This is a massive, disruptive move from Microsoft, the Playstation brand could be in critical condition in the next few years depending on how Sony responds.

Even in the best case scenario where Microsoft keeps Call of Duty multiplatform like Minecraft, the fact that they can leverage the biggest multiplayer game for GamePass will undoubtedly shift a ton of the player base, to the point where PS+ subscriptions take the hit.

Not the intention. Probably hoped there would have been more backlash to pay a lower price for the company. But as it happened, it is a reward for all Kotick's hard work. His net worth is $600 million. I doubt he's worried about what Phil is going to do....

This says his net worth is 8 billion lol
https://clutchpoints.com/bobby-kotick-net-worth/

He still has 4.6 million shares in the company
https://www.investopedia.com/activision-blizzard-top-shareholders-5094540

And all those shares are now secure with that mega deal.

This is the same reaction each time. People just want companies to buy each other out. It's creating a horrible industry to be part of.

At one point people literally feared Disney buying the entire movie industry, they already won about a 3rd of it, why stop there? Is this what people really want with the gaming instrustry? An industry controlled by 3 companies, charging what they want, dictating how they milk you of your money?

I say Sony should do nothing. Keep doing what they are doing which is making good products and good games, just like Nintendo are. They don't need to make these purchases to prove themselves.

It's just the reality of the situation. Sony has to go big or go third party. It sucks but consolidation is where gaming is headed. 

The problem for Sony is every major Western developer MS buys moreso secures MS's future dominance in North America. And with a dwindling Japanese population and apathy from gamers there already along with other Asian countries, that leaves only Europe as Sony's last place they will dominate. If MS buys EA, Sony can probably kiss Europe goodbye too.

Doesn't suck for me. I've saved $1000-2000 in the past couple years doing Gamepass PC. My retirement portfolio thanks consolidation.

Outside of merging with Nintendo, Take Two is really the only move left to counter losing COD, EA has licenses that permit their biggest games to be on multiple platforms. 

I haven't bought an ActiBlizzard game in years since the mere thought of it gives me a sour, unpleasent taste in my mouth, so it's not like I care much about their catalogue. But I already felt like this ongoing trend of big corporations throwing around money left and right had gone too far, and MS now gobbling up a giant like ActiBlizzard isn't making me any happier.

I think Sony will be fine. They have God of War, Horizon, Ratchet, Spider-man and a few other exclusives. Historically I never bothered with MS hardware because they lack exclusives. To me MS isn't upping Sony, as much as getting a more competitive landscape. Competition is a good thing.