It's kind of a scary question, but one that I think can merit discussion.
by shitting the bed.
Probably with just minor things. Sony buying huge studios would be a waste since either Microsoft wins by buying studios faster or Microsoft gets blocked from additional mega buys.
Makes more sense for Sony to buy smaller studios that help their portfollio and tangential companies that help them diverse.
by shitting the bed.
Sure but what about after that?
Sure but what about after that?
slit throat.
slit throat.
What about after that?
I think this has become more relevant.
They need to buy take two
At least if Sony did want to make a big acquisition they should be able to without any resistance, right?
(https://frinkiac.com/video/S06E21/W-JokAFSIttC0OUORDFo4zR396E=.gif)
(https://frinkiac.com/video/S06E21/stnol4O42PxzZB3f7yWBuGdDdcU=.gif)
Stolen from Era (https://www.resetera.com/threads/playstation-studios-ot36-phase-two-discs.730305/page-175#post-108804588)
;D
i think it will take a generation at least but i do think sony is doomed. especially starting at the launch of the ps6. with CoD out of the way i can't see how anything stands in their way for sega, take two, SE, ect. i think MS buys up any and every publisher that is willing to sell leaving sony with (nearly) no games and an unviable ecosystem. sony first party is great but not great enough to entirely sell a console like nintendo does. sony is a dead console walking imo.
...and there is no response to be made. sony has like 1/100th the budget for acquisitions and MS will outbid them when they can. publisher aquisitions is the new timed exclusive and sony can't win this fight.
I think the reality is:
- They're not going to let MS acquire the majority of the industry; even if MS wanted that. There are a few publishers that I think are out of reach for Sony or MS; or would similarly see an immense amount of pushback. Take Two, Epic Games, and EA I think would be immensely difficult. I would agree there's nothing preventing MS or Sony from acquiring Square Enix, Sega or Namco or Ubisoft.
- Critically Sony doesn't need to beat MS. They just need to have enough worthwhile stuff on their own. There are plenty of people that need games like God of War, Final Fantasy XVI, etc. I don't think Sony needs to outspend MS by any stretch. But I think Sony needs to make big moves to expand their base.
And I've said it an annoying amount of times. I think they need to make a broader range of games. First person shooters again, RPGs, etc.
if ABK isn't off limits then what's the line?
every other publisher will be cheaper. MS is still riding oh the lie that they aren't very big by pointing to prior years revenue. ...and can do so for at least another couple years while projects are in-progress. no other publisher has a game so huge as CoD.
I completely disagree with you Pi. MS will aquire a bunch more publisher before next gen starts. they don't need to take every game away,.. just enough for the community effect to kick in which is why they will time their attack with the launch of next gen. until then they will try to maintain their "good guy" facade so they can keep acquiring the industry.
every other publisher will be cheaper. MS is still riding oh the lie that they aren't very big by pointing to prior years revenue. ...and can do so for at least another couple years while projects are in-progress. no other publisher has a game so huge as CoD.
The distinguisher isn't based off cost, it's based off how it would affect the market.
It's been brought up that Epic and Valve would be substantially harder to acquire, because they have a strong hold on AAA Game Engines and the PC market respectively. Those would be much harder than Activision.
Take Two with GTA is probably as hard, despite Take Two being much smaller overall.
Sony needs to stop following in Microsoft's footsteps. I know PS5 games and the console itself are selling great but Sony has been playing defense this entire generation.
Buying a studio might be needed but Sony can't outspend Microsoft. They'll never win on this front.
They could shake up the industry with something novel like wii, switch, or gamepass. It'd be incredibly hard for them to find that lightning in a bottle idea, but it'd put Sony back on offense while Microsoft struggles to react.
They're also still crushing Microsoft with first party games. They need to really leverage that instead of making PC ports. Also they need to reveal new IP that can keep people hyped and speculating for years. So far PS5 has been way too many sequels and while the games are great, that doesn't grow playstation as much.
if CoD is deemed not important to market dynamics that GTA won't either.
valve isn't for sale and I don't know why MS would want them anyways as that wouldn't help them kill Sony. ...but I doubt epic would be blocked by regulators even though MS could drop playstation as a platform from the engine.
if CoD is deemed not important to market dynamics that GTA won't either.
valve isn't for sale and I don't know why MS would want them anyways as that wouldn't help them kill Sony. ...but I doubt epic would be blocked by regulators even though MS could drop playstation as a platform from the engine.
Epic is the only play that could protect Sony imo. Own the engine and you're guaranteed a slice of the pie.
Plus it's used a lot in movies and tv which would make tons of sense for Sony.
What they need is content and not engines. They need to buy take two and make all their non sports game exclusive.
Sony needs to stop following in Microsoft's footsteps. I know PS5 games and the console itself are selling great but Sony has been playing defense this entire generation.
Buying a studio might be needed but Sony can't outspend Microsoft. They'll never win on this front.
They could shake up the industry with something novel like wii, switch, or gamepass. It'd be incredibly hard for them to find that lightning in a bottle idea, but it'd put Sony back on offense while Microsoft struggles to react.
I feel like Sony isn't following in MS's footsteps that closely.
Their PC strategy is a little different with late ports instead of day 1.
Technically Sony had a gamepass strategy before MS, and they just folded it into their PS+ service.
They're also still crushing Microsoft with first party games. They need to really leverage that instead of making PC ports. Also they need to reveal new IP that can keep people hyped and speculating for years. So far PS5 has been way too many sequels and while the games are great, that doesn't grow playstation as much.
Their PC ports are pretty low cost though.
I agree entirely on the new IP bit.
I feel like Sony isn't following in MS's footsteps that closely.
Their PC strategy is a little different with late ports instead of day 1.
Technically Sony had a gamepass strategy before MS, and they just folded it into their PS+ service.
Their PC ports are pretty low cost though.
I agree entirely on the new IP bit.
nobody ever gives credit to sony for the things they do. nintendo/ms rip them off and then all of their "fans" start berating sony for coping.
https://blog.playstation.com/2013/06/28/celebrating-1-year-of-the-playstation-plus-instant-game-collection/
june 28th 2013. gamepass launched in june 1 2017 a full 5 years later.
fudge anyone that says sony is copying MS. sony was the first one to offer games as a subscription back on ps3 when sony was trying to complete against xbox live and needed something to
sweeten the pot since they were lacking in lots of other places. MS copyied sony. The only thing MS did was to
sweeten the pot with day-1 first party releases since they were lacking in lots of other places.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F07HjLuXgAE5Sss?format=jpg&name=900x900)
Might be good evidence that Activision needs Sony more than Sony needs Activision.
tl;dr: Activision removed CoD from Steam, Steam grew, and did nothing for Activision's platform.
nobody ever gives credit to sony for the things they do. nintendo/ms rip them off and then all of their "fans" start berating sony for coping.
https://blog.playstation.com/2013/06/28/celebrating-1-year-of-the-playstation-plus-instant-game-collection/
june 28th 2013. gamepass launched in june 1 2017 a full 5 years later.
fudge anyone that says sony is copying MS. sony was the first one to offer games as a subscription back on ps3 when sony was trying to complete against xbox live and needed something to sweeten the pot since they were lacking in lots of other places. MS copyied sony. The only thing MS did was to sweeten the pot with day-1 first party releases since they were lacking in lots of other places.
I agree and it's partly Sony's fault for not marketing it. Sony are pretty bad at marketing their products.
PS Now is probably a better comparison to Gamepass and that launched a couple of years before Gamepass. But they refused to allow downloads, only streaming, until a year after Gamepass. Imagine if they had downloadable games and the option to stream games from day 1 and they advertised it like a huge product? MS wouldn't get the credit that they do now for Gamepass and it certainly wouldn't have got as much traction.
Sony are now so far behind MS on Gamepass because they don't have the right type of games under their belt to put out day 1 on PS Plus to compete with MS. They need Gaas games or at least be able to shoehorn in microtransactions. The money that gamers would spend in games would make up for the loses.
Sony are investing in Gaas now but can they create something gamers will play for 5+ years
nobody ever gives credit to sony for the things they do. nintendo/ms rip them off and then all of their "fans" start berating sony for coping.
https://blog.playstation.com/2013/06/28/celebrating-1-year-of-the-playstation-plus-instant-game-collection/
june 28th 2013. gamepass launched in june 1 2017 a full 5 years later.
fudge anyone that says sony is copying MS. sony was the first one to offer games as a subscription back on ps3 when sony was trying to complete against xbox live and needed something to sweeten the pot since they were lacking in lots of other places. MS copyied sony. The only thing MS did was to sweeten the pot with day-1 first party releases since they were lacking in lots of other places.
Games with gold is the equivalent of the playstation plus instant game collection. Gamepass is the equivalent to Sony's new PS+ tier thingy.
Yes many Microsoft fanboys are annoying and always ignore the many things Sony did first, but the instant game collection was a decade ago. What has Sony has done this generation that has been more than catching up? PSVR2 wasn't reactionary yet it's not selling enough to put pressure on Microsoft.
I agree and it's partly Sony's fault for not marketing it. Sony are pretty bad at marketing their products.
PS Now is probably a better comparison to Gamepass and that launched a couple of years before Gamepass. But they refused to allow downloads, only streaming, until a year after Gamepass. Imagine if they had downloadable games and the option to stream games from day 1 and they advertised it like a huge product? MS wouldn't get the credit that they do now for Gamepass and it certainly wouldn't have got as much traction.
Sony are now so far behind MS on Gamepass because they don't have the right type of games under their belt to put out day 1 on PS Plus to compete with MS. They need Gaas games or at least be able to shoehorn in microtransactions. The money that gamers would spend in games would make up for the loses.
Sony are investing in Gaas now but can they create something gamers will play for 5+ years
counter point,.. the GaaSification of MS's games is a big part of why MS's first party kind of sucks. like.. why am i paying a subscription to have access to games built on the "free to play" model?!?!?
i've said it elsewhere but i'm not too happy about sony talking about GaaS soo much. i don't want to hate too hard before i see what they actually put out but it's probably not going to be for me. i vastly prefer the horizon then horizon dlc approach to the halo then halo + "hat" approach.
Games with gold is the equivalent of the playstation plus instant game collection. Gamepass is the equivalent to Sony's new PS+ tier thingy.
Yes many Microsoft fanboys are annoying and always ignore the many things Sony did first, but the instant game collection was a decade ago. What has Sony has done this generation that has been more than catching up? PSVR2 wasn't reactionary yet it's not selling enough to put pressure on Microsoft.
no it wasn't.
at the time both ps and xbox where giving out monthly games that you only had access to if you reedeemed them that month. that was ps+ and games with gold. then sony went and said "on top of your 3-6 game a month given to you via ps+ here are an additional 60 games you can play covering a wide range of titles from our catalog.
it was exactly the same as gamepass and ps+ extra without a billion $$ of marketing trying to convince you it was the best thing since sliced bread.
Agree. I'm hoping they can make a good gaas game though.
Sony also had PS Now in 2014, which while was for cloud, it also facilitated a game library.
Agree. I'm hoping they can make a good gaas game though.
same.
I say I hate GaaS but I've sure played a hell of a lot of rocket league and multiversus and destiny. Sony has stated "lots of genres" I think so maybe it will be fine. I think part of it is the games that tend to GaaSify are in genres I tend not to love. I really don't care for pvp.
Sony also had PS Now in 2014, which while was for cloud, it also facilitated a game library.
Their Gaikai purchase really should have made them the de-facto game streaming company back then. Such a missed opportunity.
Sorry this is probably more relevant here.
I think this highlights the issue.
MS will have a console, and a huge market across Xbox, PlayStation (Activision + Mojang), PC (Blizzard + Activision + XGS), Mobile (King), and potentially Nintendo Switch 2. While also having Gamepass.
Of course, Sony is well ahead in the console market. But overall, this is a massive boost for MS overall.
I don't think PlayStation is going anywhere. But, SIE will struggle to stay in the top 2 biggest game companies.
In the past couple years, Sony basically caught up to the Zenimax acquisition.
MS has ~23 studios and Sony has something like ~20 studios.
The Activision Blizzard King acquisition though is a whole other beast in terms of scale and scope.
I think it would be reasonable to say they are like 30 studios worth there. 10 mobile, 11 console, 9 more PC focused.
How likely is it that Sony will try to match some of that growth?
It feels particularly unlikely that Sony would match King, their mobile studio is like 1/100th the size of King.
It feels very unlikely they would match Blizzard.
So the crux of it is the console market. How likely is it that Sony would acquire a publisher or something like 10-12 studios in the next ~5 years.
those "9 PC studios" will be making console games just like how age of empires was ported.
MS has at least double the output now and Spencer was very clear he's not done buying. I expect min 10 more studios before next gen hits. probably 20.
the intent is clear. buy everything they can.
those "9 PC studios" will be making console games just like how age of empires was ported.
MS has at least double the output now and Spencer was very clear he's not done buying. I expect min 10 more studios before next gen hits. probably 20.
the intent is clear. buy everything they can.
The real killer of the Activision deal isn't CoD, but bringing World of Warcraft to Xbox!
/s
those "9 PC studios" will be making console games just like how age of empires was ported.
MS has at least double the output now and Spencer was very clear he's not done buying. I expect min 10 more studios before next gen hits. probably 20.
the intent is clear. buy everything they can.
One of their aims will be to make Sony offer Gamepass on PS platforms. Comply or die! They will also use their offer of Gamepass as them keeping their games multiplatform.
How this Acti/Blizz deal is about to go through is crazy to me. If this isn't a clear attempt at a monopoly, then what is. Especially with MS saying they want to kill off Sony and that they aren't done buying studios. How is this deal going through?