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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Why Do People View the MS Acquisition of ABK as a "Good Thing?"

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CGI-Quality on 15 July 2023
Cobretti2 said:
CGI-Quality said:

They don't have any trouble with that. 

Regarding complacency, I disagree. They just released a new VR device, a pro controller, a gaming monitor, and plenty of games up to this point. If that stuff is of no interest to you, I get that, but they've not just sat around doing nothing. Both them and Nintendo have knocked it out of the park with what they've got and their commercial reception is a testament to that. 

Also, Microsoft acquiring Acti isn't going to move the needle. COD is remaining multiplatform (the only place this could have had a seriously negative impact on them). The purchase is not about exclusive games because there is a far bigger target and mindset at play.

It's a positive impact for Nintendo. Haven't seen a COD game in years on the system.

Pro controller that costs just under half the console in AUS 339 vs 699 is hardly a selling point and a new monitor cool but not something most people are dying to upgrade when they have a perfectly fine working TV.

Innovation I meant more from games perspective, they used to be more exciting in the past now I don't know maybe I am getting older. Maybe cause we used to get E3 and it was all in your face and was more hype for games now it just feels flat. Hell maybe cause the bar was so high for so long, got used to that feeling and now it feels underwhelming, as looking for the next level of high.

I agree in terms against Microsoft they are way ahead, but well no one really expect much from Microsoft so bar is low anyway lol.

Oh, it's cool if those things don't work for you. I just see it as helping their catalogue.

Also, game innovation has been in the backseat since the 7th gen. Companies have found their comfort zones and release what works for their them and their fanbases. I'd say it's an industry-wide fever!

Norion said:
CGI-Quality said:

They don't have any trouble with that. 

Regarding complacency, I disagree. They just released a new VR device, a pro controller, a gaming monitor, and plenty of games up to this point. If that stuff is of no interest to you, I get that, but they've not just sat around doing nothing. Both them and Nintendo have knocked it out of the park with what they've got and their commercial reception is a testament to that. 

Also, Microsoft acquiring Acti isn't going to move the needle. COD is remaining multiplatform (the only place this could have had a seriously negative impact on them). The purchase is not about exclusive games because there is a far bigger target and mindset at play.

It's for sure gonna move the needle. All Activision Blizzard games being on Game Pass and Microsoft having control of marketing of them going forward will make a difference. I've seen people say that Hogwarts Legacy is a Playstation exclusive so stuff like the Xbox logo being at the end of all the trailers will matter.

As long as COD is on PlayStation, it will not move the needle in any serious capacity. They are the lead system by several orders of magnitude and Xbox has had the marketing rights to plenty of games that still sold better elsewhere. To the casual, walk-in-and-buy the game customer, marketing rights will hardly matter. The reason it works in favor of PlayStation is because it's much bigger worldwide, so more people on the system = more people keeping word alive that COD can still be had on it despite Xbox's acquisition of the parent company.

Regarding Game Pass — recent polls/studies have shown that Warzone, for example, is bigger even on PC than Xbox. So, those on it would likely grab the newest CODs on PC Game Pass. Sure, some folks will pick up an Xbox who don't care to/know how to construct a rig and/or don't own a PlayStation, but that number would have to be an industry-shakin' to make a splash like that. I just don't see it happening. 

What's sure to occur though is a burst of life into Xbox's veins (ecosystem). That's really what they need. 

Last edited by CGI-Quality - on 15 July 2023

                                                                                                                                                           

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Norion on 15 July 2023
CGI-Quality said:
Norion said:

It's for sure gonna move the needle. All Activision Blizzard games being on Game Pass and Microsoft having control of marketing of them going forward will make a difference. I've seen people say that Hogwarts Legacy is a Playstation exclusive so stuff like the Xbox logo being at the end of all the trailers will matter.

As long as COD is on PlayStation, it will not move the needle in any serious capacity. They are the lead system by several orders of magnitude and Xbox has had the marketing rights to plenty of games that still sold better elsewhere. One brand is much, much bigger than the other and to the casual, walk-in-and-buy the game customer, marketing rights will hardly matter. The reason it works in favor of PlayStation is because it's that much bigger worldwide, so more people on the system = more people keeping word alive that COD can still be had on it despite Xbox's acquisition of the parent company.

Regarding Game Pass — recent polls/studies have shown that Warzone, for example, is bigger even on PC than Xbox. So, those on it would likely grab the newest CODs on PC Game Pass. Sure, some folks will pick up an Xbox who don't care to/know how to construct a rig and/or don't own a PlayStation, but that number would have to be an industry-shakin' to make a splash like that. I just don't see it happening. 

What's sure to occur though is a burst of life into Xbox's veins (ecosystem). That's really what they need. 

Much bigger worldwide yeah but close enough in markets like the US to make a difference I think. To be more clear by move the needle I don't mean it's gonna make a massive difference and have Xbox overtake Playstation, just that it'll reduce the gap between the two. For example some people picking up an Xbox to play games like COD on Game Pass going forward will matter. Something as massive as Activision Blizzard getting associated with the Xbox brand will contribute to them doing better this gen compared to gen 8 basically.



Ka-pi96 on 15 July 2023
VAMatt said:
Ka-pi96 said:

Governments ended slavery, and continue to do so. Just the other day I saw a thread on reddit from a Lithuanian guy in the UK who had his passport stolen by his boss and was having all of his (below minimum wage) pay taken by his boss to pay for rent and a made up 20k debt. The overwhelming majority of people suggested he contact the police ASAP. Because preventing slavery like that in 1st world countries is what the government does. Do you seriously think the police should just say "meh, not our problem, get a better job" when contacted about something like that?

How is having legal requirements to treat employees a certain way "slavery"? Do you even know what that word means? So you think a boss should be able to fire any employees that refuse to have sex with him with no legal repercussions at all? Madness.

And don't give me this "get a better job" crap. The vast majority of people on this planet can't just walk into a new better job. They would if they could, but they can't. And even if they're currently looking for a better job being unemployed doesn't pay the bills so they're forced to continue whatever job they currently have. Why on Earth shouldn't their employers be legally required to actually treat them like humans with dignity and respect rather than being able to exploit them and threaten to fire them for any little thing?

Wanting minimal regulation is one thing, but none at all? Seriously?

You're pointing to isolated cases where you think government did something good. I've never said, nor would I ever say, that government is incapable of doing good things. What I'm saying is that government is a net negative.  For every good thing it does, it does two bad ones.

Institutional slavery has existed in this world because government allowed it to. Government tracked down and captured escaped slaves in the United States just 150 years ago, for example.  Government in China is capturing and enslaving people right now. 

Anyway, if you look objectively at the institution of government and all the harm that it has and currently is causing around the world, then I don't want to see how you can possibly want government intervening in employment relationships.

Easy, I'm a European and I've heard plenty about the stuff that goes on at US companies/to US employees. The things unions there are trying to fight for we already have as legally protected rights in Europe. Even now I live in Japan the labour protections are much better than what the US gets (even if they're regularly unenforced due to people not actually reporting their company's bad behaviour). Should probably still be better with more done to combat misogyny though. The US probably isn't even half as bad as some countries either, it just gets a lot more attention.

Governments can be bad, yes, but that doesn't mean them sitting back and just twiddling their thumbs is the solution, especially when there are good things they can do instead.



CGI-Quality on 15 July 2023
Norion said:
CGI-Quality said:

As long as COD is on PlayStation, it will not move the needle in any serious capacity. They are the lead system by several orders of magnitude and Xbox has had the marketing rights to plenty of games that still sold better elsewhere. One brand is much, much bigger than the other and to the casual, walk-in-and-buy the game customer, marketing rights will hardly matter. The reason it works in favor of PlayStation is because it's that much bigger worldwide, so more people on the system = more people keeping word alive that COD can still be had on it despite Xbox's acquisition of the parent company.

Regarding Game Pass — recent polls/studies have shown that Warzone, for example, is bigger even on PC than Xbox. So, those on it would likely grab the newest CODs on PC Game Pass. Sure, some folks will pick up an Xbox who don't care to/know how to construct a rig and/or don't own a PlayStation, but that number would have to be an industry-shakin' to make a splash like that. I just don't see it happening. 

What's sure to occur though is a burst of life into Xbox's veins (ecosystem). That's really what they need. 

Much bigger worldwide yeah but close enough in markets like the US to make a difference I think. To be more clear by move the needle I don't mean it's gonna make a massive difference and have Xbox overtake Playstation, just that it'll reduce the gap between the two. For example some people picking up an Xbox to play games like COD on Game Pass going forward will matter. Something as massive as Activision Blizzard getting associated with the Xbox brand will contribute to them doing better this gen compared to gen 8 basically.

I know, I'm saying I just don't see any significant gap decreases based on this. They will likely do better than last gen, but I expect the PS5 to do even better than the PS4 too. So, things will remain largely the same.



                                                                                                                                                           

Norion on 15 July 2023
CGI-Quality said:
Norion said:

Much bigger worldwide yeah but close enough in markets like the US to make a difference I think. To be more clear by move the needle I don't mean it's gonna make a massive difference and have Xbox overtake Playstation, just that it'll reduce the gap between the two. For example some people picking up an Xbox to play games like COD on Game Pass going forward will matter. Something as massive as Activision Blizzard getting associated with the Xbox brand will contribute to them doing better this gen compared to gen 8 basically.

I know, I'm saying I just don't see any significant gap decreases based on this. They will likely do better than last gen, but I expect the PS5 to do even better than the PS4 too. So, things will remain largely the same.

It's probably too late for that for this gen though it'll give them a better shot to shift things in a big way at some point in the future. The PS5 shouldn't outright double the sales of the Xbox Series like the PS4 did compared to the Xbox One so things getting somewhat more competitive this gen should be positive.



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CGI-Quality on 15 July 2023
Norion said:
CGI-Quality said:

I know, I'm saying I just don't see any significant gap decreases based on this. They will likely do better than last gen, but I expect the PS5 to do even better than the PS4 too. So, things will remain largely the same.

It's probably too late for that for this gen though it'll give them a better shot to shift things in a big way at some point in the future. The PS5 shouldn't outright double the sales of the Xbox Series like the PS4 did compared to the Xbox One so things getting somewhat more competitive this gen should be positive.

The change has to happen soon, though. PS5 currently outsells the Series consoles by a wider margin than the PS4 did to the One at this point in the cycle. This is what I mean by offsets. 



                                                                                                                                                           

Soundwave on 15 July 2023

In the long term I do think it probably will be bad. Consolidation is going to happen and gaming is going to become pay per month services much like Netflix destroyed the model for movie/TV content. Game Pass will IMO become the lead gaming service because MS is just going to outspend everyone else to ensure it's no.1, Activision-Blizzard won't be the last buy for MS though they might have to wait a bit before another big buy.

In the short run, it's funny to see Sony get screwed over for all their money hat bullshit and knocked the fuck out (lol), and for COD to come to the Switch. 

Last edited by Soundwave - on 15 July 2023

CGI-Quality on 15 July 2023

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Signalstar on 15 July 2023

MS basically has a green light to acquire any companies that are smaller than ABK because if this couldn't be blocked on monopoly grounds it is hard to see how any other acquisition could be deemed a similar threat. They could probably get away with buying any company besides EA, Take Two, Valve, Sony, and Nintendo. They might encounter some resistance if they tried to buy Capcom or Ubisoft.



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smroadkill15 on 15 July 2023

Anything is possible, but I don't think MS is going to go after any large scale publishers after this. It will be single studios and maybe a smaller publisher later down the line. MS could very well be done buying any other publishers after this. Maybe on the mobile side, they will make a push. This is where they will have the most freedom to grow and likely little opposition by regulators since they hardly have a market presence.