Sony fights back - acquires Bungie for $3.6 billion

[kitler53]

I feel like this was a better acquisition than Activision bargain wise.

much better than activision.  probably worse than ZeniMax.  

[kitler53]

This is a strategic step towards continuing to evolve the gaming experiences that we build. Bungie's expertise in delivering a world-class service approach and long-term community engagement is extremely compelling and will support the development of several future live services titles from PlayStation Studios. Equally, we see the exceptional skills that PlayStation Studios possess offers the potential to enhance Bungie's existing and future IP portfolio.

NDs game is almost here i can feel it.  

...but i'm going to be quite disappointed if ND spends the rest of the gen supporting a GaaS game.  what a waste of talent.

[the-pi-guy]

We could maybe think of it as being the new Sony Online Entertainment in a way.

[BananaKing]

bungie can be the center-peice of their GaaS publishing.  

if you are going to try and replicate the success of fortnight,.. you don't go exclusive.  you're on every platform you can day-1 cast your net to build your community as large as possible.  halo infinite (mp) not being on playstation was honestly the wrong call.  if ND really is making a GaaS mp game,.. being exclusive to playstation basically is a deathblow.  being playstation and PC might work out but really it probably should be on xbox as well.  

and why wouldn't sony want to try and replicate the success of fortnight,..  holy crud it makes a lot of money.  

Pretty much the same thing as MS/Minecraft. Keep it multiplatform, keep making that money.

I can agree and see this being about a studio who does GaaS and is more about profitability rather than pulling consumers to the platform. Pretty much like how MLB is becoming.

The question that both MS and Sony are facing is, whats the better option, to release games on as many platforms as possible and get the most out of them, or to use these games to draw people into your platform sacrificing maximising the games profitability in order to make the ecosystem thrive and and maximise profits there?

Halo had 20 million players on xbox, release it on playstation and have 40 million, or settle for 20 million and push gamepass?
Personally I think pushing a storefront and ecosystem should be the way to go

[kitler53]

Pretty much the same thing as MS/Minecraft. Keep it multiplatform, keep making that money.

I can agree and see this being about a studio who does GaaS and is more about profitability rather than pulling consumers to the platform. Pretty much like how MLB is becoming.

The question that both MS and Sony are facing is, whats the better option, to release games on as many platforms as possible and get the most out of them, or to use these games to draw people into your platform sacrificing maximising the games profitability in order to make the ecosystem thrive and and maximise profits there?

Halo had 20 million players on xbox, release it on playstation and have 40 million, or settle for 20 million and push gamepass?
Personally I think pushing a storefront and ecosystem should be the way to go

why not both?

epic single player experiences like GoW and Starfield are worth sacrificing the extra money to build up the ecosystem:
1. the games can sell systems just as well on day 500 as it does on day 1 because the games value doesn't degrade with a lack of community.
2.  profits are a linear function of player base. 

GaaS really necessitates multiplat:
1. the games value is always in decay.  I don't mean the "price" of the game but the ability to even play it dies if the community leaves.
2. profits are a non-linear function of player base because profits are reaped over time via "battle passes" or whatever.  the big community not only gets day 1 players but also extends how long the game is viable.


and halo's mp does nothing to sell gamepass.  the game is f2p with or without gamepass so it doesn't even help push the storefront.

[the-pi-guy]

From Software would be the one acquisition I'd legitimately like to see...  

[kitler53]

From Software would be the one acquisition I'd legitimately like to see...  

I see ... so can't tell if serious.  

while I'd prefer they stay independent I'd be devastated if MS aquired them.  ...so I guess here's hoping Sony gets them first. 

[the-pi-guy]

This seems like Sony being forward-thinking. They can see the future coming which has to include PC/cloud or even other consoles

Bungie has always wanted to be Blizzard or BioWare (in their glory days). Sony can scale them to that and earn off that success, even if multiplatform

— Paul Tassi (@PaulTassi) January 31, 2022

[the-pi-guy]

A lot of excitement about Sony

Initially nervous. I was at LucasArts when Disney came in and bought us. But this is a very different circumstance. And I trust Sony, where as I’ll never trust Disney again.

— Josh Kulinski (Adept) (@JoshKulinski) January 31, 2022

Apparently I'm now a Sony employee, wild

— Devin Robaina (@DevinRobaina) January 31, 2022

My Sony brother's first Bungie tweet
I'm so proud ???? https://t.co/qfpRvpX8NV

— EricJohnE ???????? (@MxEricJohnE) January 31, 2022

[the-pi-guy]

Took today off work to spend time with my brother who is visiting, meanwhile everything is absolutely popping off. Still reeling but, hi Sony!!

— Carlye Nyte ???? (@carlyenyte) February 1, 2022

[nnodley]

Sounds like everyone is very excited about Sony buying them. Whereas I hardly saw any excitement from MS/activision

[kitler53]

Sounds like everyone is very excited about Sony buying them. Whereas I hardly saw any excitement from MS/activision

with how toxic activision is right now,..  i feel like any opinion (as in either positive or negative) would be ill received by their current management:

1.  fudge,.. i dread being acquired by MS.
    --> fired.

2. Horary,.. MS is acquiring us and will maybe replace my toxic boss.
   --> fired.

[kitler53]

not sure where to put this so hopefully this is okay.

Have heard from multiple people: As you might suspect, there are a few other big video game deals in final stages of negotiations. It's going to be an interesting year!

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 1, 2022

Have heard from multiple people: As you might suspect, there are a few other big video game deals in final stages of negotiations. It's going to be an interesting year!

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 1, 2022

just as likely to be MS as Sony or even tencent or EA or Ubisoft or i dunno,.. let get crasy and say nintendo.

edit: not sure why i can't get the tweet to embed.

Geoff says:

Have heard from multiple people: As you might suspect, there are a few other big video game deals in final stages of negotiations. It's going to be an interesting year!

[the-pi-guy]

Have heard from multiple people: As you might suspect, there are a few other big video game deals in final stages of negotiations. It's going to be an interesting year!

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 1, 2022

Personally I'd be surprised if Sony acquired something else so soon.

[kitler53]

^ screw you and your functional embedding.

i don't agree with your statement about sony.   we've had an acquisition pretty much every month for a while now.  given that acquisitions take multiple months of negotiations sony will have had to have several talks going on at once.   just because bungie closed does not mean they don't have more in discussion nor does "final stages of negotiations" mean it won't take a month or two to get announced.

however,... the bungie deal took everyone by surprise.  if geoff has heard about them i feel like there is a good chance the ones he's heard about are not sony.  only MS is that sloppy...