[Aptorian]

Holy Shit.

Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard.



https://news.xbox.co...hoto_lrn_1.18.1

According to this thread it's a 70 billion USD deal. 70.000.000.000 Yankee Dollaradoos.

https://www.reddit.c...buy_activision/

Bethesda cost 7 billion and that seemed wild.

The entire gaming industry is changing drastically. If Activision is up for grabs anything can happen.

This post has been edited by Aptorian: 18 January 2022 - 01:54 PM

[Mentalist]

They definitely jumped on that scandal/lawsuit to pick up a (somewhat) devalued asset

Ideally, this means they will de-annualize CoD, so that all those studios relegated to CoD support, like High Moon, Radical, Raven, etc get to make their own games;
In addition, it would be nice if Microsoft made deals with Disney, Hasbro, etc to re-license all those Gen 7 Marvel, Transformers, etc games that Activision published and then just delisted from sales. It'd probably cost them a pittance to bring those games back on Steam and Xbox

Overall, this is pretty fucking wild. Dread to think how Sony may think they need to retaliate.

[Aptorian]

Mentalist, on 18 January 2022 - 03:02 PM, said:

They definitely jumped on that scandal/lawsuit to pick up a (somewhat) devalued asset

Ideally, this means they will de-annualize CoD, so that all those studios relegated to CoD support, like High Moon, Radical, Raven, etc get to make their own games;
In addition, it would be nice if Microsoft made deals with Disney, Hasbro, etc to re-license all those Gen 7 Marvel, Transformers, etc games that Activision published and then just delisted from sales. It'd probably cost them a pittance to bring those games back on Steam and Xbox

Overall, this is pretty fucking wild. Dread to think how Sony may think they need to retaliate.

I don't know if Microsoft changes anything with COD initially. Like Minecraft, that property sells extremely well and an annual COD sells gamepasses + Extra billions from sales on Playstation and PC. But I definitely wouldn't mind a more sane production schedule from all those COD studios. Imagine if Raven was allowed to make Singularity 2? Or X-men Origins: Wolverine 2? Or Heretic or Hexen re-makes/Sequels. Would be siiick.

Not to mention High Noon being allowed to continue the Transformers/Cybertron series. I loved those games.

I don't really know what Sony can do at this point other than merge with somebody or let themselves be absorbed by something bigger than themselves. Like the entirety of Sony Corp is valued at around 150 billion. They can't afford to buy EA or Squre-Enix or Capcom I think. They need somebody like Amazon or Apple to come in and scoop them up, pump them full of money juice and let the Playstation and X-box Kaijus fight to the death.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

'Microsoft to gobble up Activision in $69 billion metaverse bet

[...] represents [Microsoft's] bet on the "metaverse", virtual online worlds where people can work, play and socialize, as many of its biggest competitors are already doing.

"Gaming [...] will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms," Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella said.

[...] "Microsoft acquiring Activision really starts the metaverse arms race"'

https://www.reuters....ion-2022-01-18/

'In addition to [...] VR gaming, we [Microsoft] also offer devices, like Microsoft HoloLens, which delivers a "Mixed Reality" experience during which you'll see holographic images that appear to interact with the real world. It's a new way to game and connect with your environment.'

https://www.microsof.../virtualreality

I had been considering buying a little Blizzard as it fell; oh well.

If I wasn't already overweight tech ETFs I'd be tempted to buy more Microsoft... hard to pick a winner though.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

(Maybe AR Call of Duty will help us prepare for the upcoming US civil war?... #Hope
#StillI'dPreferSome(NonVirtual)KillerRobots )

[Stalker]

As said upthread, great way to get in on a devalued asset and great way to continue to drive subscribers to gamespass. No wonder there was an article with Phil Spencer last week talking about he does not want to shame other companies for their issues (specially activision).

I suspect COD will continue to be multi platform. Leaving too much money on the table to not. Though Xbox will be the preferred platform and I suspect there will be bonus content and gamespass perks.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

'Gaming technology has always been at the forefront of developing the hardware and software we need to explore virtual spaces.

A company on the scale of Activision Blizzard staffs thousands upon thousands of employees that have the skills and tools necessary to design the virtual worlds that companies like Facebook and Microsoft believe we'll soon be inhabiting. Whether your task is designing the interfaces to get us there, or the virtualized physical spaces themselves, someone (probably hundreds of someones) within Activision Blizzard can help you do it.

[...] Nadella noted that [... "]as the digital and physical worlds come together, [gaming] will play a critical role in the development of metaverse platforms."'

https://www.zdnet.co...ftag=RSSbaffb68

[LinearPhilosopher]

I mean it's good news because it means blizzard will have the cash to pay it's legal obligations.

Maybe, just maybe blizzard can become a viable company again.

[Maark Abbott]

No, no, this is bad, this is very bad, I don't wanna go back, you can't make me go back 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 no I won't do it 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 wait is swords or envenom the meta now 1 1 1 1 2

[Mentalist]

LinearPhilosopher, on 21 January 2022 - 12:58 AM, said:

I mean it's good news because it means blizzard will have the cash to pay it's legal obligations.

Maybe, just maybe blizzard can become a viable company again.

Highly doubt that the actual fees they end up paying will be anything but a slap on the wrist. With Warzone bringing in like a million a month, that wasn't the issue. Not to mention the money printer that is Candy Crush.

The ongoing allegations, more and more dirt on the CEO being a despicable human being coming out-this was making the stock tank, so they were looking to sell to offload the baggage.

The one potential downside is that the unionisation attempts will probably falter. Spencer didn't say "no", but it was a very "we will have to see what the best option for everyone will be" type of non-answer.

I'm still kind of optimistic, because he clearly identified that all those support studios need to be making their own games again which is the main sentiment I've had when thinking about Activision.

We will have to wait and see what happens. Not like this closing for another year.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

'Microsoft "pulled up a megayacht" for Activision Blizzard employees

[...]

“Microsoft just threw not a lifeboat, but they pulled up in a megayacht, and everyone got on, ‘Let’s go!’”'

https://finance.yaho...-170159429.html

... but it was a metaphorical megayacht.

#Metamegayacht
#Salingoutintothemetaversespurelands