Thoughts on Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard for $68.7 Billion

[NoUseMercenary]

Microsoft made major headlines this morning with the news of acquiring Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion.

News: Source / Source

What is everyone's thoughts on this major deal?

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To be honest, $69 billion is a lot of money to acquire IPs, some of which are on the decline. Blizzard basically has ruined the Warcraft franchise with Reforged and WoW (on the decline after several expansions). Overwatch 2 has seen several delays. StarCraft hasn't seen an entry / expansion in 6-7 years. The only titles I forsee having a major impact are Call of Duty and possibily Diablo IV...both of which are set to release on PlayStation consoles. Microsoft could continue the Tony Hawk, Spyro and Crash franchises which might be big. Maybe revive Guitar Hero. Or bring back the Tenchu series or True Crime (GTA clone).

Sucks that Battlefield 2042 was such a bomb. That's one of the few FPS franchises that rivals COD's popularity, outside of Halo and maybe Destiny.

Microsoft First-Party Studios Now:

 

[AsterPhoenix]

Bobby has more than enough money to retire and after many times he still hasn't resigned. Yeah lots of those franchises are a shell of their former selves so this doesn't worry me. Weird MS will own Crash then again ND made it what it is.

This acquisition is about strengthening Xbox Game Pass and the danger of Tencent.

 

[Fijiandoce]

If purchasing zenimax was a coup, i wonder what this classes as? lol

Activision Blizzard are a live service behemoth. COD, Overwatch, WOW, Starcraft etc.etc. The company might be in the shitter management-wise, but i suspect there's going to be a cleaning of the house (so to speak) in the not too distant future.

MS have basically bought the vast majority of big third party studios at this point lol.

A bit of a dire straight for Sony tho. Losing RPG behemoth Bethesda, you maybe might have worked around eventually, but now Sony has no marque shooter... like at all... from anywhere.

 

[redhand]

I’m sure Warzone will stay multi platform but the main COD titles will go Xbox exclusive probably in 2023.
Sony needs to move fast to keep a foot in the hugely popular military fps genre - maybe buy the dormant Medal of Honor IP from EA and sign up the frat boys ACTIVISION just let go and get them cracking on a Modern Warfare style MOH game.

 

[arfi-gorgona-O]

Well Sony can make one

If purchasing zenimax was a coup, i wonder what this classes as? lol

Activision Blizzard are a live service behemoth. COD, Overwatch, WOW, Starcraft etc.etc. The company might be in the shitter management-wise, but i suspect there's going to be a cleaning of the house (so to speak) in the not too distant future.

MS have basically bought the vast majority of big third party studios at this point lol.

A bit of a dire straight for Sony tho. Losing RPG behemoth Bethesda, you maybe might have worked around eventually, but now Sony has no marque shooter... like at all... from anywhere.

They can make their own,they are more than capable of doing so,unlike Microsoft that prefers to buy them instead of making them.

 

[Aquanox]

Activision shares reached USD100+ last year before the scandal. Microsoft paid USD95 for them. Furthermore, shares skyrocketed after the acquisition to levels near to what Microsoft paid. Financially, it was a hell of a deal.

Things become ironic when one thinks that, apart from Bobby Kotick himself, the one that helped bringing those shares down the most was Jim Ryan when he openly criticized Activision's board. It looks like it was there when Microsoft found themselves in the best position no negotiate an acquisition at a price they would've never get before that.

Now gaming wise, I wasn't very kind on buying any of the big publishers out there (Activision, Take 2, EA) but of those, Activision was the one doing the worst. Killing legendary IPs and milking to death COD and WoW. Xbox can't do anything worse than that. I consider they're doing a hell of a job so far with Bethesda and their internal studios so, if anything, I see it as Xbox hopefully saving Activision-Blizzard IPs.

 

[Libra-75]

Microsoft made major headlines this morning with the news of acquiring Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion.

News: Source / Source

What is everyone's thoughts on this major deal?

----

To be honest, $69 billion is a lot of money to acquire IPs, some of which are on the decline. Blizzard basically has ruined the Warcraft franchise with Reforged and WoW (on the decline after several expansions). Overwatch 2 has seen several delays. StarCraft hasn't seen an entry / expansion in 6-7 years. The only titles I forsee having a major impact are Call of Duty and possibily Diablo IV...both of which are set to release on PlayStation consoles. Microsoft could continue the Tony Hawk, Spyro and Crash franchises which might be big. Maybe revive Guitar Hero. Or bring back the Tenchu series or True Crime (GTA clone).

Sucks that Battlefield 2042 was such a bomb. That's one of the few FPS franchises that rivals COD's popularity, outside of Halo and maybe Destiny.

Microsoft First-Party Studios Now:

Yeah, MS brings out the big wallet again. At first I thought it sounded like they over payed for these, but then I remembered that COD alone is probably almost worth it (with its popularity). Maybe they at least can clean upp the mess that Activision/Blizzard is right now, and get them to start producing more than just live service/online games full of microtransactions. For me personally, pretty much the only game that interests me out of their active franchises is Diablo (I really hope they don't screw that one up).

 

[AsterPhoenix]

Yeah it will be tough for Sony since they had marketing with COD. But this doesn't change my opinion on switching to another console at all.

Lot of them will change console they don't see that fact the original devs that made COD good are gone.

Maybe like you guys said maybe MS might clean up the colossal mess of Activision/Blizzard's management. As for now it's 1 more year until the deal to get approved. Which it likely will.

 

[Fijiandoce]

They can make their own,they are more than capable of doing so,unlike Microsoft that prefers to buy them instead of making them.

As the saying goes; "Rome wasn't built in a day".

I don't doubt they could produce a top tier FPS as a potential replacement (imho, they still produce the best quality titles). But building up an IP to that level doesn't come easy. Off the top of my head, GT are the only title in Sony's library that actually has a presence outside the console, like a COD, Overwatch, or even Starcraft - and GT has been decades in the making. Activisions IP's are huge for the e-sports scene (for example).

Maybe they at least can clean upp the mess that Activision/Blizzard is right now, and get them to start producing more than just live service/online games full of microtransactions.

I doubt it. I think that's the reason they bought them in the first place. MS have been on the subscription based grind, and this works into that. Subscribe to their subscription service to get access to these titles. Then nickel and dime as has been the case thus far with live service titles.

But in other news, looks like change is commin' to the management at Activision Blizzard (assuming the deal goes through)

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-01-18/microsoft-buys-activision-blizzard
In an early-morning call Tuesday, Nadella made it clear he was aware of the company’s failings and the anger they have engendered internally. “We believe it’s critical for Activision Blizzard to drive forward on its renewed cultural commitments,” Nadella said. “We are supportive of the goal and the work Activision Blizzard is doing, and we also recognize that after close, we will have significant work to do in order to continue to build a culture where everyone can do their best work.”

 

[Aquanox]

I have my doubts Microsoft will make Call of Duty exclusive. They will probably just make it Day-1 in Game Pass + exclusive content which would make it "The Deal" for COD fans and shooter fans overall... if you weight in Halo, COD, Doom, Wolfenstein, Overwatch, Gears of War and the possibility of a Hexen/Heretic come back, Xbox is the hands-down-no-contest shooter (and RPG) box. That makes a lot of sense. Or.. they could just do it gradually. Considering COD is a game that comes out every year, they have plenty of opportunities to test the waters. After spending 70B in this acquisition, anything can happen.

As for people switching consoles, that's not gonna happen for the PS hardcores. If that did happen, then PlayStation would disappear. That's not Microsoft's goal and probably not even possible. What can occur though, is COD hardcores (not the same) AND casuals switching sometime down the road, and also, expanding the ecosystem to ppl who don't care much about console gaming. Game Pass has just become more appealing for people who wants to play on the cloud or on a cheap (Series S) console and PC Gamers.

I've seen many people saying "The Generation is over" #Sony is doomed" etc.. and I just don't agree. I believe Game Pass will successfully become the Netflix of videogames (Lots of variety with a mix of AAA + AA content) and also PlayStation will survive as something like Disney+ (Less content, but most of it of high quality with a very loyal fanbase)

I honestly need both in my life and so does the market.

 

[AsterPhoenix]

I recall the last COD I tried was Advanced Warfare so I'm not worried about COD. So from the sounds of things Sony might keep COD on their system. It be cool if they did a another True Crime game if the deal goes through or likely they'll stick with their main IPs.

 

[X2]

This forum is still up. Awe man I remember the old days

 

[Aquanox]

This forum is still up. Awe man I remember the old days

lol xD

 

[Hasan3434]

Microsoft seems to come to a different point in the game world.

 

[PBM]

This forum is still up. Awe man I remember the old days

Yes ... I remember them ... and it makes me sad. Can't believe we've been here almost 2 decades. D:

 

[AsterPhoenix]

It will likely go through it's MS were talking about I don't see why it wouldn't. I hope they revive old IPs if it happens but to be honest i'd doubt it the US is all about milking the same IPs again and again in the game world and in the tv series world even more so nowdays. That bad CEO of theirs Bobby will get a big payout and leave or he will stay in another position through MS.