Another issue that Microsoft has with their 1st party is that they aren't really exclusives. Most, if not all of them, are also available on PC so it weakens the point of getting an Xbox when you could save up more money to get a gaming PC to get the best performance from these games.
When it comes to Sony and Nintendo, most, if not all of their main, important, first party games can only be played on their systems.
If I want to play Uncharted, InFamous, Horizon, Spider-Man, Gran Turismo, God of War, and Last of Us, I have to get a PS4. No ifs, ands, or buts.
If I want to play Mario, Pokemon, Zelda, Splatoon, Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem, and Smash Bros, I have to get a Switch. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Oh, OK, I didn't know that there was anything like that confirmed. So yeah, it's surely the best reason they had for buying studios. But it's not really an optimistic one...

"We have to buy them or they will leave us" isn't the best way to start a healthy collaboration IMO. 

Heavenly Sword 2 concept art has been out there for years, they planned on a second one and Sony didn`t greenlight it.

That's a little different. Sony already had a deal in place for the game to come to PS platforms before MS purchased them. Unless you're talking about Nintendo.

That is just silly. You can't just suddenly start developing more games as that requires studios and staff, Building studios from scratch is expensive and time consuming, far more cost effective and faster to acquire decent ones that are already productive.

Preach! 

Sony pretty much bought all their best studios. I just don't think buying studios is gona do much short term, and MS need short term badly. Long term it is definetly the right way to go.

Not greenlighting is totally diferent than canceling as far as it goes.

Sorry but no. When you buy the studio you buy more than the bricks, you buy IPs, knowledge, so it costs more than creating a new one. Now if you want to talk bout being easier sure.

Microsft needs to jump on Blue hole, Hi rez, or psyonix. You need to keep building GAAS. I don't mind the aquisitions, but don't forget where the industry is going.

This really shows us Xbox fans that Microsoft has yet to give up on the brand!. 5 studios is a lot of to buy and announce at once. It seems they really do care for us! considering all these studios do develop single player titles. (With multiplayer as an option), Microsoft hasn't entirely gone GaaS.
And all it costs is $226 a year for the full experience (So high because of Canada's fucked economy that living vagina in office ruined).