1 | Sony Interactive Entertainment | Japan, United States | 18.190 |
2 | Tencent Games | China | 16.224 |
3 | Nintendo | Japan | 12.010 |
4 | Microsoft | United States | 10.260 |
5 | NetEase | China | 6.668 |
6 | Activision Blizzard | United States | 6.388 |
7 | Electronic Arts | United States | 5.537 |
8 | Take-Two Interactive | United States | 3.089 |
9 | Bandai Namco Entertainment | Japan | 3.018 |
10 | Square Enix | Japan | 2.386 |
11 | Nexon | South Korea, Japan | 2.286 |
12 | Netmarble | South Korea | 1.883 |
13 | Ubisoft | France | 1.446 |
14 | Konami | Japan | 1.303 |
15 | Sega | Japan | 1.153 |
16 | Capcom | Japan | 0.7673 |
17 | Embracer Group | Sweden | 0.3225 |
OK, that's very nice, you'll say. But why the hell acquiring a videogame publisher could have major anti-competitive effects in cloud services?
I guess that the line of thinking that they are following is similar to the one from the CMA:
- Videogames generate more money than other form of entertainment.
- But there are only 3 major competitors (MS, Nintendo and Sony) and no one has entered the (video game console) industry in the last 20 years. Not a good sign...
- In addition to that, the barriers of entry (level of investment) and the network effects (more users usually attract better content) are very strong.
- So, there is the minimum amount of competition in that market and it's very hard to get new entrants. That's not good!
- Luckily, PC and mobile are alternatives to play games beyond consoles. Well, that helps the market to be more competitive
- In any case, as other industries, the videogame sector is in a transitional phase from the classic "buy to play" to alternatives like subscriptions, cloud, etc.
- This transition is finally allowing more competition and new entrants (Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google, Nvidia, Meta, etc). Finally, that's good news!
- But to be able to compite these new entrants also need good content and access to the cloud infrastructure that's going to be the basis of future developments.
- One of the 3 originals competitors in the industry (MS) has a good position in the market, a very popular subscription service, a strong first party offering, it's number 2 in cloud services in the world and number 1 with the operating systems used by PC (Windows). Not bad! That's already a lot of very good synergies.
- Suddenly, that competitor (MS) buys the biggest third party publisher in the world (ABK) with some of the biggest and most popular IPs in the industry (COD, Candy Crush, WoW, etc).
- What happens with the other two competitors (Nintendo and Sony)? Well, they have a better position in the industry (by number of sales, users and quality content). But if the industry is really transitioning to the cloud and subscriptions, although they offer some popular subscription services (PS Plus, for example), they don't have cloud infrastructure or an OS. Well then, to get access to them they'll have to pay for it.
- What happens with the new entrants? Well, some of them have cloud infrastructure an even an OS (Amazon or Google), but the gaming catalogue is very small and they don't have a lot of users. So, to attract new users they'll have to pay for popular content (Google) and probably cloud infrastructure or OS licenses as well.
Well, well, well... If the industry is already transitioning to subscription + cloud and one of the 3 main competitors (MS) already has: 1) a popular subscription service (Gamepass), 2) a good amount of users and sales (Xbox) 3) a strong first party offering (24 studios) 4) one of the biggest cloud infrastructure with Azure (so they don't have to pay for it) 5) the most important OS (Windows) in an alternative gaming market, PC (so they don't have to pay for it) and now 6) they are acquiring the biggest publisher in the sector with some of the biggest IPs on all the gaming markets (COD and consoles; WoW and PC; Candy Crush and mobile) they could really hurt competition, including new entrants and the ones already established (no access to the content acquired, worse and more expensive access to cloud infrastructure and OS licenses or very strong network effects).
Therefore, although MS is acquiring a videogame publisher the real question of the transaction is not if there will be more publishers, enough developers or alternative IPs post merger, it's about the transition of the industry to a new model and if this operation could seriously harm the most lucrative industry right now for present and future competitors.
That would be my theory of why there is so much focus on cloud services although ABK is the one being acquired. Of course, now MS has to prove with facts that the reality of the market is different and even with all of that to its favor, there will be enough competition in the short and long term.
Oh wow: Fandom has acquired GameSpot, Metacritic, TV Guide, GameFAQs, Giant Bomb, Cord Cutters News and Comic Vine. pic.twitter.com/oBO3QTWyD8
— Alex Zalben (@azalben) October 3, 2022
I thought we had am acquisitions thread for this sort of stuff..Whatever do you mean? :-X
Greater competition in traditional gaming, where Sony and Nintendo will remain the biggestNintendo? I can see an argument for Sony, but I'm not sure how they are smaller than Nintendo.
Man I never seen a company with such audacity. A web page about how they want to make a monopoly of the market and saying its best for consumers.So many points are just straight up lies. Their benefits for game devs have nothing to do with the acquisition. Just shut the fudge up Microsoft.
I think I've heard of Fandom here and there, but it's crazy to me that they're large enough to buy all this.Oh wow: Fandom has acquired GameSpot, Metacritic, TV Guide, GameFAQs, Giant Bomb, Cord Cutters News and Comic Vine. pic.twitter.com/oBO3QTWyD8
— Alex Zalben (@azalben) October 3, 2022
They arent big enough to buy vizioneck thoughNot even Microsoft is.
It appears Brazil has just approved Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard with no restrictions
— Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) October 5, 2022
Thanks to @cybercowboyZZ for bringing it to my attention
https://t.co/DYbV45VgED pic.twitter.com/J6HJkRG66O
What would happen if they didn't approve it? Brazil is important but not the largest market.It appears Brazil has just approved Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard with no restrictions
— Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) October 5, 2022
Thanks to @cybercowboyZZ for bringing it to my attention
https://t.co/DYbV45VgED pic.twitter.com/J6HJkRG66O
What would happen if they didn't approve it? Brazil is important but not the largest market.Not exactly sure.
Or maybe the majority of regulators approve the deal but some minors ones don't. In that case, MS/ABK would probably go to court to appeal the decision and would probably win because courts are usually more favorable to parties than regulators. Although that could take some years, if the market is not too big/important, maybe it could work for MS/ABK.Era has a pretty good thread on all of the Microsoft-Activision stuff (https://www.resetera.com/threads/the-microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-ot-antitrust-simulator-update-approved-in-brazil.633344/)
It could also happen that an important regulator approves the deal (the FTC in US) but another big one rejects it (the EC in Europe). In that case MS/ABK could go to go court to appeal the decision but that's going to be a long and tough battle. When that happens the parties usually abandon and cancel the deal.
There's a strange dichotomy where Sony is weak and strong at the same time, from the same people.Fanboys making excuses when it fits their agenda.
Like people constantly point out that "Sony can't afford what Microsoft can", and yet there's constant complaints about "If Microsoft can do something, why can't Sony?"
Fanboys making excuses when it fits their agenda.but as Brazil points out,.. Sony still has the ability to form strong relationships with 3rd party publishers...
MS has the money to buy take two, ea, Activision, ubisoft, Warner bros gaming division, capcom, square and Sega easily.
Sony doesn't have anywhere near that buying power
Square Enix Montreal new name. Wonder when/if we'll get new names for the other Square Enix studios that were bought.I wouldn't be surprised if none of the others get renamed.
Studio Onoma - Our Brand Story | Studio Onoma (https://www.studio-onoma.com/en/studio-onoma-our-rebrand-story/)
Twisted PixelLococycle VR time!
F facebook. hate how they are buying up anything and everything related to VR.They're currently up to 7 game studios.
...kind of always thought of twisted pixel as an MS studio. didn't realize they were working on VR lately.They were separated in 2015.
Microsoft says Sony has "chosen to block Game
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) October 12, 2022
Pass from PlayStation" and that it has "elected to protect its revenues from sales of newly released games, rather than offer gamers the choice of accessing them via its subscription, PlayStation Plus." All a response to UK's CMA pic.twitter.com/ytOIhLRoIr
honestly sony is dumb to not if MS really did offerDepends what the offer was.
honestly sony is dumb to not if MS really did offerIf it was first party only, it would be a strong push to reduce the need to get an Xbox for PlayStation owners.
so how confident are we feeling that MS will be allowed to aquire activision. The stock market has slumped pretty low now. at today's prices you'll get just over a 30% gain on your investment if MS is allowed to buy at $95. in a bear market like this that "almost guaranteed" return of 30% starting to look quite tempting to me.UK's CMA is pushing against it, and won't make a decision until March I believe.
UK's CMA is pushing against it, and won't make a decision until March I believe.yeah, i know it is "getting scrutinized" but i have a hard time believing it will actually be blocked. brazil basically gave a "why the fudge should i care" response. i expect all the small markets to do the same. only US and Europe have a chance of blocking it imo and frankly with MS a US company I think they won't give a fudge about sony's woahs either. so basically just Europe.
But it seems very likely to pass.
Netflix has acquired Cozy Grove studio Spry Fox. The Triple Town and Alphabear developer becomes the company’s sixth in-house games studiohttps://t.co/rfkb9aVTLG pic.twitter.com/PpXxS61CWh
— VGC (@VGC_News) October 31, 2022
As for acquisition [Kojima] say that he got a lot of offer and always refuse them and will keep refusing them as long as he's aliveEra (https://www.resetera.com/threads/playstation-studios-ot32-in-my-restless-dreams-i-see-that-showcase.646923/page-75#post-95929815)
Era (https://www.resetera.com/threads/playstation-studios-ot32-in-my-restless-dreams-i-see-that-showcase.646923/page-75#post-95929815)Would be cool, but all it takes is the right offer. Not all acquisitions are bad.
Would be cool, but all it takes is the right offer. Not all acquisitions are bad.From the sounds of it, he wants to have the freedom to make whatever, more than whatever money.
Microsoft has told the New York Times it offered Sony a 10-year deal to keep the series on PlayStation earlier this month.
In total, 16 regulatory bodies around the world have launched investigations into Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard to assess its likely impact on competition. So far, only Brazil and Saudi Arabia have approved the deal, with a number of territories, including the European Commission and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, having announced more in-depth reviews of the matter.
Speaking to the New York Times, Microsoft accused Sony of misleading regulators, saying the company had "overstated the importance of Call of Duty to its viability." In response, Jim Ryan told the publication this was "not true", adding Microsoft was "a tech giant with a long history of dominating industries" and that "it is highly likely that the choices gamers have today will disappear if this deal goes ahead."
Sony's statement to CMA on Activision (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/637cecede90e076b8043d8cd/Sony_Interactive_Entertainment.pdf)I'd read it except I won't. tldr summary?
Exclusive: The FTC is likely to file an antitrust lawsuit to block Microsoft’s $69 billion takeover of video game giant Activision Blizzard, per three people with knowledge of the matter https://t.co/c2AECmKPCT
— POLITICO (@politico) November 23, 2022
I'd read it except I won't. tldr summary?I haven't read most of it. Lots of arguing about the importance and irreplaceability of CoD.
I kind of want the Activision deal to go through. Really would want to see Sony get pushed. I have to imagine it would force them to greatly diversify the games they make.You have more faith in Sony than I do. They're great at making games but it feels like the business people this gen have no clue how to compete with Microsoft.
I kind of want the Activision deal to go through. Really would want to see Sony get pushed. I have to imagine it would force them to greatly diversify the games they make.I think you need to spend some time reviewing all the companies MS killed off just to not have competition.
I haven't read most of it. Lots of arguing about the importance and irreplaceability of CoD.
"Microsoft wants PlayStation to become like Nintendo, so that it would be a less close and less effective competitor to Xbox"
This is quite a line though.
this would be terrible for the industry and you know it. Sony may be #1 in consoles but MSs other revenues dwarf it and Sony won't exist in 10 years if MS buys up all third party content.I think there are a number of reasons why that wouldn't be realistic in the gaming industry.
I don't play Activision-Blizzard games so I couldn't care less from that perspective. Don't like Microsoft's lies and dishonest arguments though so I really hope the deal crashes and burns.I don't think Sony has made any absolutely terrible decisions.
Actually using my brain and predicting what would be best for the industry? No clue. If the deal is denied, what situation will Activision Blizzard be in? Will a worse company swoop them up?
You have more faith in Sony than I do. They're great at making games but it feels like the business people this gen have no clue how to compete with Microsoft.
And thats them not even finished yet. They said openly they want to buy more. They are literally trying to buy up the industryAnd they literally can't. And it's not a money issue.
And they literally can't. And it's not a money issue.They done it before. Its literally their game plan since the 90s.
They done it before. Its literally their game plan since the 90s.And I would say that the gaming industry is much more diverse.
I think there are a number of reasons why that wouldn't be realistic in the gaming industry.if buying Activision after buying a dozen studios and one publisher stands up to scrutiny what argument would stop MS from buying Ubisoft, EA, take two, SE....
MS legally can't buy everyone, there would be more pushback with any future acquisitions. There's no way they could buy Take Two or EA after this.
There are tons of studios in the world. Embracer has 131 studios. There are still plenty of independent developers out there.
Sony is still making itself plenty of exclusive deals.
Gamepass itself might be disruptive, but Sony already has a similar service and they could push it more.
if buying Activision after buying a dozen studios and one publisher stands up to scrutiny what argument would stop MS from buying Ubisoft, EA, take two, SE....Because the governments don't care about the number of acquisitions, they care about overall market share.
MS doesn't need to buy up all the development studios to kill playstation. MS only needs to starve ps of enough content to appear non-viable to gamers and the entire community implodes. no one is going to buy a ps for just Sony first party and indies.Plenty of people would.
So what happens if they file the lawsuitCourt. A judge would determine if the the acquisition can proceed based on the arguments for/against this being bad for the market. Would be somewhat expensive for MS. …worse in bad PR.
Because the governments don't care about the number of acquisitions, they care about overall market share.Its not all about market share though. Its also about participants. When there are more than 2 appaerntly that is sufficiently "competitive" for most acquisitions. I'm honestly surprised this would result in a lawsuit but I don't see why after bethesda/activision anyone would care about take two….
Buying up more of the market gets harder to do.
Plenty of people would.
There are also lots of markets that wouldn't care about Xbox regardless.
I don't think Sony is as fragile as they used to be /as you think they are.
They're not as strong independently as Nintendo, but they are a lot closer than they used to be.
If @FTC approves the Microsoft/Activision merger w/ the labor agreement that we created to protect collective bargaining rights, it would send a game-changing message to corporations: Workers do have a seat at the table & their concerns must be addressed.https://t.co/xuMQiAvJ03
— CWA (@CWAUnion) December 5, 2022
"Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals," said Holly Vedova, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. "Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets."
Is this official?i clicked the link. looks official to me.
In a complaint issued today, the FTC pointed to Microsoft's record of acquiring and using valuable gaming content to suppress competition from rival consoles, including its acquisition of ZeniMax, parent company of Bethesda Softworks (a well-known game developer). Microsoft decided to make several of Bethesda's titles including Starfield and Redfall Microsoft exclusives despite assurances it had given to European antitrust authorities that it had no incentive to withhold games from rival consoles.well there it is. taking starfield from playstation cost them CoD. a poor trade indeed.
"Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals," said Holly Vedova, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. "Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets."
If in the off chance is does get stopped. Xbox fanboys are going to implode. It would be glorious. It needs to be stopped, but i see it getting through. MS will just keep making concessions and offers to make it seem like its a good thing to happen.dunno. reading the thing though a bit i think the clinker is MS already offered concessions with respect to the bethesda acquisition and they already broke them when they pulled starfield off of playstation. the fact that bethesda exec apoligiezed about it will probably be quite damning here:
"I don't know how to allay the concerns of consumer and PlayStation 5 fans other than to say I'm a PlayStation 5 player as well, and I've played games on that console, and there's games I'm going to continue to play on it," Hines said. "But if you want to play Starfield, [it's] Xbox and PC. Sorry. All I can say is I apologize because I'm certain that that's frustrating to folks, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it."
dunno. reading the thing though a bit i think the clinker is MS already offered concessions with respect to the bethesda acquisition and they already broke them when they pulled starfield off of playstation. the fact that bethesda exec apoligiezed about it will probably be quite damning here:I don't think they made any actual concessions with the Zenimax acquisition.
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/06/bethesda-vp-offers-apology-for-starfields-absence-on-ps5/
Tencent acquires 20 percent stake in SHIFT UP https://t.co/8NuG2ONGq0 pic.twitter.com/dmbVOj0cyr
— Gematsu (@gematsu) December 16, 2022
From Breakingviews - Netflix will be next on Microsoft’s shopping list https://t.co/v5Fnqkbr82
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 20, 2022
ffs.From what I've seen, when ever Americans want to win an argument against another American, they always claim the issue to be "unconstitutional"
MMORPG.com: Microsoft Claims FTC's Lawsuit To Stop Activision Blizzard Purchase Is Unconstitutional.
https://www.mmorpg.com/news/microsoft-claims-ftcs-lawsuit-to-stop-activision-blizzard-purchase-is-unconstitutional-2000126956
"unconstitutional" is thrown around far too much to the point it's meaningless.
From what I've seen, when ever Americans want to win an argument against another American, they always claim the issue to be "unconstitutional"exactly.
exactly.100
my least favorite was the argument against gay marriage was it was an unconstitutional violation against "religious freedom".
you know,. because religious freedom means I have to be subjugated to your religious restrictions and not allowed to have my own. if marriage is a religious institution like they argued then really government shouldn't even recognize marriage. ...but seeing as we do then it must allow anyone's view on what counts as a marriage.
...for the record I side with polyamorous marriages as well. I don't give a shame about how consenting adults choose to love.
The Gearbox Entertainment Company $EMBRAC has acquired Captured Dimensions.
— EmbracerInvestor (@EmbracerInvest) January 4, 2023
Captured Dimensions provides 3D scanning and capturing work for the video games and film industries. They are based in Frisco, Texas, USA, which is also Gearbox' hometown.
Purchase price not disclosed. https://t.co/bYZYTsb0DO
NetEase is acquiring SkyBox Labs, who has worked on games such as Halo Infinite, Minecraft and Fallout 76.
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) January 6, 2023
Will continue to support co-development partners and will align with NetEase's goal of enhancing its expansion to AAA console and PC games https://t.co/EKYBAjIVQW
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-12/google-nvidia-express-concerns-to-ftc-about-microsoft-s-activision-deal (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-12/google-nvidia-express-concerns-to-ftc-about-microsoft-s-activision-deal)I really hope this deal collapses and spells doom for mega acquisition deals in the gaming industry
Ohhhhh this gonna get good. I hope this might spell doom for the deal
Google tells a great story of how hard it is to enter this industry even as a mega cap without needing to beg a direct competitor for content.Yeah googled failure should be noted. Netflix's and amazons hard time entering the industry should be noted too
Given a year ago, for me, I didn't know anything about the process of doing an acquisition like this. The fact that I have more insight, more knowledge about what it means to work with the different regulatory boards, I'm more confident now than I was a year ago, simply based on the information I have and the discussions that we've been having.
...
So my confidence remains high. We're actively working with the regulatory boards around the world that need to approve for this, and it's been a learning experience for me. A lot of time spent, a lot of travel, a lot of conversations, but they're conversations where I get to talk about our industry and the work that we do and why we do it. I think the more regulators are informed about what gaming is, how the business runs, who the players are, and what our aspiration is as Team Xbox is just a good thing for the industry itself.
Phil Spencer Interview (https://www.ign.com/articles/phil-spencer-interview-2023)That'll be a fun quote if the deal gets stopped.
Reuters reports that Jim Ryan, Sony's PlayStation chief, met the European Commission's antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager on Wednesday to discuss Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition. The EU is set to rule on the deal by April 11th https://t.co/s5dKGkcgAS
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) January 27, 2023
I hear Sony is briefing people in Brussels claiming Microsoft is unwilling to offer them parity for Call of Duty if we acquire Activision.
— Frank X. Shaw (@fxshaw) January 28, 2023
Nothing could be further from the truth.
1/4
Why did the US FTC announce it's opposition to Microsoft's deal to buy Activision Blizzard when it did? To head off European Union talks with Microsoft, @leah_nylen reports. https://t.co/H5I27mhEtK
— Dina Bass (@dinabass) January 25, 2023
Hi @FTC — did you catch last night’s episode of The Last of Us? It was incredible.
— Lulu Cheng Meservey (@lulumeservey) January 30, 2023
No wonder the show is breaking records. It’s a true blockbuster, watched by tens of millions.
If you haven’t already, you should check it out. You may be particularly interested in the fact that pic.twitter.com/MhcT0DmOsM
The FTC has opposed the Microsoft - Activision Blizzard deal on the grounds that Microsoft could “suppress competition” from rival consoles by leveraging Activision games.
— Lulu Cheng Meservey (@lulumeservey) January 30, 2023
It sounds like there’s some worry that Sony’s position as market leader could be jeopardized by this deal.
Sony’s talent and IP across gaming, TV, movies, and music are formidable and truly impressive.
— Lulu Cheng Meservey (@lulumeservey) January 30, 2023
It’s no wonder they also continue to dominate as the market leader for consoles.
In gaming, Sony is “the first of us” - and they will be just fine without the FTC’s protection.
Kind of a weird twitter thread by EVP Corporate Affairs and CCO at ActivisionNo love for the Halo tv show lol
Amazon reportedly aspires to turn Tomb Raider into a “Marvel-like franchise” spanning interconnected game, film and TV releases.https://t.co/Xf6RnDbPZf pic.twitter.com/AVZ2xvp5dx
— VGC (@VGC_News) January 30, 2023
Please no.Amazon reportedly aspires to turn Tomb Raider into a “Marvel-like franchise” spanning interconnected game, film and TV releases.https://t.co/Xf6RnDbPZf pic.twitter.com/AVZ2xvp5dx
— VGC (@VGC_News) January 30, 2023
Please no.This will bomb.
SIE put in it a job posting related to mergers and acquisitions.I think Sony will continue with acquisitions regardless if the ABK merger goes through or not.
So I guess acquisition season hasn't quite ended. Wonder if it'll depend on the Activision acquisition.
I think Sony will continue with acquisitions regardless if the ABK merger goes through or not.yes, that. it would greatly hurt their argument.
But I guess it seems they are waiting to see what happens. Any acquisition, specially a big one, might prompt MS to say "see they are doing it too, and they are market leaders"
yes, that. it would greatly hurt their argument.I guess SE would be worth it just for FF, but without TR and DE would MS prioritize them? Ubisoft is cheaper and has a lot more content that can be pumped out on gamepass.
if abk goes through Sony better get SE quickly or MS will take them too.
yes, that. it would greatly hurt their argument.Imagine how dysfunctional SE would be under MS.
if abk goes through Sony better get SE quickly or MS will take them too.
"I don't think they fully appreciate that it's a free-to-play business, that the Japanese and Chinese companies dominate the industry. You look at Sony, you look at Nintendo, they have these huge libraries of intellectual properties. Sony studios goes back 80 years, Nintendo has the very best characters that exist in video games.Sauce (https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/activision-blizzard-ceo-warns-uk-risks-becoming-death-valley-if-its-blocks-microsoft-deal/)
Kotick and Nadella are both pushing this idea of "why can't American companies compete with Japanese and Chinese companies"i'm a white male,.. why can't i have the same advantages as a black women?!?!? why should they be allowed into college when i inherited more money from mom and dad??!?!
Kotick and Nadella are both pushing this idea of "why can't American companies compete with Japanese and Chinese companies"Its so funny with these spins. Sonys most successful studios are American. ND and SMS.
Its so funny with these spins. Sonys most successful studios are American. ND and SMS.Sony Interactive is also based in the US.
The reality is all these companies are now international companies. Yes, they have originate from a singular country and have headquarters there. But their operations and strategic plans are international
the job advert for a 'Senior Dialogue Designer' based in London states that PlayStation is looking for someone to work on "major AAA projects alongside our partners at studios such as Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio, Guerrilla Games, Firesprite, Ballistic Moon, London Studios, Housemarque, Media Molecule, Insomniac Games, Sucker Punch Productions and more!"I checked the listing and ballistic moon was removed since the OP.
Not completely sure if it means anything.I agree. very speculative. an interesting mistake at the very least. it means at least one person in Sony didn't understand that they aren't first party. suggests at least a very close working relationship.
But it's interesting that Ballistic Moon alone is listed along with first party studios.
We have know they're working on a ps5 title for a while. They're on a fairly short list of obvious acquisition targets.
Arrowhead Game Studios (SIE published Helldivers)
Ballistic Moon (former Supermassive people)
Deviation Games (former CoD people, SIE partnership like Haven.)
FireWalk (another SIE partnership, but owned by another company)
Team Ninja (very unlikely, several SIE partnerships like Nioh, but owned by another company)
All I can say is, we're aiming to get every single title we publish from now on, onto Game Pass. In doing so, we'll secure success for each title, and relieve immense pressure for the devs
— Mike Rose (@RaveofRavendale) February 15, 2023
But please gamers, continue to explain why it's bad for us
Yeah it's a really silly thing to boast about. Plus it kinda irks me that he's a publisher yet he's talking about relieving immense pressure on developers. Do they not take on any of the risk for the games they publish?All I can say is, we're aiming to get every single title we publish from now on, onto Game Pass. In doing so, we'll secure success for each title, and relieve immense pressure for the devs
— Mike Rose (@RaveofRavendale) February 15, 2023
But please gamers, continue to explain why it's bad for us
wonder how long it will take him to realize that his studio is dead the first time MS says, "no thanks. we don't need that on game pass"
https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/02/19/sony-playstation-acquired-ballistic-moon/ (https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/02/19/sony-playstation-acquired-ballistic-moon/)The pitch book website is speculative.
at ~20 billion i don't know if sony could afford it. ..or if it would be worth it. would they dare make it exclusive? is xbox small enough not to matter? or would it just be collateral for MS to stop pulling things from playstation.Sure they could afford it. Whether they would want to is always the issue.
Sure they could afford it. Whether they would want to is always the issue.publicly traded. they'll take it if the offer is high enough but:
They probably couldn't afford it in cash, it would likely be a combination of loans, stock, cash they do have.
Take Two would be huge with Bioshock, Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto.
They also own Zynga.
But Take Two probably isn't interested.
If Sony expected cod to go through, could they buy take 2 while microsoft is "locked out" atm?like with ABK it would take a long time. even if an offer was made today it would be months before they are locked in. would require shareholder approval which would not happen even MS made even a slight inclining that they would bid.
I just want Sony to acquire some RPG studios.Here's a good buy/partnership for them. Small studio ex bethesda guys
Make some Bethesda-style and Final Fantasy style RPGs.
Here's a good buy/partnership for them. Small studio ex bethesda guysThis sounds exactly like what I'd like to see happen.
Welcome (https://www.oncelostgames.com/)
Apparently Take Two's stock went up today because an *attention seeker* tweeted out that Sony is interested in buying them; in response to Activision Blizzard.
(https://media.tenor.com/_0AGcJvL5QYAAAAM/jim-halpert-face.gif)
Amusing how widely the "Sony is buying Take-Two" rumor has spread, given that it originated from a single Twitter account. Some other tweets from the same account over the last year... pic.twitter.com/Y7R19UJUNB
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) March 7, 2023
This is a big win for our team! As we look to continue producing high-quality, new, and remastered games that do justice to the original IP; we could think of no better long-term partner than @atari https://t.co/icK4zbQBe2
— Nightdive Studios (@NightdiveStudio) March 23, 2023
A PS5 version of Redfall was in development, then cancelled, confirms Arkane director Harvey Smith:
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 22, 2023
"We were acquired by Microsoft and it was a change with capital C. They came in and they said 'No PS5, we're focusing on Xbox, PC and the Game Pass'.
Via: https://t.co/Bh6R6n56Ry pic.twitter.com/GqnYg8nIUY
what was MS's quote? bring games to more people?Clearly CoD is the only "game" they will make.
...didn't realized i had improved access to games by being forced to purchase into multiple ecosystems...
Today is a historic moment. We are excited to announce that the world-renowned franchises and talented people at @doinksoft will be joining Team Devolver! pic.twitter.com/16wP3iH6Ab
— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) April 3, 2023
I know it's a joke, but why red dead redemption 2? I can't find a connection or a technicality.I think it's an ongoing joke.
Hello, we’d like to publish your new cowboy game on PC.
— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) September 20, 2018
Nobody has to know, we can keep this a secret from TakeTwo. We know a person at Steam and can set you up with PC dev kits. Like this tweet if you want to talk more.
— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) September 20, 2018
We’re based out of Texas so we are familiar with horses and chewing tobacco. Also, we own a gun. That last part isn’t threat, just that knowing about guns seems a plus for this game.
— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) September 20, 2018
Red Dead Redemption 2
— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) December 30, 2022
New: Saudi company Savvy Games Group has agreed to acquire game-maker Scopely for $4.9 billion. Full article on web soon. pic.twitter.com/5pXshF36x4
— Cecilia D'Anastasio (@cecianasta) April 5, 2023
You can buy Manchester United for that priceNew: Saudi company Savvy Games Group has agreed to acquire game-maker Scopely for $4.9 billion. Full article on web soon. pic.twitter.com/5pXshF36x4
— Cecilia D'Anastasio (@cecianasta) April 5, 2023
First big acquisition for this thread.
It looks like Bethesda has acquired Nemesys Games in Budapest, Hungary.
— Klobrille (@klobrille) April 5, 2023
The studio will now be known as "ZeniMax Online Studios Hungary". The team is working on "Elder Scrolls Online as well as unanounced projects".
via @bogorad222https://t.co/Qfo2FfGrYl pic.twitter.com/ck7lSl8Ujf
I wonder if acquisitions will slow down due to the economy.I would say they already have:
I wonder if acquisitions will slow down due to the economy.they may speed up,.. at least from MS. in a down economy where people are struggling is the best time for the big boys with deep pockets to buy things cheap.
Angry Birds maker Rovio rebuffed an acquisition offer from Playtika for close to $750 million. Now, the company is close to selling to Sega for about $1 billion. https://t.co/33MawjaP9t
— Nick Statt (@nickstatt) April 14, 2023
Sega Nears Deal For 'Angry Birds' Mobile Game Maker - WSJ (https://www.wsj.com/articles/sega-nears-deal-for-angry-birds-mobile-game-maker-12bc7984?st=xgvgl7g86rb5yh3&reflink=share_mobilewebshare)Since when was Sega doing that good? I guess they made a lot of money in 2022 but otherwise they haven't been making that much profit.
Sega nearing $1 billion deal for Angry Birds developer.Angry Birds maker Rovio rebuffed an acquisition offer from Playtika for close to $750 million. Now, the company is close to selling to Sega for about $1 billion. https://t.co/33MawjaP9t
— Nick Statt (@nickstatt) April 14, 2023
Since when was Sega doing that good? I guess they made a lot of money in 2022 but otherwise they haven't been making that much profit.A lot of mergers are financed with loans from a bank or some other financial institution
Sega confirms the acquisition of Angry Birds creator Rovio pic.twitter.com/OnT6VwWWR1
— Andy Robinson (@AndyPlaytonic) April 17, 2023
Today we are announcing that Brazil-based game studio, AQUIRIS, is joining Epic Games. This acquisition builds upon an investment that Epic made in AQUIRIS in early 2022.
The AQUIRIS team will be the foundation of Epic Games Brasil, the first Epic studio in Latin America. Founded in 2007, AQUIRIS is best known for its award-winning titles including Wonderbox and the Horizon Chase franchise. Headquartered in the city of Porto Alegre, the AQUIRIS team of developers will join Epic Games to create groundbreaking content and social experiences within Fortnite.
Atari Announces Acquisition of More than 100 PC and Console (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/04/19/2650476/0/en/Atari-Announces-Acquisition-of-More-than-100-PC-and-Console-Titles-from-the-80s-and-90s.html)Oh no. I've been hoping they'd sell their game rights, not buy more.
Atari acquired the rights to over 100 PC/Console games from the 80's and 90's.
Weird move.
Focus Entertainment acquiring Dovetail Games (https://cdn.focus-home.com/admin/investor/website/desktop/_FILES/Communiques/20230420_pr_ca_q4_22_23.pdf)Train sim devs according to google. Not the type of game I thought Focus was focused on.
Acquisition season seems to be back in full swing.
Swordcanes strength lies in 3D computer graphics production technology in consumer home video game development and the studio has carried out work on major Capcom titles in the past. As such, Capcom decided to make the studio its wholly-owned subsidiary to sustainably bolster its developmental and technological capabilities.Japanese CG studio that worked on stuff for Final Fantasy XVI, Street Fighter VI, Hi-fi Rush
Sony PlayStation keeps acquiring. Just bought headphone maker Audeze
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) August 24, 2023
But Audeze is not going PlayStation-only and will remain multi-platform, Sony says. pic.twitter.com/M85szCjmUY
not that weird. in the sub-industry of "audio devices" sony is already one of the biggest players. i exclusively use them as they have the best value imo. the cheaper devices are absolute garbage. the better quality devices (and there are few) and like orders of magnitude more expensive.Maybe they have some patent or a really good work force. Either way this makes sense, like you said Sony is a huge player in the audio market.
i have 3 sony headsets right now.
1. wired
2. bluetooth
3. playstation
they are all great headsets.
i don't know anything specific about audeze but i do have one thought,.. "consolidation".
"Sony has one of the most impressive content catalogues on Earth," Severin explains. "Bringing it together in a subscription offering for example could pose a solid competitive answer to Xbox's cross-platform efforts. It will be increasingly difficult to compete with Microsoft on games only. The only response for Sony on the games-only side would be buying something really big like Take-Two, but that is unlikely."
Harding-Rolls predicts Sony will remain active in M&A but will retain its strong position in the current console generation, while Toto expects the company to maintain its current product strategy of focusing on $70 blockbusters.
"Sony surely is under pressure to react, even after their Bungie acquisition," he says. "I expect further investments and acquisitions for PlayStation, including a large one that would move the needle for them in a meaningful way."
Mergers and acquisitions in the game industry are likely to increase next year, according to a report from @DrakeStar_
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) October 27, 2023
Firm predicts Tencent, Sony, Take-Two and Savvy/Scopely as the most likely acquirers, while Embracer is expected to divest more studioshttps://t.co/CqanFERCWi pic.twitter.com/hc6w6Yp9Ny
By the sheer number of deals, that was a two-year low. But the deal value exceeded three of the last five quarters, when all the deals tallied in each period totaled less than $1 billion.
M&A deals for 2023's third quarter included mobile gaming firm Playtika's purchase of Youda Games and Innplay Labs for around $450 million as well as the successful $1.7 billion offer led by Goldman Sachs to take educational gaming platform Kahoot private.
Drake Star also counted nearly $1 billion in private investment for the quarter, up from the spring. Investments were primarily in PC, console or blockchain companies.
"While it is true that it is harder for founders to raise an early stage round and even harder to raise a growth/late stage round compared to 2021, it is also true that we have never had more gaming-focused VC funds than now," he says.
He pointed to Bitkraft, A16Z's gaming fund, Play Ventures, Griffin Gaming, Vgames and Makers Fund as examples, and said "several of them are in the process of raising follow-up funds."
"Valuations have come down, but that also makes it more attractive for VCs to invest now in the future unicorns."
Metzger anticipates Tencent, Sony, Take-Two and Savvy/Scopely will be the most active buyers in 2024, while the Embracer Group is expected to divest more studios.
Public companies, including Nintendo, EA and Nexon, are sitting on $45 billion in cash and cash equivalents, setting up the potential for more M&A, according to venture capital firm Konvoy Ventures.
Yes, but: It's been a year of panic for industry pros, who have despaired over job cuts and lessening investment.
Sony acquires iSize, specializing in Deep Learning for video delivery (https://sonyinteractive.com/en/sony-interactive-entertainment-to-acquire-isize-a-uk-based-company-specializing-in-deep-learning-for-video-delivery/)Seems like stuff like this is being held back by phones and whatever is receiving the stream. A tweaked version of DLSS could work great but if you have the hardware to run DLSS, why would you be streaming?
Seemingly to help Sony with streaming.
Cordel Robbin-Coker, CEO and co-founder of Carry1st, said talks with the Sony Innovation Fund began about eight to nine months ago, and that his pitch to the PlayStation console maker was that Africa is the next big market to find growth in video games.
"As large companies like Sony that have really strong footholds in tier-one and tier-two markets start thinking about where the next billion customers and gamers are going to come from, our pitch is that Africa is a prime market for that," Robbin-Coker told CNBC in an interview.
Sony is coming into an emerging gaming market with blistering growth potential. Sub-Saharan Africa's gaming industry is expected to generate over $1 billion for the first time in 2024, according to research from Carry1st and venture capital firm Konvoy.
While Embracer's purchase of Gearbox was widely reported as a $1 billion deal, it was never that simple. Lots of strings attached, as you can see in the release at the time https://t.co/pkqcQfMRFz pic.twitter.com/lwKL89Zpum
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) March 28, 2024
Relic is best known for the Company of Heroes and Dawn of War games, and recently developed the new Age of Empires for Microsoft. Relic will transition to an independent studio and will no-longer be part of the Sega group of studios.