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[StreetsofBeige]

Thats a good point. TBH, I loved almost all of those games. Haze is obviously the exception. But I agree, they shouldve given them more of a backing. I remember how they just released MAG without any marketing. The beta was a week before release and a complete mess to download and install. Game had amazing gameplay but graphics looked like shit, ran at 30 fps and dropped to 15 fps in 256 player games towards the end. Then they rushed out Socom 4 literally releasing it during the month and a half long PSN outage.

Shouldve had Zipper work with Insomniac and KZ devs to improve their engine and release a more fleshed out and better looking game. I remember proposing that they combine the MP teams from ND, GG and ND and have them make one game instead of letting all that mp talent sit and work on single player games all gen.

I played MAG at a buddy's house. OK, COD is better with real guns and 60 fps, but I thought it was decent. But there's their exclusive COD knock off as it seemed to feel like COD except at half the frame rate. I even played it like COD and did ok in my first batch of games I ever played.

At the time, modern military games picked up steam and there was still some interest in arena/sci fi shooters (Halo) though Doom/Quake/Unreal had already tailed off.

With so many shooters, they should had either stuck with MAG or SOCOM as their military shooter and pick KZ or Resistance as their more sci-fi setting kind of game. They chose KZ for PS4. It died fast. Would Resistance do better? Probably not as alien/sci-fi shooters have basically disappeared. The only one left is Halo (barely). Titanfall gave it a try and failed too.

But if they stuck with Socom or MAG for PS4 it might had been a hit. Right now in 2022 with enough resources put towards it PS5's first party identity shooter might be MAG 4 or Socom 7.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I get that.

I’m just saying don’t go acting like you’re interested in protecting gamers, when you engage in shitty tactics that hurt gamers as well.

This is more than just about MS and Sony when it comes to those statements. This is also about allowing the floodgates to open for the likes of Google, Amazon, Meta, etc buying up the remaining large publishers.

Gamers tho, are not seeing beyond the console war paradigm.

 

[drganon]

Are you just ignoring the studios xbox bought because?

 

[Darsxx82]

Maybe it's you showing ignorance because clearly your a keyboard regulator. Maybe the CMA have information you don't did you think about that?
Maybe they know MS past history in stifling and anti competitiveness?
Maybe they have researched what will happen if MS keep on making huge purchases?
I didn't see MS not stooping to the regulators when complaining about big bad Google and Apple?

Ignorance? Maybe yours. I speak based on the public report of the CMA where there is nothing close to what you affirm. Yours is speculation.

In that report, he only expresses "concerns" about the effects that the acquisition could have on Sony's financial results and the possibility of losing PS5 users.

There is nothing else, just a clear ignorance of the reality of the console market. Where the CMA states that XBOX has the same market share as PlayStation. Stupid things like that exclusive Starfield is a detriment to Sony, the same one that wanted to buy its exclusive for PS5 and leave Xbox users as always, as second-rate users.

So yes, these manifestations of Sony are embarrassingly hypocritical when it claims to defend the interests of users in general after what it does with Xbox users, squeezing its position as market leader. And the declaration of the CMA where only Sony was in its concern is clearly unheard of. Neither workers, nor users, nor other companies.....

 

[yamaci17]

i hope deal gets cancelled

 

[CeeJay]

Are you just ignoring the studios xbox bought because?

Nope, I am not saying that AT ALL! They both do it, hence why i took a hypocritical post and turned a mirror on it.

I mean Bungie is a pretty small acquisition when you compare it to Activision.

Sure. I even used the words "smaller acquisitions" in the post you commented on.

Edit: are you guys even reading the posts i was commenting on because you're both going off on a tangent.

 

[SmokedMeat]

This is more than just about MS and Sony when it comes to those statements. This is also about allowing the floodgates to open for the likes of Google, Amazon, Meta, etc buying up the remaining large publishers.

Gamers tho, are not seeing beyond the console war paradigm.

Oh for sure. The reality is that if Microsoft loses, then some other entity be it Amazon, Tencent, Saudi Prince, Meta, etc will likely jump in.

 

[The_Mike]

Sony protecting gamers, while signing two year exclusivity deals.

And buying Bungie while crying over the competitors acquisitions.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

I wish MS would say, "We will ensure that COD remains in PS platforms until 20**"
Plan, simple, no confusion.

 

[Mozza]

This is the reason I want this deal to go through. Some of you are in for a rude awake.
you think cod is the breakthrough xbox needs to compete with PlayStation.

I think if COD does go exclusive it will be a massive boost for Microsoft, as there are an awful lot of more casual players that buy a Playstation or Xbox just to play the latest COD or Fifa.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

They said "sustainable," they never once used the word, "profitable." Loss leaders are sustainable when you have the money to burn into it. Great for the tax portfolio on that reinvestment as well.

Netflix as an example was "sustainable" since its streaming inception. Even when it was operating in the negative.

Disney+ decided not to do day and date on some of the biggest bangers, walking that back. And they have almost 100m subs if not more now.

Yep. Microsoft can easily sustain/subsidize it.

Google just wasn’t willing to.

Sustaining strategy isn’t always good, eventually shareholders will want profits

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I wish MS would say, "We will ensure that COD remains in PS platforms until 20**"
Plan, simple, no confusion.

Not good enough for Jim Ryan.

He wants this:

 

[MasterCornholio]

Nope, I am not saying that AT ALL! They both do it, hence why i took a hypocritical post and turned a mirror on it.

Sure. I even used the words "smaller acquisitions" in the post you commented on.

Edit: are you guys even reading the posts i was commenting on because you're both going off on a tangent.

I mean they were Sonys biggest acquisition. Its interesting how they are the ones that are remaining multiplatform.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

And buying Bungie while crying over the competitors acquisitions.

Shut it with this. You know Bungie will remain independent and publish games multiplatform as they always have.

 

[Orbital2060]

For a site that call themselves «gamesindustry» they seem to have very little focus on the actual games industry - as in the 10.000 employees at ABK. Those are whats hanging in the balance here, and who need a closure to this and a future to look forward to.

 

[CeeJay]

I mean they were Sonys biggest acquisition. Its interesting how they are the ones that are remaining multiplatform.

I'll take your Bungie and raise you a Mojang, your turn...

 

[The_Mike]

We will swap you COD for Nathan Drake

 

[lukilladog]

And who is protecting gamers in the markets with $700 usd PS5 msrp´s?. I will celebrate this.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

Yep. Microsoft can easily sustain/subsidize it.

Google just wasn’t willing to.

Sustaining strategy isn’t always good, eventually shareholders will want profits

Exactly this.

 

[YCoCg]

There's an easy way to settle, promise the Minecraft model for COD and then gift Sony Crash Bandicoot, Microsoft have way too many platformer IPs that they're doing jack with so doing that will show some good faith.

 

[Lognor]

LOL!
Sony is legit shook. They are making it well known that they are legit shook about losing COD. Like holy shit. Don't let everyone know how much you're scared! Comes off as weak as fuck.

 

[3liteDragon]

 

[CeeJay]

There's an easy way to settle, promise the Minecraft model for COD and then gift Sony Crash Bandicoot, Microsoft have way too many platformer IPs that they're doing jack with so doing that will show some good faith.

The "Xbox has no games" meme has been well and truly killed off. Now we get port begging for IP that they don't even own yet!

 

[reksveks]

They said "sustainable," they never once used the word, "profitable." Loss leaders are sustainable when you have the money to burn into it. Great for the tax portfolio on that reinvestment as well.

Netflix as an example was "sustainable" since its streaming inception. Even when it was operating in the negative.

Disney+ decided not to do day and date on some of the biggest bangers, walking that back. And they have almost 100m subs if not more now.

Disney did convert a decent chunk of that via hotstar in India.

Again the model isn't video streaming services but Amazon Prime.

Back to the timeloop hell that I live in.

 

[SLB1904]

I think if COD does go exclusive it will be a massive boost for Microsoft, as there are an awful lot of more casual players that buy a Playstation or Xbox just to play the latest COD or Fifa.

People buy cod because is available everywhere. Cod is nowhere near as popular as it was in the Times of ps360 days. Honestly this is not even worth speculate. if this deal go through. It will be at least a decade until whatever prediction we make come to fruition.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Sustaining strategy isn’t always good, eventually shareholders will want profits

Maybe. Maybe not. Xbox has been around for 20 years and more aggressive than ever.

Shareholders are already getting record profit from MS trending at around $15 or more billion per quarter. Or $60+ billion per year. And that already bakes in whatever Xbox does even if they are at a loss.

If Sony and Nintendo are at record highs of 3-4 billion profit per year, MS wont get there. So at most a big turnaround for Xbox would be perhaps edging up $1 billion profit per year. Maybe they do great and it's $2 billion per year. Wont move the needle at all.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Maybe. Maybe not. Xbox has been around for 20 years and more aggressive than ever.

Shareholders are already getting record profit from MS trending at around $15 or more billion per quarter. Or $60+ billion per year. And that already bakes in whatever Xbox does even if they are at a loss.

If Sony and Nintendo are at record highs of 3-4 billion profit per year, MS wont get there. So at most a big turnaround for Xbox would be perhaps edging up $1 billion profit per year. Maybe they do great and it's $2 billion per year. Wont move the needle at all.

They’re not getting those profits from GP though

Look at Netflix. Their stock has lost an enormous amount of value because it turns out that content is expensive and there’s now a lot of competition

They will need to sink or swim and can’t rely on growth at all costs

 

[SlimySnake]

Yep. Microsoft can easily sustain/subsidize it.

Google just wasn’t willing to.

Sustaining strategy isn’t always good, eventually shareholders will want profits

MS made like $50 billion in profits last year. Activision brings in around $3 billion. Even if it gets halved, it will only increase the overall MS profits. Not to mention the gains the xbox division will make from the COD Userbase migrating to the Xbox eco system.

Shareholders have been asking these companies to stop sitting on billions of dollars of cash and start investing.

 

[Mozza]

People buy cod because is available everywhere. Cod is nowhere near as popular as it was in the Times of ps360 days. Honestly this is not even worth speculate. if this deal go through. It will be at least a decade until whatever prediction we make come to fruition.

Fair enough, seems strange that people are making such a fuss over all this then, you know if COD is no longer a big deal, and not going to be exclusive for 10 years or so.

 

[YCoCg]

The "Xbox has no games" meme has been well and truly killed off. Now we get port begging for IP that they don't even own yet!

It's not port begging, it's an IP rights transfer, look at all the platformers that Microsoft own and yet they do very little with them. Blinx, Voodoo Steve, Banjo Kazooie, Conker, Battletoads, etc.

They'll have plenty to dig into, Inc. Spyro, so shutting this case down with a gift works in everyone's favour.

 

[The_Mike]

You can't "kill" COD, but you can easily compete on the same level as it by making a great first person shooter that people will buy if it looks good enough. The challenge is more how to handle the logistics of building an operation able to deliver them yearly or every 2 years, and how to successfully deliver the multiplayer side at a high level.

Jimbo reading this OP and realises how easy it is.

 

[DenchDeckard]

This is gonna get super dirty isn't it. If Sony is buttering up the cma and this doesn't go through I see Microsoft buying exclusivity stuff like crazy...or hopefully all this exclusivity goes away and people can play games where they want with zero timed bullshit.

 

[MasterCornholio]

I'll take your Bungie and raise you a Mojang, your turn...

Bethesda?

 

[SLB1904]

Fair enough, seems strange that people are making such a fuss over all this then, you know if COD is no longer a big deal, and not going to be exclusive for 10 years or so.

I mean if we care or not is irrelevant. For Sony is the money cod brings. The response of this is clearly different with other Microsoft acquisitions.

 

[reksveks]

They’re not getting those profits from GP though

Look at Netflix. Their stock has lost an enormous amount of value because it turns out that content is expensive and there’s now a lot of competition

They will need to sink or swim and can’t rely on growth at all costs

Netflix has one revenue stream, they don't even talk about their merchandise revenue.

Off to play Fuga.

 

[Pedro Motta]

This is more than just about MS and Sony when it comes to those statements. This is also about allowing the floodgates to open for the likes of Google, Amazon, Meta, etc buying up the remaining large publishers.

Gamers tho, are not seeing beyond the console war paradigm.

This is the correct take.

 

[CeeJay]

It's not port begging, it's an IP rights transfer, look at all the platformers that Microsoft own and yet they do very little with them. Blinx, Voodoo Steve, Banjo Kazooie, Conker, Battletoads, etc.

They'll have plenty to dig into, Inc. Spyro, so shutting this case down with a gift works in everyone's favour.

Voodoo Steve sounds interesting

Also, there was a Battletoads game released within the last couple of years...

Any of the big publishers have a load of dormant IP in their closet although I do agree that Xbox should do more platformers.

 

[CeeJay]

Bethesda?

A MS owned publisher that currently has more exclusives on Playstation than Xbox... Hmm You win, I can't beat that.

 

[Mozza]

I mean if we care or not is irrelevant. For Sony is the money cod brings. The response of this is clearly different with other Microsoft acquisitions.

So it's different from other Microsoft and indeed Sony buy outs because of the money Sony make from COD, even though it's not as big of a seller as it once was, and nobody is that bothered about it, now I get it.

 

[M16]

Sonys just mad because they want to protect their obsolete business model while everyone else is moving on. The writing is on the wall for them.

Microsoft wasn't kidding when they said Sony is not their real competitor.

 

[reinking]

Some of you are too emotional about all of this. These are corporations trying to position themselves for their best future. Obviously it is in Sony's best interest to keep CoD on their platform. Sony isn't "butthurt' but they do owe it to investors and their gaming public to not roll over and lose a franchise that has been popular on their console without a fight.

 

[owandeseis]

I wish MS would say, "We will ensure that COD remains in PS platforms until 20**"
Plan, simple, no confusion.

Easier than that, make the game multiplatform, but temporal exclusives.

"Not available on other consoles until AT LEAST 1 year after the initial release" , then release it whenever you want. The FFVII strategy basically

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

MS made like $50 billion in profits last year. Activision brings in around $3 billion. Even if it gets halved, it will only increase the overall MS profits. Not to mention the gains the xbox division will make from the COD Userbase migrating to the Xbox eco system.

Shareholders have been asking these companies to stop sitting on billions of dollars of cash and start investing.

If CoD moves to GP and off PS, that’s going to lose profit, not just “half” it

Microsoft could have done other things with cash, such as share buybacks or dividends. Throwing 70B at a publisher whose market cap should probably be closer to 40B is a waste.

 

[Elios83]

Lol this is becoming a soap opera
So now we have to wait until March to know more? And the European Commission still has to go into phase 1?
In any case both companies are just doing their own interests, nothing more nothing less.
Microsoft wants to go ahead with their monopolistic plan, Sony wants that plan to fail or to get regulated so that it becomes harmless and they won't lose COD.
These companies are not your friends.

 

[Hayabusabruh]

Jim Ryan saying to some random woman.
"Just say Phil Spencer of Microsoft groped you"

 

[dibella360]

The solution to all of this is simple. Microsoft gives COD to Sony in perpetuity. In return, Sony drops the 30% cut. If Sony wants "to have the highest quality Call of Duty experience", it's time to put your money where your mouth is Jim!

 

[MOTM]

Based on what? Sony seem pretty ok with the status quo where neither they nor MS owns ABK.

I'm sorry but its not just about the money, its about how the money is used. MS could have used that huge cash-pile on building stuff of their own. Like where are there new IP's?

It strikes me that MS are mainly investing to control, not build the industry. Is that what you want from a potential market-leader?

Yeah yeah gtfo.

Sony could have used the BUNGIE money to build some new studios. Where are the new IP’s?

Even worse, rather than wasting money on bribing devs to not put games on GP - Imagine using that money to improve your own service.

Sony got played at their own game and now don’t want to play anymore, pathetic.

 

[MasterCornholio]

A MS owned publisher that currently has more exclusives on Playstation than Xbox... Hmm You win, I can't beat that.

That was before Microsoft bought them. Microsoft didn't make those deals with Sony which is what you're saying. Games like Starfield are not coming to playstation. Bethesda isn't being given the Mojang treatment.

 

[Shadowstar39]

Wow this is getting sad... just imagine the tantrums once this deal goes through and Xbox decides to go after EA etc next.

And you people would be OK with that? What world do we live in where people are OK with mega corps gobbling up everyone. I have access to all the games anyway, but even so, it's bad move and greedy. This is Ms MO. They don't create x they buy what others do, and ruin competition.

 

[Topher]

I feel so protected right now.