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01-18-2022, 12:32 PM | |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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Microsoft to acquire Activision in $67b deal
Microsoft is acquiring Activision, the troubled publisher of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. The deal will value Activision at $68.7 billion, far in excess of the $26 billion Microsoft paid to acquire LinkedIn in 2016. It’s Microsoft’s biggest push into gaming, and the company says it will be the “third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony” once the deal closes.
Microsoft plans to add many of Activision’s games to Xbox Game Pass once the deal closes. With the acquisition of Activision, Microsoft will soon publish franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush. “Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog,” says Microsoft’s CEO of gaming Phil Spencer. https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/18/2...duty-overwatch Last edited by eDave; 01-18-2022 at 12:39 PM.. |
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01-18-2022, 01:20 PM | #16 | |
Time Keeps On Slipping
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It's a ridiculous deal. This change, leadership changes, so on and so forth. As of right now, I don't see M$' approach as becoming quantity over quality. Gaming, unlike TV, is still so niche with extremely vocal and angry communities. I don't think a bunch of Red Notices or whatever will fly. |
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01-18-2022, 01:21 PM | #17 | |
'Tis my eye!
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But the coming generation of streaming services, like Stadia, are also GaaS, or more specifically GPaaS (Gaming platform as a service). You still don't own the IP and you still access it on-demand for a monthly fee. It's just a catalog of games instead of one game. |
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01-18-2022, 01:25 PM | #18 | |
'Tis my eye!
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With juggernaut games like Diablo and Call of Duty, Activision Blizzard was worth $67M. Take Two (owner of Rockstar) just bought mobile game maker Zynga not too long ago for $16B. They make money almost exclusively off of microtransactions. Their portfolio of games cost a tiny fraction to make and support of what Call of Duty does and yet they make more money per user than many AAA titles. It's coming. Just wait. |
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01-18-2022, 01:27 PM | #19 | |
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PC gaming has never been more popular. People gobble up all of the PS5s and Series X as soon as they get on the shelves. M$, as shitty as they can get, have actually historically been the pioneers of fostering strong indie games since the late 360 days. |
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01-18-2022, 01:27 PM | #20 | |
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01-18-2022, 01:29 PM | #21 | |
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01-18-2022, 01:35 PM | #22 | |
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In just recent memory I have watched The Queens Gambit, Midnight Mass, Narcos, Dark, Mindhunter, and Stranger Things. All of which have been either somewhat or significantly better than House of Cards. That's not to even to mention shows like Schitt's Creek, etc. |
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01-18-2022, 01:36 PM | #23 | |
'Tis my eye!
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Just look at what was going on at Activision Blizzard prior to the acquisition, or CD Projekt Red, or any number of acclaimed AAA studios that have been inundated with accusations of long hours, harsh treatment, and even illegal activity. All of that happens because you're trying to develop a game that requires THOUSANDS of people with hundreds of people instead. A good indie game, especially on mobile, can be done by one or two people. Eventually your catalog will dwindle as companies continue to evolve mechanisms for generating revenue IN-game as opposed to WITH games. It's already happening to some degree, you just haven't seen it encroach on your favorite games yet. Just wait a couple of years when Madden goes GAAS, it's coming. |
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01-18-2022, 01:37 PM | #24 |
'Tis my eye!
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I'm playing mostly back catalog PS4 games now so I have plenty of time.
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01-18-2022, 01:47 PM | #25 | |
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Microsoft just bought Bethesda and Activsion Blizzard. I don't think they spent a hundred billion on those studios for them to develop indie games, LOL. I think maybe I am not clear on what you mean by GAAS. Are you talking about games like Fortnite and Path of Exile (game is free but you pay for quality of life and cosmetics) or just microtransactions in general? Or something different altogether? EA has already been doing microtransactions with FIFA and Madden. It's a cash cow because people spend their money on that stupid shit. You can easily enjoy both titles without spending a cent over what you paid for your copy, though. |
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01-18-2022, 01:50 PM | #26 | |
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It really has nothing to do with micro transactions although microtransactions are currently fueling profits in all of gaming, AAA and garbage alike. |
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01-18-2022, 01:54 PM | #27 | |
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So your worry is that in the future, you won't be able to play Madden unless you sign up for EA Play, am I understanding your concern correctly? Or are you saying you will have to subscribe to something like Stadia (RIP, lol) that lets you access titles without having to buy an expensive piece of hardware? |
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01-18-2022, 01:58 PM | #28 | |
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The question is what the quality will be of games in either environment/scenario. With the advent of always-on Internet, we've already seen AAA gaming companies release unfinished games with the idea that they'll provide day 1 updates to fix issues and add content they want to use as sandbags. At first they weren't charging for it but increasingly we're seeing this additional content intentionally withheld and then released later for a fee. |
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01-18-2022, 02:03 PM | #29 | |
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I could be wrong, but I think gaming across all modalities is a huge cash cow and we are going to keep getting awesome stuff for whatever camps we fall into. |
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01-18-2022, 02:05 PM | #30 | |
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I think 10 years from now, gaming is going to look a lot different, with a focus on smaller diversionary experiences, particularly in the form of AR and VR. |
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