studios Sony bought did not, or barely developed anything for Xbox prior to them being bought (with the exceptionof Bungie, which came after Bethesda's buyout).  Sony had good working relationships with them for years and helped support & grow them with the eventual buyout being the final step.  They were basically Sony studios in all but name.

 

Xbox's (latest) acquisitions are Bethesda and the current attempt of Activision.  Both companies are larger publishers consisting of multiple small studios and both publishers have been multi-platform for many years.

 

Sony buying small studios that didn't develop for Xbox anyway took nothing away from Xbox, because they never had it to begin with.

 

Xbox buying big multi-platform studios and making them exclusive took a number of IPs away from PlayStation.

 

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by AJ_-_808