Microsoft Completes Acquisition of Activision Blizzard

[Vayra86]

For sure but all of that was under Bobby Kotick... I'm just optimistic under Phil Spencer they can't be worse. I guess only time will tell I've actually still like most their games even Overwatch 2 is fun with a group of friends. I actually enjoy a lot of stuff on the Activision side especially infinity ward releases so just not jaded to the point I've given up on them I guess.

There's a lot of potential honestly, franchise wise. But whether that kind of revolutionary talent is available at MS, I doubt. MS is most definitely not being a Sony in that sense, and Sony hasn't been what it was lately either. Both companies seem to forget that you can run all the services you like, but the core of your business is great games, worlds players can lose themselves in, and that also means not being bothered with a cash shop left and right.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

There's a lot of potential honestly, franchise wise. But whether that kind of revolutionary talent is available at MS, I doubt. MS is most definitely not being a Sony in that sense, and Sony hasn't been what it was lately either. Both companies seem to forget that you can run all the services you like, but the core of your business is great games, worlds players can lose themselves in, and that also means not being bothered with a cash shop left and right.

True post Bungie/Epic Microsoft has somewhat struggled with that although I like Gears 4/5, Halo 4/5/infinite, and all the Forza games, I really do hope they hit it out of the park with Fable though, fable 1/2 are in my top 50 games for sure. My issue with Sony is all their games are similar high quality for sure but literally almost all 3rd party adventure games which is fine but there is almost no deviation from that other than GT which I liked a lot better during the PS1/2 era.

I love gaming in general though and as I have gotten older I have actually gotten more open minded and less conservative with my game choices I will try almost anything and if it hooks me awesome if it doesn't oh well on to the next.

Now if only I could actually find more time to game lol.

 

[KLMR]

bye bye battle net. 2025?

 

[oxrufiioxo]

bye bye battle net. 2025?

I would rather them move all Microsoft games to it and off the M$ store lol.

 

[kapone32]

I would rather them move all Microsoft games to it and off the M$ store lol.

Hopefully you won't lose access to your Game files.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Hopefully you won't lose access to your Game files.

Honestly unlike it seems a ton of people I've never actually had an issues with the M$ store the app is just a bit clunky.

To be fair I only own 30 games on it.

 

[Wye]

I guess now the default price for "AAA" Games will continue at these ridiculous prices. You can buy a 1TB NVME drive for less than a brand new Game. In what world does that make sense. If they are willing to sell FM8 for $90 CAD and give you 20 tracks and then inform you that there will be tracks coming as DLC (with the Game less than a week old) it should serve as a bell weather for where this is going. I am not going to subscribe to it but I like playing Games so I am going to get one of those Xbox Gift cards and link that to my pay and when it runs out MS can KMA and Steam and rest will remain. I don't even have Gamepass linked to my GOG galaxy launcher. As an aside I have FM7 and cannot even access the files as MS blocks me. What does that mean? Every time I reset Windows I have to re-download the files for that Game, even if I direct it to the drive the original is on. Of course my progress is saved.

And you can buy an orange for less than a sewer cap.
Makes the same amount of sense.

 

[Lycanwolfen]

So I guess now the next DOOM will be only on windows 11 and Xbox and you be forced to pay monthly to play. Microsoft so typical buy the competition out so you win in the end.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

a anti consumer platform that releases literal shit as a service (Microsoft) buys a company that monetizes yearly 100 dollar games like chinese gacha games with the most "i don't give a fuck" pay to win and cringy skins on top of it.
i bet this will make everything better...

I'm sure the Windows and Edge teams are now working tirelessly to add this to the Windows/Edge user experience. "Searching for Playstation games? Microsoft recommends games by Activision Blizzard for the best experience."

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Personally i think it would be ok to have all Blizz games on the microsoft store.

 

[mechtech]

Seems like a lot of money to me.................

 

[DavidC1]

They had ideas to build a new MMO. Nothing materialized, instead they started copying the boats they missed (Heroes of the Storm / MOBA) and that literally started creating a playerbase right under their noses as a custom map in Warcraft 3 no less.

You know since then Blizz made it so whatever map and money/playerbase you get from the map they own it right? Their practices nowadays are always shady, and sometimes criminal.

Blizzard of old is completely gone. It was gone long time ago, sometime in the Original Wow/Burning Crusade period.

 

[Deleted member 185088]

Will.be interesting to see what they do with all these franchises, hopefully they won't kill them, and revive hibernating ones.

 

[Fourstaff]

Outside Microsoft Excel I don't think MS has a good track record of keeping franchises strong. That said, ABK is well on its way to the dumpster already so whatever they manage to salvage will be a win.

 

[iameatingjam]

Usually I don't like mergers out of principle, but in this case, Blizzard is far gone a shake up might actually help them.

 

[HisDivineOrder]

I would rather them move all Microsoft games to it and off the M$ store lol.

I would rather they move them all off both and give everyone Steam keys for the games they transferred.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I would rather they move them all off both and give everyone Steam keys for the games they transferred.

I don't care much for steam but sure for all those that want it a one time transfer of their games would be nice I guess.

 

[KLMR]

I think this is a suit to suit trade.
People at MS prospected ActiBliz as something they could buy with all the cash they had (excess of cash). Remember they don't want to have cash but assets.
Back in the day ActiBliz had good assets in form of Human Resources and IP: Starcraft, Warcraft, COD, Diablo, Overwatch, the mobile division, etc.
Also this is a "back to home" ownership move.
They probably started scouting this at 2018-2019. Even earlier.
Bobby has done a great job making the numbers good all this time at expenses of Human Resources.
Look at ActiBliz desparete-moves done quarterly buffing the numbers by consecutive releases to make up financial reports.

Now many people at MS and ActiBliz will get their bonuses, hug, snowwhite-smile and go to Bahamas.
They have traded cash for assets that will bring revenue and profit in the future (ahem). Financially improved MS games division, they have a card against Sony (COD). GeGe.

Future? In the next 3-5 years probably nobody regarding this trade will still be at MS.
People will blame the MS Gaming pass integration for the failure of monetization of the IPs of Actiblizz (except COD) and, exept for the mass labour layoffs due to AI and market status of course, nobody will care.


MS game pass (or any other pass) is not about having good games, is about having as much people as possible pay each month. You do that by adding new "posters" to the collection. If a game is played for a month or two is fine as long as you keep retention. You may, statistically, have good games from time to time of course.

 

[crubino]

finally, Benjamin Franklin can conquered UK

 

[Vayra86]

I think this is a suit to suit trade.
People at MS prospected ActiBliz as something they could buy with all the cash they had (excess of cash). Remember they don't want to have cash but assets.
Back in the day ActiBliz had good assets in form of Human Resources and IP: Starcraft, Warcraft, COD, Diablo, Overwatch, the mobile division, etc.
Also this is a "back to home" ownership move.
They probably started scouting this at 2018-2019. Even earlier.
Bobby has done a great job making the numbers good all this time at expenses of Human Resources.
Look at ActiBliz desparete-moves done quarterly buffing the numbers by consecutive releases to make up financial reports.

Now many people at MS and ActiBliz will get their bonuses, hug, snowwhite-smile and go to Bahamas.
They have traded cash for assets that will bring revenue and profit in the future (ahem). Financially improved MS games division, they have a card against Sony (COD). GeGe.

Future? In the next 3-5 years probably nobody regarding this trade will still be at MS.
People will blame the MS Gaming pass integration for the failure of monetization of the IPs of Actiblizz (except COD) and, exept for the mass labour layoffs due to AI and market status of course, nobody will care.


MS game pass (or any other pass) is not about having good games, is about having as much people as possible pay each month. You do that by adding new "posters" to the collection. If a game is played for a month or two is fine as long as you keep retention. You may, statistically, have good games from time to time of course.

This. Gaming isn't served one bit by this acquisition, its entirely naive to think that things might improve when a company gets an even bigger finger in the market and even more top franchises under its control. There isn't a single documented case in gaming history where this has helped said franchises. And if it did, it was a temporary thing, only to finally fall to corruption anyway.

Indie devs and smaller studios prove time and again they feed the market with actual innovation and novelty. The rest is just copying success or builds a monetization web around stuff we've already seen a dozen times.

 

[Deleted member 185088]

Outside Microsoft Excel I don't think MS has a good track record of keeping franchises strong. That said, ABK is well on its way to the dumpster already so whatever they manage to salvage will be a win.

Because they keep Excel the same, and fail to add basic functionalities, I still cannot understand how it lacks copy paste.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Because they keep Excel the same, and fail to add basic functionalities, I still cannot understand how it lacks copy paste.

I know this is OT, but Excel has copy and paste. I use it at work all day long. My favorite though is the occasional error that says something like "there is a problem with the clipboard, but you can keep using it anyway."

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Ah well, I suppose there might be a positive, not sure where ATM though, good luck Ms you're going to need it to make a NEW Cod game beating the long line preceding....

No re remakes though please.

 

[Paganstomp]

In a long-awaited development, the largest audit in the history of the IRS has finally taken its next step. On Wednesday, Microsoft announced that the agency had notified the company that it owes $28.9 billion in back taxes, plus penalties and interest. The case is epic not only in dollars but in scope.

Time to pay up, suckas!

 

[FoulOnWhite]

In a long-awaited development, the largest audit in the history of the IRS has finally taken its next step. On Wednesday, Microsoft announced that the agency had notified the company that it owes $28.9 billion in back taxes, plus penalties and interest. The case is epic not only in dollars but in scope.

Time to pay up, suckas!

It seems it will be reduced by 10bil, they are appealing which could take several years, also found this-Since 2004, we have paid over $67 billion in taxes to the U.S., jeez if they have paid that much in taxes, how much must they have made.