So MS is "frenzied," because they are just throwing around money but Sony "goes on dates" first.
This just isn't all that accurate. MS basically was the biggest partner that allowed Bethesda to transition from a niche company into a juggernaut. Morrowind on the original Xbox and Oblivion on 360 is what built Bethesda. They have gone on dates before and explained this in the acquisition video.
MS and Bethesda dated 15 years ago. They then started seeing other people. They still hooked up every now and then, but it was clear that it was an open relationship. Then recently, Sony and Zenimax started thinking of going exclusive by agreeing to only fuck each other for a good year or two while they played Deathloop and Ghostwire tokyo, and MS freaked out and proposed with a $7.5 billion ring.
The way sony dates and then proposes is slightly different. They date for a good 5-10 years exclusively. they control their studios like saudis control their women. you date me and no one else. then after they have proven their worth with a few good games, they put a ring on it. See sucker punch, evolution studios, GG, housemarque and even Naughty Dog.
the only studio that doesnt fit this pattern is them buying nixxes. I am guessing this is due to them willing to let their games date PC gamers which is different from what they have done before.
MS on the other hand only had prior relationships with playground games. Ninja Theory, Obsidian, Zenimax are all companies that werent in an exclusive relationship with MS like bluepoint has been since they ported Titanfall on the 360 way back in 2014.
Sony is making smart moves buying companies they've worked and who fit their gaming ethos, while Microsoft was desperate and spent $7.5b on a publisher because no games and for the IPs.
This is a hot take but not all that wrong. Especially considering Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 are probably going to be the only two MS first party games released until 2023. But with zenimax now in the picture, they will have redfall and starfield release next year filling in a crucial second year. Avowed, Perfect Dark, Hellblade 2, Fable and State of Decay being MIA could mean they are 2023 titles at the latest.
That said, if MS was really desperate they wouldve just gone out and bought exclusives like they always have. Titanfall, Rise of Tomb Raider, Ryse, Scalebound. Plenty of studios would give up exclusives for a $100 million or so. They spent $7.5 billion because they are in it for good. It's a bold statement of intent, not a desperate last second hail Mary.
If buying smaller studios is smart then surely MS buying Ninja Theory, Obsidian, Playground Games, Undead Labs is also considered smart, no?