Microsoft is trying to acquire Activision Blizzard (UPDATE: CMA says NO!).

[MattyP]

5 minutes ago, HarryBizzle said:

 

I think they probably need to think the benefits of selling £70 games to people vs £70 game becoming a stick to beat them with in "should you buy a PS5 or Series X?" comparisons, etc. Game Pass vs £70 games is quite a powerful narrative, especially if you add "Bethesda + COD" into that mix.

 

I think the impact of losing COD is potentially huge.

Indeed. It will be interesting to see how Sony do with the £70 price tag in a world where pretty much everything is subscription based. Although Nintendo seem to be doing well on that model. For now. Proving that if the quality is there people will pay.

 

In the end I think a hybrid type system might work have day one release games at a premium price and then move them onto a subscription service after say 6 months or so. Bit like the movies. Although this is the games industry so slightly different I guess. 

[MattyP]

4 minutes ago, b00dles said:

Well I'm going to be upgrading my pc for definite then.

This is the path I was following... then... Crypto miners and the pandemic made that route economically not feasible* for me. 

 

* Not that I couldn't afford to get a swanky new PC just cannot justify it to play games on - which would be the only reason for splashing out on a new one.

[RubberJohnny]

14 hours ago, RubberJohnny said:

Also I was looking at some historical market caps, these can't be right, can they?

 

https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/TTWO/take-two-interactive-software/market-cap

 

How's it possible that you could pick up Take Two in 2000-2005 for <2 billion? They were making way more than that with the GTAs then, surely?

 

Anyway, no one answered me about this so I did some more hunting, and yes you literally could have picked up Take Two during the time they were putting out a billion seller every other year for about $2 billion in 2006. They were a bit of a mess at that time though, or at least run by chancers in that way that 90s videogame companies kinda were, they had an SEC investigation around that time and one of the founders went to jail for some creative accounting, and all the shareholders took over the company and forced them out and were looking for buyers.

 

Seems crazy that none of the platform holders considered it back then, it's not even that out there a concept as there were an awful lot of mergers and acquisitions in the 360 era. But I guess there was just much less money floating around in general. Or maybe those're the sane valuations and ours are the crazy ones.

[Giddas]

6 minutes ago, MattyP said:

This is the path I was following... then... Crypto miners and the pandemic made that route economically not feasible* for me. 

 

* Not that I couldn't afford to get a swanky new PC just cannot justify it to play games on - which would be the only reason for splashing out on a new one.

 

I am sort of in this boat, my PC is OK but it is tempting to get a behemoth. And even better value than XGP is XGP + free prime, epic games etc.

 

For anyone wondering whether to dip their toe into Xbox ecosystem, Series S is really nice.

[SuperCapes]

18 minutes ago, rafaqat said:

 

I'm at the point where I would just like to not have to keep buying lots of hardware to play all the good shit.  With cloud streaming I guess that does mean that dream is closer.

 

 

I understand that for sure! 

[Sixkiller]

27 minutes ago, HarryBizzle said:

 

I think they probably need to think the benefits of selling £70 games to people vs £70 game becoming a stick to beat them with in "should you buy a PS5 or Series X?" comparisons, etc. Game Pass vs £70 games is quite a powerful narrative, especially if you add "Bethesda + COD" into that mix.

 

I think the impact of losing COD is potentially huge.

 

If they follow the wording of "exclusive to platforms where gamepass is available" then what it may actually do is up the pressure on Sony and/or Nintendo to allow Gamepass, in some form, on their hardware.

 

It sounds ridiculous, but then if you compare it to TV streaming services, they're now pretty much ubiquitous across each other's hardware - amazon and netflix on apple, and apple and netflix on amazon, and netflix not arsed about hardware and just being on everything.

 

If MS are getting your gamepass subscription, then I don't think they give two shits what bit of hardware you're using.  So rather than lose every CoD player to the Xbox ecosystem, maybe Sony will allow the MS ecosystem to exist to a certain degree within their own.

[hub2]

12 hours ago, dfq23 said:

 

It's a nice chunk each year considering its over and above anything they will get from Gamepass and not even their main gaming business

 

 

2020 Revenue: $1,190

2020 Profit: $857

2020 Costs: ~$333 

[rgraves]

And the end of the day, there is a significantly higher chance that AB will get themselves sorted out than there was at the beginning of yesterday. And there's a much better chance that Kotick will be given the heave-ho by a bunch of smart lawyers in the process.

 

If that's not good for the industry, and the many thousands of good people at AB, I'm not sure what is.

[HarryBizzle]

Just now, hub2 said:

 

 

2020 Revenue: $1,190

2020 Profit: $857

2020 Costs: ~$333 

I imagine a lot of that is advertising. 

[Ry]

1 hour ago, JPL said:

Can someone explain to me why CoD is so huge again? I haven't played one since Modern Warfare (I think!) and even with the praise that one got, it was really poor.

 

Honestly, looking through the IP this deal comes with and it just isn't for me. There's not a single game under the AB banner I'm bothered about playing. Except Sekiro and I already own that.

 

Well Vanguard and Black Ops were the two biggest selling games last year. 

 

In regards to cash it's the biggest moneymaker in console and PC space. 

 

And CoD mobile makes insane amounts too. 

[Stanley]

Do Activison own Monolith, them that did FEAR and Condemned, and more recently the Mordor games? They’re a top tier developer. 

[Ry]

49 minutes ago, moosegrinder said:

Second biggest selling game last year behind FIFA 22, despite being the worst selling CoD in 14 years.

That's just the UK. Last two CoD games were 1 and 2 worldwide. 

[Down by Law]

Just now, Stanley said:

Do Activison own Monolith, them that did FEAR and Condemned, and more recently the Mordor games? They’re a top tier developer. 

 

They are apparently owned by Warner Bros since 2004, but Condemned was published by Sega, FEAR by Vivendi (Acti) and Mordor by Warner Bros so a bit of a hodge podge ! 

[dfq23]

Dreamcastguy tried to justify how this deal is not that big and that people really want exclusives by showing the worldwide sales chart from last year and pointed out that Spiderman and Nintendo stuff is on there but there are no Xbox exclusives at all.

 

You know, the exclusives that Xbox owners get for free on day of release so don't have to buy them...

 

And COD was one and two.

[b00dles]

Well I just want my shogo armored division sequel thankyouverymuch

[monkeydog]

17 minutes ago, Stanley said:

Do Activison own Monolith, them that did FEAR and Condemned, and more recently the Mordor games? They’re a top tier developer. 

 

No, they're owned by WB.

[kensei]

28 minutes ago, Sixkiller said:

 

If they follow the wording of "exclusive to platforms where gamepass is available" then what it may actually do is up the pressure on Sony and/or Nintendo to allow Gamepass, in some form, on their hardware.

 

It sounds ridiculous, but then if you compare it to TV streaming services, they're now pretty much ubiquitous across each other's hardware - amazon and netflix on apple, and apple and netflix on amazon, and netflix not arsed about hardware and just being on everything.

 

If MS are getting your gamepass subscription, then I don't think they give two shits what bit of hardware you're using.  So rather than lose every CoD player to the Xbox ecosystem, maybe Sony will allow the MS ecosystem to exist to a certain degree within their own.

 

There is zero chance of Nintendo allowing Gamepass on there. They'll die in a ditch rather than let it cannibalise sales of all the soft porn games on the eShop.

 

I suspect this is double for Sony too, as they are much more I'm competition with similar games.

 

Only way I can see it is of Nintendo go cloud or subscription at some point and Microsoft do the tech leading to some kind of deal. But I think Nintendo is more likely to work with Nvidia.

[JPL]

27 minutes ago, Ry said:

 

Well Vanguard and Black Ops were the two biggest selling games last year. 

 

In regards to cash it's the biggest moneymaker in console and PC space. 

 

And CoD mobile makes insane amounts too. 

Yeah, I know it sells absolute shit loads, but I was more wondering why. What's the draw? I think Alex might have nailed it with his familiarity comment. People just go for what they know.

 

It was the number 1 and 2 top selling game last year and it's not even any good. People are weird.

[dizogg]

Ultimately the idea will be to make profit, once they've destoyed the competition. If PlayStation goes under then expect prices to go up for Xbox. 

 

I have a PS5 and Series X. One thing I prefer about the PS5 is its a machine for playing games, and once you've finished you're out. The whole way the Xbox is designed is to get you into the Microsoft ecosystem, the rewards, all that stuff. It feels a bit more like a Facebook or a Google where you are the product. Don't get me wrong we are all enjoying the start of the big push where the Microsoft offer is really fantastic VFM - but be careful what you wish for. No company is doing any of this out of the goodness of their hearts - the end goal is always to increase shareholder value.

[jonathanhoey]

3 hours ago, LaveDisco said:

Also, Activison, Blizzard and King are fully immersed in microtransactions, loot boxes, gambling and game design based around addiction. I desperately dont want that to infect the excellent devs MS have already bought. 
 

I worry that once numbers stall/MS are dominant,they are going to show further growth in gamepass to their share owners by packing gamepass games with all thy bullshit and people will defend it because the games are ‘free’. 
 

it’s interesting/depressing that all first party games on gamepass that have been developed during full ownership of MS (Flight sim, Forza, Halo, seas of Thieves) are all mediums that support MTX at their core. 
 

 

 

 

I share those concerns but for me the DLC/MTX line of acceptability has always been about keepable vs consumable. 

 

I have absolutely no problem with paying for additional content for a game, if it's then mine to keep and use for as long as I'm playing the game. 

 

So in your examples above, I don't object at all to the practice of selling additional planes or scenery for MS Flight Sim, or cars for Forza, or whatever. It so happens that I haven't personally spent money on those particular games, but like I think it's basically OK. I can't tell you how many pinball tables I've paid for over the years, or additional songs for Guitar Hero/Rock Band, etc. 

 

I think for me where it's unacceptable is paying for anything that expires or gets used up. Like in Candy Crush, for example, paying for powerups when you can't get past a certain level. Or paying to speed up countdown timers between turns, or whatever. I think that stuff is really exploitative and my personal rule is that I absolutely won't ever spend money on those things. 

 

Loot boxes and other gambling mechanics can obviously get fucked into the absolute sea. 

 

I'm somewhere in the middle on cosmetics, I think. I don't buy them myself and I don't really pay much attention to them - like if I'm playing Halo I give not a single shit about what armour or gun skin the other guy has. When I play Rocket League it makes precisely no difference to me what car the other player is driving, and so on. What I don't know is how badly they entrap people who are susceptible. They must make money or the companies wouldn't do them. The cynical/pragmatic player might say 'great, they're subsidising the game for me' but I'm not sure that's really morally OK. 

[dfq23]

12 minutes ago, JPL said:

Yeah, I know it sells absolute shit loads, but I was more wondering why. What's the draw? I think Alex might have nailed it with his familiarity comment. People just go for what they know.

 

It was the number 1 and 2 top selling game last year and it's not even any good. People are weird.

 

Places like RLLMUk are perhaps in a Sekiro/Dark Souls type bubble.

 

99% of the gaming world is FIFA, COD, Minecraft, Fortnite and most importantly mobile gaming, and other than probably Minecraft how many of them would be considered "good" on here?

 

It's like wondering why people go to see Fast and Furious when they should be watching the new one by Wes Anderson as it's "better"

[Ry]

8 minutes ago, JPL said:

Yeah, I know it sells absolute shit loads, but I was more wondering why. What's the draw? I think Alex might have nailed it with his familiarity comment. People just go for what they know.

 

It was the number 1 and 2 top selling game last year and it's not even any good. People are weird.

 

I also think it's because millions of people find them fun. 

 

It's a fairly simple game. I think FIFA is utter shite compared to PES of old but it still sells tens of millions. 

 

The people buying these games are not the types you see chatting online on forums about the hobby they are just normal "casual" people who know fuck all about the industry as a whole. That's the big market. The market that buys a couple of games a year. 

 

Nerds on forums are a tiny niche when it comes to making money. 

[Transient Curse]

1 hour ago, JPL said:

I guess this is the answer. It's like a pair of comfy old slippers.

 

To be fair, it's also a brilliant multiplayer shooter and the campaigns are often full of spectacle that I don't think anyone else does so well. 

 

I put loads of time into Modern Warfare (recent one) and Cold War's multiplayer.  

 

I didn't buy the latest one.

[Gabe]

24 minutes ago, JPL said:

Yeah, I know it sells absolute shit loads, but I was more wondering why. What's the draw? I think Alex might have nailed it with his familiarity comment. People just go for what they know.

 

It was the number 1 and 2 top selling game last year and it's not even any good. People are weird.

What an ugly post. Please tell us what games are 'good' and would need to play to not be 'weird' in your eyes?

 

Not only that, you make a lazy connection that people only play them because they are comfortable and, by implication, aren't smart enough to look at other things.

[CrichStand]

Thought this was some kind of early April Fools joke, ‘cause surely nobody would be daft enough to buy Activision for $68 billion!!! Apparently not though. Whoever finalised the deal must have been smashed off their tits.......and as high as a kite!

 

Seriously, $68 billion for.........Activision! Lol. Who has ever heard any of these phrases.....

 

”Nothing says “seal of quality” more to me, than when it says “Activision” on the box”!

 

”Alright mate! Just wondered if you’ve got the latest Activision game in stock. Awesome!”.

 

”Yeah maaaaaaan, I’m a MASSIVE Activision fan”.

 

Just think what you could buy with $68 Billion!!! It definitely wouldn’t be Activision! Lol

 

I’m starting to think Microsoft are absolutely fucking clueless and are just resorting to throwing money at any old shit so they can have a list of titles to reel off for Gamepass. Has it not occurred to anyone at Microsoft that they could have just made some brand new IP better than Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot for a fraction of the price, instead of spunking $68 Billion on absolute pap that will be stacked high and sold low, to folk that will be here today gone tmw. This has big push for the casual waggle and Netflix market written all over it. Xbox is about to go all guns for the “I’m a Failed X-Factor Celebrity In the Jungle Dancing on Ice.......Get Me Out Of Here” crowd. “Get ya Bandicoot game......2 for a paaaaaand”.

 

Whoever’s in charge at Microsoft.....buy someone decent you absolute plantpots! Sure you could just browse for a Buy it Now on Ebay and end up with something better than Activison. 

 

 

 

 

[Stanley]

51 minutes ago, monkeydog said:

 

No, they're owned by WB.

Ah well 

[Strafe]

10 minutes ago, CrichStand said:

Thought this was some kind of early April Fools joke, ‘cause surely nobody would be daft enough to buy Activision for $68 billion!!! Apparently not though. Whoever finalised the deal must have been smashed off their tits.......and as high as a kite!

 

Seriously, $68 billion for.........Activision! Lol. Who has ever heard any of these phrases.....

 

”Nothing says “seal of quality” more to me, than when it says “Activision” on the box”!

 

”Alright mate! Just wondered if you’ve got the latest Activision game in stock. Awesome!”.

 

”Yeah maaaaaaan, I’m a MASSIVE Activision fan”.

 

Just think what you could buy with $68 Billion!!! It definitely wouldn’t be Activision! Lol

 

I’m starting to think Microsoft are absolutely fucking clueless and are just resorting to throwing money at any old shit so they can have a list of titles to reel off for Gamepass. Has it not occurred to anyone at Microsoft that they could have just made some brand new IP better than Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot for a fraction of the price, instead of spunking $68 Billion on absolute pap that will be stacked high and sold low, to folk that will be here today gone tmw. This has big push for the casual waggle and Netflix market written all over it. Xbox is about to go all guns for the “I’m a Failed X-Factor Celebrity In the Jungle Dancing on Ice.......Get Me Out Of Here” crowd. “Get ya Bandicoot game......2 for a paaaaaand”.

 

Whoever’s in charge at Microsoft.....buy someone decent you absolute plantpots! Sure you could just browse for a Buy it Now on Ebay and end up with something better than Activison. 

 

 

 

 

There are an awful lot of blizzard fans out there. Probably less than 12-18 months ago but still a lot.

 

The general consensus is that it’s a decent deal.

[CheekyLee]

12 minutes ago, CrichStand said:

Has it not occurred to anyone at Microsoft that they could have just made some brand new IP better than Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot for a fraction of the price, instead of spunking $68 Billion on absolute pap that will be stacked high and sold low, to folk that will be here today gone tmw.

Microsoft have tried, and failed, to make "better "(read: more successful) games than those. This is entirely why they have bought them instead.

[thesnwmn]

43 minutes ago, JPL said:

Yeah, I know it sells absolute shit loads, but I was more wondering why. What's the draw? I think Alex might have nailed it with his familiarity comment. People just go for what they know.

 

It was the number 1 and 2 top selling game last year and it's not even any good. People are weird.

 

I think what's hard to understand from "inside" the hobby is that most of the biggest games to people here aren't even known to the majority of people who play games. And most people who play games play one or two a year. Tops. See hardware game attachment rates which seem hilarious. Most owners buy fewer games per generation than most here buy every 3-6 months.

 

I guess the exact reverse of here really. If you were introduced to gaming via this forum you'd have no idea what COD was, or a whole bunch of the biggest games on the planet. Because we've turned our noses up at them. We know of something "better". Or maybe we've played these things too much and need something new.

[LaveDisco]

43 minutes ago, dizogg said:

Ultimately the idea will be to make profit, once they've destoyed the competition. If PlayStation goes under then expect prices to go up for Xbox. 

 

I have a PS5 and Series X. One thing I prefer about the PS5 is its a machine for playing games, and once you've finished you're out. The whole way the Xbox is designed is to get you into the Microsoft ecosystem, the rewards, all that stuff. It feels a bit more like a Facebook or a Google where you are the product. Don't get me wrong we are all enjoying the start of the big push where the Microsoft offer is really fantastic VFM - but be careful what you wish for. No company is doing any of this out of the goodness of their hearts - the end goal is always to increase shareholder value.

 

Yeah, if you really want to know what MS think of you as a consumer, the rewards program is the perfect example. 

 

I know people will respond to how it's perfect for them, and they've got a series X and Gamepass free forever from it - and I don't doubt them, but that doesn't stop it, on a large scale being a sleazy, sleazy psychologically exploitative thing.