Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard to Bring the Joy and Community of Gaming to Everyone, Across Every Device

[INSTG8R]

Wow that must have costed a fortune! CoD games are rarely on sale and even then the discounts are slim.

I also like to collect games but with multiple launchers and everything digital I don't really see the appeal.

You wanna bet they did because you’re right..I have the Blizzard stuff too and the only “reasonably” priced one was the MW2 remaster….

 

[Totally]

Are you kidding?

Nintendo's $80 mini Super Nintendo went up for sale overnight and sold out immediately

Here's hoping you were up literally in the middle of the night, on the lookout for pre-order chances at select retailers.

www.businessinsider.com

-------

Nostalgia is the #1 indicator of the current entertainment market. A pretty bad "Spiderman" movie hit #1 in the box office just because it referenced the 2002 Spiderman movie, with "Spiderman" himself being an incredibly old IP decades old and running off of nostalgia.

"Madden NFL" has been a mainstay in the video game market for decades now. As has "Call of Duty", and other properties. The thing with these IPs is that once you hook someone with them, they keep revisiting years or even decades

No, Did you watch actually watch the new Spider-Man? It did well because it was actually good and competent movie. It didn't play politics of any sort, didn't try to preach, lecture the audience, just entertained and that resonated with people in this drought of terrible movies. It didn't go woke so it didn't go broke nostalgia was just a bonus. Otherwise, if it was nostalgia as you claim, Matrix: Resurrections wouldn't have been such an abject failure.

Nintendo Snes classic is also another poor example to the point I don't quite understand. It was a limited run and They produced it in extremely limited quantities, riding the hype of the prior classics scalper's made a point to snatch them all up, clearly not nostalgia.

Madden is dead, it's really just being propped up the NFL, look at the sales numbers they get smaller and smaller every year, that holds true for the other franchises they're dying slowly and have to resort to copying better performing IPs to draw in consumers.

 

[dragontamer5788]

Did you watch actually watch the new Spider-Man?

Yes.

It did well because it was actually good and competent movie

We can agree to disagree then. I found it rather uninspiring, the plot was fully dependent on Spiderman + Dr. Strange being absolute dumbasses, the magic spell being fully convoluted and more arbitrary than anything I'd ever seen before. (Look, there's limits to what I'd expect as "A Wizard Did It" as the plot device). The 2012 "Amazing" Spiderman villains were empty husks of themselves with terrible scripts. (Seriously, the Lizard is a bit more deep than "I wanna turn other people into Lizards").

The entire movie's problems could have been prevented with about 30 seconds of dialogue: "Could you write down who you want to forget about your identity? Cool, thanks, I'll go downstairs to cast the spell now, no takebacks".

Otherwise, if it was nostalgia as you claim, Matrix: Resurrections wouldn't have been such an abject failure.

Nah, its only more proof that Hollywood can't make new movies or properties that stand on their own.

------

How about you do the opposite, and instead point out a truly unique movie, or video game, you've enjoyed recently? I've got a few, Factorio for example. Downfall (though WW2 based, its a story that hasn't been told before), etc. etc. But those aren't recent. I think Knives Out was pretty good, but these kinds of unique movies aren't really the blockbusters these days.

-----

Top 10 movies by box office, 2021:

1. Spiderman
2. Shang Chi (continuing the Marvel hype train)
3. Venom (sequel)
4. Black Widow (more Marvel)
5. F9 (I can't believe this series got 9 movies + spinoffs)
6. Eternals (more Marvel)
7. No Time to Die (James Bond is old IP yet again)
8. A Quiet Place Part II (Sequel movie)
9. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (nostalgia yet again)
10. Free Guy (Hey look, a new property for once).

If "Ryan Reynolds acts like Ryan Reynolds in the Isekai/Trapped in a Video Game" archetype story counts as new and innovative for 2021.... good grief. But yeah, that's probably the most unique / inspired film out of all the others, despite being 100% derivative of current trends.

Dune gets #13. Disney's Jungle Cruise at #11 is actually new, so I'll give them that (based off of a ride, but its otherwise new to film).

In today's environment, old IP is everything. Its the easiest way to get a top-10 grossing movie. Its the easiest way to get a top-10 video game as well.

 

[trsttte]

No, Did you watch actually watch the new Spider-Man? It did well because it was actually good and competent movie. It didn't play politics of any sort, didn't try to preach, lecture the audience, just entertained and that resonated with people in this drought of terrible movies. It didn't go woke so it didn't go broke nostalgia was just a bonus. Otherwise, if it was nostalgia as you claim, Matrix: Resurrections wouldn't have been such an abject failure.

The movie was 2 hours of fan service showdown, of course it performed well. Otherwise it was the typical low stakes marvel movie.

 

[dragontamer5788]

The movie was 2 hours of fan service showdown, of course it performed well. Otherwise it was the typical low stakes marvel movie.

The secret villain was incredible. But that's largely because that actor is just good. That's pretty much the only part of the movie I enjoyed.

 

[dirtyferret]

I have here says "Signs point to no."

perhaps if you used a crystal ball you would not post such an incorrect statement and embarrass yourself, here is a list of the top selling games for 2020 & 2021. Virtually all of them series and/or IP's started well over a decade ago, facts hurt huh?

2020's Best-Selling Games (US)

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
Madden NFL 21
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
The Last of Us: Part II
Ghost of Tsushima
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe*
Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
Final Fantasy VII: Remake
Marvel's Avengers
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
NBA 2K21*
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
FIFA 21
Mortal Kombat 11
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
MLB The Show 20
Cyberpunk 2077*
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2

2021 Top 20 Games
1 Call of Duty: Vanguard Activision Blizzard (Corp)
2 Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War Activision Blizzard (Corp)
3 Madden NFL 22 Electronic Arts
4 Pokemon: Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl* Nintendo
5 Battlefield 2042 Electronic Arts
6 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Sony (Corp)
7 Mario Kart 8* Nintendo
8 Resident Evil: Village Capcom USA
9 MLB: The Show 21^ Sony (Corp)
10 Super Mario 3D World* Nintendo
11 Far Cry 6 Ubisoft
12 FIFA 22 Electronic Arts
13 Minecraft Multiple Video Game Manufacturers
14 Animal Crossing: New Horizons* Nintendo
15 NBA 2K22* Take-Two Interactive
16 Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla Ubisoft
17 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* Nintendo
18 Back 4 Blood Warner Bros. Interactive
19 Mortal Kombat 11 Warner Bros. Interactive
20 Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft (Corp)

 

[Space Lynx]

perhaps if you used a crystal ball you would not post such an incorrect statement and embarrass yourself, here is a list of the top selling games for 2020 & 2021. Virtually all of them series and/or IP's started well over a decade ago, facts hurt huh?

2020's Best-Selling Games (US)

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
Madden NFL 21
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
The Last of Us: Part II
Ghost of Tsushima
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe*
Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
Final Fantasy VII: Remake
Marvel's Avengers
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
NBA 2K21*
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
FIFA 21
Mortal Kombat 11
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
MLB The Show 20
Cyberpunk 2077*
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2

2021 Top 20 Games
1 Call of Duty: Vanguard Activision Blizzard (Corp)
2 Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War Activision Blizzard (Corp)
3 Madden NFL 22 Electronic Arts
4 Pokemon: Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl* Nintendo
5 Battlefield 2042 Electronic Arts
6 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Sony (Corp)
7 Mario Kart 8* Nintendo
8 Resident Evil: Village Capcom USA
9 MLB: The Show 21^ Sony (Corp)
10 Super Mario 3D World* Nintendo
11 Far Cry 6 Ubisoft
12 FIFA 22 Electronic Arts
13 Minecraft Multiple Video Game Manufacturers
14 Animal Crossing: New Horizons* Nintendo
15 NBA 2K22* Take-Two Interactive
16 Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla Ubisoft
17 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* Nintendo
18 Back 4 Blood Warner Bros. Interactive
19 Mortal Kombat 11 Warner Bros. Interactive
20 Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft (Corp)

it won't look like this forever, sales have been declining year over year for CoD franchise, lot of sales? 100% true, but everyone gets bored eventually

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

it won't look like this forever, sales have been declining year over year for CoD franchise, lot of sales? 100% true, but everyone gets bored eventually

That can be said of any game.

 

[dirtyferret]

sales have been declining year over year for CoD franchise, lot of sales? 100% true, but everyone gets bored eventually

Call of Duty came out in 2003, I wish I declined from 2003 as well as that franchise

Top 10 movies by box office, 2021:

1. Spiderman
2. Shang Chi (continuing the Marvel hype train)
3. Venom (sequel)
4. Black Widow (more Marvel)
5. F9 (I can't believe this series got 9 movies + spinoffs)
6. Eternals (more Marvel)
7. No Time to Die (James Bond is old IP yet again)
8. A Quiet Place Part II (Sequel movie)
9. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (nostalgia yet again)
10. Free Guy (Hey look, a new property for once).

Movie industry is just as bad as the video game industry of squeezing the IP dry from sequels, prequels, re-makes, re-hash, re-launch, etc.,etc., From a business point it makes sense but from a fresh and artistic point of view it's just sad.

 

[Space Lynx]

That can be said of any game.

they have a lack of innovation historically in the IP department though which is why I said "in ten years" this will turn out to be a bad deal for M$. hopefully they prove me wrong and actually reinvogiraote the market with some creative games.

Like Endwalker for example, blew me the **** away. best game ever made. M$ isn't willing to take risks like that though for a western market.

 

[windwhirl]

they have a lack of innovation historically in the IP department though which is why I said "in ten years" this will turn out to be a bad deal for M$. hopefully they prove me wrong and actually reinvogiraote the market with some creative games.

It doesn't even matter all that much because new audience rolls in all the time. So yeah. For people that played COD for 10 years straight it may be just "oh another COD, fuck COD, I'm outta here", yes, but for new people it's "huh, let's see what's this about" and then they're hooked (or not)

 

[R-T-B]

Matrix: Resurrections wouldn't have been such an abject failure.

To be fair there was no one who wanted that after the already awful enough sequels we had already recieved.

 

[trparky]

A better example of what's commonly referred to as "woke-ism" in movies are the recent Star Wars movies with Rey in it. Let's take a girl who was an absolute nobody who knew absolutely nothing about The Force and within a very short amount of time, she's somehow better than Luke Skywalker. Wait. What? Luke Skywalker took the better part of three freakin' movies to become one with The Force and become the Jedi that we all know yet this Rey does it in the fraction of the time. Oh, and if that's not bad enough, she doesn't even know how to fly a spaceship, yet she hops into the Millenium Falcon and somehow instantly knows how to fly it. Something doesn't compute here other than someone having to "check some boxes" in the name of female empowerment.

There's a reason why Luke Skywalker is seen by the fans of Star Wars the way that he is. He came from nothing, we watched him stumble, we watched him fall, hell... we watched him literally lose his hand. But through it all, he persevered and became the Jedi that we all know (and love). That right there is something called character development. Rey had none of that; she from zero to hero in nothing flat. You felt nothing for Rey but while you watched Luke stumble, you felt for him because in a way, he was Us.

 

[Yraggul666]

Apparently he is... According to VGC. Take it with a pinch of salt though.

Bobby Kotick is ‘expected to leave’ Activision Blizzard following Xbox’s takeover | VGC

The company’s CEO will remain in place until the Microsoft acquisition closes…

www.videogameschronicle.com

I don't believe it 'till i see it....

 

[windwhirl]

I don't believe it 'till i see it....

You'll have to wait at least a year until regulators approve the deal.

And then we'll be talking the actual transition.

 

[Turmania]

I do not think they needed money to sell. But nevertheless I'm very happy Microsoft bought it. They needed a change and how many companies could afford this apart from Sony. I can not think of any other.

 

[R-T-B]

A better example of what's commonly referred to as "woke-ism" in movies are the recent Star Wars movies with Rey in it. Let's take a girl who was an absolute nobody who knew absolutely nothing about The Force and within a very short amount of time, she's somehow better than Luke Skywalker. Wait. What? Luke Skywalker took the better part of three freakin' movies to become one with The Force and become the Jedi that we all know yet this Rey does it in the fraction of the time. Oh, and if that's not bad enough, she doesn't even know how to fly a spaceship, yet she hops into the Millenium Falcon and somehow instantly knows how to fly it. Something doesn't compute here other than someone having to "check some boxes" in the name of female empowerment.

There's a reason why Luke Skywalker is seen by the fans of Star Wars the way that he is. He came from nothing, we watched him stumble, we watched him fall, hell... we watched him literally lose his hand. But through it all, he persevered and became the Jedi that we all know (and love). That right there is something called character development. Rey had none of that; she from zero to hero in nothing flat. You felt nothing for Rey but while you watched Luke stumble, you felt for him because in a way, he was Us.

Don't blame a blatantly bad story on "wokeism."

Rogue One was fine, and every bit as "woke" if you will. The sequel stories just sucked, partially because they changed directors more often than underwear.

 

[lexluthermiester]

There are regulator rumblings that this is going to be denied! I hope so. This is the last thing the gaming world needs.

 

[windwhirl]

There are regulator rumblings that this is going to be denied

Well, I'm not all that knowledgeable to say with confidence whether that's likely or not (I consider it should be denied due to a general anti-monopoly belief, but belief and reality sometimes don't match), but it wouldn't be surprising. There are a lot of IPs there, and Microsoft already has quite a few, plus the whole exclusivity deal that seems to be rather common these days kinda hurts consumers.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Well, I'm not all that knowledgeable to say with confidence whether that's likely or not

That's why I said "rumblings", it implied rumor but plausible.

(I consider it should be denied due to a general anti-monopoly belief, but belief and reality sometimes don't match)

You nailed the actual concern.

plus the whole exclusivity deal that seems to be rather common these days kinda hurts consumers.

It really does..

 

[trsttte]

There are regulator rumblings that this is going to be denied! I hope so. This is the last thing the gaming world needs.

The acquisition does put Microsoft even closer to having a gaming monopoly (it will be even tougher for Sony to compete with Gamepass now, whatever their alternive turns out to be) but what are the options for Activision?

The company has been overall dropping the ball (they were able to continue to hemorage players during the pandemic ) and with all the sexual harrasment lawsuits they're in for a very rough ride. They still have a lot of money and recurring income so they're unlikely to die any time soon, but it still begs the question of what will come of the company if the acquisition fails?

 

[Space Lynx]

The acquisition does put Microsoft even closer to having a gaming monopoly (it will be even tougher for Sony to compete with Gamepass now, whatever their alternive turns out to be) but what are the options for Activision?

The company has been overall dropping the ball (they were able to continue to hemorage players during the pandemic ) and with all the sexual harrasment lawsuits they're in for a very rough ride. They still have a lot of money and recurring income so they're unlikely to die any time soon, but it still begs the question of what will come of the company if the acquisition fails?

I'm not sure why Sony feels they need to compete. They literally are sold out of 14 months straight now and sold a record number of ps5's in record time, people will continue to buy games.

and if in USA, use Gamefly. Gamefly is amazing.

 

[lexluthermiester]

but it still begs the question of what will come of the company if the acquisition fails?

It will have to do what it is supposed to do: Regroup, Rebuild and forge ahead. If it can't survive on it's own, it doesn't deserve to. But the last thing we need is Microsoft owning all of that IP.

 

[AsRock]

HAHA if MS even cared they would be releasing more games, maybe Mechcommander 3. Only games they do keep alive is the really high money makers and every thing else gets swept under the carpet.

 

[trsttte]

It will have to do what it is supposed to do: Regroup, Rebuild and forge ahead. If it can't survive on it's own, it doesn't deserve to. But the last thing we need is Microsoft owning all of that IP.

I have no doubt it can survive, that's the problem. If it would simply die it could be broken up and the IP spread around to a couple of competitors, but they have a lot of money in the form of recurring revenue that will allow them to rot away very slowly into nothing which to me seems like a waste.

source: reddit

This graph is just brands, not revenue or other meaningful metric of size, but it still shows how consolidated the industry already is. I don't see Microsoft buying Activision as positive, but I can't see it as a complete negative either.