NFT: NFT - Microsoft buys Activision/Blizzard

?

gamer was shocked. He's worried they are going to be more like EA.

should worry everyone - even football fans.

In comment 15559743 Fat Wally said:

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gamer was shocked. He's worried they are going to be more like EA.

One thing about Microsoft vs any big publisher, the studios they've acquired in the recent years have been better because of it...not worse.

but I'm not worried about content for the near term.

I could see some switching from PS to Xbox, or getting both consoles, just for COD, but not all.

In comment 15559782 bigblue5611 said:

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I could see some switching from PS to Xbox, or getting both consoles, just for COD, but not all.

I'd probably end up getting both consoles, or a PC that I could use to run Gamepass on.

At the end of the day though, I switched from Xbox to Playstation because of titles like the Last Of Us, Spider-Man, God of War, and quite frankly Bethesda and Activision games aren't as good as those PS exclusives (yet).

...than they do now, that's for sure.

I don't see this as a bad thing at all.

In comment 15559855 sb from NYT Forum said:

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...than they do now, that's for sure. I don't see this as a bad thing at all.

In a tweet a few weeks ago, an Xbox executive said "this is terrible and we will not stand for it, we are evaluating our relationship with Activision/Blizzard and we have an expectation changes will be made."

It seemed a little over the top at the time for a partnering company, but now that tweet makes sense.

I'm stoked as someone fully invested in Xbox/PC...but even moreso, we will see less things like Fallout 76, and more proper hardcore titles.

Cod will be better, diablo 4 and overwatch 2 might actually be good. Fun times.

Yet.

Microsoft is now the third leading game studio/business behind Tencent and Sony. The highest sale ever for a studio before this was a mere (lol) $12.7b; that was last Monday. They’ve already come out saying that they’re not going Xbox/PC exclusive with Call of Duty, which, fine. Makes sense for them to continue to have that game on as many platforms as possible. But, the other IP that has been acquired can and likely will be made as Xbox/PC exclusives so they can get the most out of their almost $70b purchase. And why not? They just paid more than the GDP of several small countries combined for it.

I don’t think it’s a disaster or anything. I just would’ve preferred it not happen for reasons stated above.

In comment 15559897 bwitz said:

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Yet. Microsoft is now the third leading game studio/business behind Tencent and Sony. The highest sale ever for a studio before this was a mere (lol) $12.7b; that was last Monday. They’ve already come out saying that they’re not going Xbox/PC exclusive with Call of Duty, which, fine. Makes sense for them to continue to have that game on as many platforms as possible. But, the other IP that has been acquired can and likely will be made as Xbox/PC exclusives so they can get the most out of their almost $70b purchase. And why not? They just paid more than the GDP of several small countries combined for it. I don’t think it’s a disaster or anything. I just would’ve preferred it not happen for reasons stated above.

I think CoD will eventually be exclusive. They'll probably let the current iterations that are likely 70% or so complete continue down their current path.

There's thought that Microsoft didn't do this just to get at Sony, but also to prevent Tencent and their unlimited money from acquiring it.

In comment 15559871 bLiTz 2k said:

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I'm stoked as someone fully invested in Xbox/PC...but even moreso, we will see less things like Fallout 76, and more proper hardcore titles. Cod will be better, diablo 4 and overwatch 2 might actually be good. Fun times.

I’m pumped for this too. CoD is unplayable for me now, hopefully it’s full revamped. And I still play overwatch every night (approaching 800 hours lol) - I haven’t being enjoying all these overwatch 2 delays and tidbits so maybe something changes on that front too. 5 player comp isn’t something I like off the bat but maybe that will change once I play it.

and include more games and charge PS users for cross play titles.

In comment 15559970 FStubbs said:

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In comment 15559897 bwitz said: Quote: Yet. Microsoft is now the third leading game studio/business behind Tencent and Sony. The highest sale ever for a studio before this was a mere (lol) $12.7b; that was last Monday. They’ve already come out saying that they’re not going Xbox/PC exclusive with Call of Duty, which, fine. Makes sense for them to continue to have that game on as many platforms as possible. But, the other IP that has been acquired can and likely will be made as Xbox/PC exclusives so they can get the most out of their almost $70b purchase. And why not? They just paid more than the GDP of several small countries combined for it. I don’t think it’s a disaster or anything. I just would’ve preferred it not happen for reasons stated above. I think CoD will eventually be exclusive. They'll probably let the current iterations that are likely 70% or so complete continue down their current path. There's thought that Microsoft didn't do this just to get at Sony, but also to prevent Tencent and their unlimited money from acquiring it.

I thought that too. But a friend of mine and I were talking and, he had a good point. CoD has such a strong, loyal fan base now (especially b/c of the free to play Warzone) that completely alienating people who aren’t Xbox or PC gamers would effectively end up killing the franchise in time.

As to your second point, that’s the most logical and correct assumption. Tencent is the instigator here 100%. Microsoft had to make a play and, they did. It just sucks for the consumer. It took years but, The Show, a first party title produced by Sony, was finally brought to the Xbox just last year. This seems like a big step back as to ventures like that in the future, IMO.

but I like the console wars, feels like it ups the game across the board. And now that I’m not a poor child or college kid I don’t mind buying multiple systems if they make what I like playing.

I feel like shooters in general is a separate gaming industry. It makes sense to be cross play. Like I said earlier I can see them making CoD with game pass and charging $20 for PS users to play warzone or whatever the next iteration is.

That died a long, long time ago. CoD originated on the PC, then migrated and flourished. Charging a premium to fans of a franchise they watched evolve into a game that could played across multiple platforms with their friends for the whatever price they’re already paying is not going to go well. At. All. Should it happen, consider CoD dust in the wind.