[UPDATE] Microsoft announces acquisition of Bethesda

Deleted User · Sep 23, 2020

I thought there was a law in Japan that companies outside of Japan couldn't buy companies in Japan, in regards to Sega.

Jayro · Sep 24, 2020

64bitmodels said:
Uhh
Minecraft hasn't become shit though???

Minecraft is the only thing they haven't managed to fuck up, besides selling skins and mods that are otherwise free for Java users. :rolleyes:

SS4 · Sep 24, 2020

Hmm, a huge company getting even larger . . . there is no way this could be bad for consumers right

FAST6191 · Sep 24, 2020

64bitmodels said:
microsoft
the most pro consumer company but the one with the shittiest games

They allowed online pass (to play online in a second hand game you got to pay extra courtesy of a code in the box).
They have continued to not provide means to transfer downloaded games and DLC to friends and whatnot.
They were the ones to trial the xbone always online DRM and annoying as anything second hand sales
They were the ones to put chips in their controllers you could only get from them
They were the ones to charge considerable money for putting out game updates (see I think it was Super Meat Boy or a similar platformer that worked out a way to encode bonus levels in scoreboard data as a workaround)
They were the ones to charge for fully gated off online gaming in the broadband era
They did HDCP (copy protection for footage) in games. Not as bad as some but still there. Whatever for video and all that but games?

I loved my 360 and all but to call MS pro consumer... there is a reason I had hacked ones.

ForgotWhoIam said:
I thought there was a law in Japan that companies outside of Japan couldn't buy companies in Japan, in regards to Sega.

This is why you hire an accountant or business negotiator. I don't know how it would work here but usually MS would peel off a few billion, stick it in an account there, set up totallynotmicrosoftindisguise-someJapaneseword company, buy it and run it like a puppet. Or they go in and get the Japanese companies to sell off the IP and rent out the workers so own in all but name, or get the Japanese company to relocate to Korea (some of Korea's biggest players, which means some of the world's biggest players, were once Japanese).

mightymuffy · Sep 24, 2020

Guess we'll find out the Sega bit soon enough... The whole can't buy Japanese companies thing is kind of untrue - it's more difficult is all, usually revolving around acquiring shares (I suspect you've heard the words 'hostile takeover', that's a shares-related method that can be easily sorted on the Japanese end - MS could for instance try to buy up all Nintendo's shares - Nintendo would simply buy their own up, and be given priority to do so, so that rarely works in Japan. Unless there's an agreement of course) ....but I don't think that's happening anyway, I reckon a partnership, at most: Sega sticks their name on the Series S and X and sells them in Japan, funded from MS.. PS5 might have a tough time in Japan simply due to the size of the fukkin thing, and that's where interest in a Sega branded Series S may become a thing. Don't see the Switch getting worried about it, but it might do well, and if it still bombs, then I suspect MS have told them they'll take the hit (done it 3 times already, 4th for good luck?

)

Or simply a deal to have all of Sega/Atlus games appearing on Game Pass at launch: again, like Bethesda/ID, that's a good call for the PC games market, with Sega owning stuff like Total War, but I still think MS wants a way into the Japanese market, most likely for Game Pass: it's not gonna appear on PS5 anytime soon, and I'm not convinced Nintendo will have it on Switch either, so yeah, bring the Sega branded consoles back and see if that works..

Pickle_Rick · Sep 28, 2020

pedro702 said:
you do know they have a tiny amount of xbox and xbox360 titles right? and i doubt they will ever have even 40% of the library of both consoles ever, since their backwards compatibility consists on the developer allowing microsoft to modify the isos so they run, and many developers from that time and age are dead by now and will never ask for the backwards compatibility thing since they gain nothing for it.

The Xbox BC team are coming back after the X|S launch. So they'll be adding more games to the BC list soon. They'll also add more enhancements like increased LoDs and resolution as well.

Pickle_Rick · Sep 28, 2020

FAST6191 said:
They allowed online pass (to play online in a second hand game you got to pay extra courtesy of a code in the box).
They have continued to not provide means to transfer downloaded games and DLC to friends and whatnot.
They were the ones to trial the xbone always online DRM and annoying as anything second hand sales
They were the ones to put chips in their controllers you could only get from them
They were the ones to charge considerable money for putting out game updates (see I think it was Super Meat Boy or a similar platformer that worked out a way to encode bonus levels in scoreboard data as a workaround)
They were the ones to charge for fully gated off online gaming in the broadband era
They did HDCP (copy protection for footage) in games. Not as bad as some but still there. Whatever for video and all that but games?

I loved my 360 and all but to call MS pro consumer... there is a reason I had hacked ones.

It's almost like they're a completely different company now compared to then.

Nobody allows you to transfer digital content. What a weird thing to blame on Microsoft. (Actually a lot of your points are like that.)
They allow XB1 accessories on the Series X|S. So you can use your old controllers and remotes on the new system.
The always online DRM was backtracked so hard they fired the guy who suggested it.
They don't charge devs to push updates anymore.
They allow you to play your BC (for three generations on the new systems) games at no extra cost if you already own them with enhancements.
They pioneered and popularized online gaming on console.
Sony does HDCP in games as well.
In an age where games are getting more expensive, Microsoft is offering a hell of a deal with Gamepass. $10 for 300 good games plus EA play and Zenimax are being added soon. Or $15 for Gamepass for Xbox and PC plus Gold.
Xbox all access is $25/$35 a month (two years then you own it) for an X|S plus Gamepass and it comes out cheaper than buying them outright.
Pretty much all of MS's DLC and upgrades are free now.

(Also to everyone saying "but Rare", they were on a downwards trend way before MS bought them. Anyone remember Starfox Adventures?)

FAST6191 · Sep 28, 2020

Pickle_Rick said:
It's almost like they're a completely different company now compared to then.

Nobody allows you to transfer digital content. What a weird thing to blame on Microsoft. (Actually a lot of your points are like that.)

They allow XB1 accessories on the Series X|S. So you can use your old controllers and remotes on the new system.

The always online DRM was backtracked so hard they fired the guy who suggested it.

They don't charge devs to push updates anymore.

They allow you to play your BC (for three generations on the new systems) games at no extra cost if you already own them with enhancements.

They pioneered and popularized online gaming on console.

Sony does HDCP in games as well.

In an age where games are getting more expensive, Microsoft is offering a hell of a deal with Gamepass. $10 for 300 good games plus EA play and Zenimax are being added soon. Or $15 for Gamepass for Xbox and PC plus Gold.

Xbox all access is $25/$35 a month (two years then you own it) for an X|S plus Gamepass and it comes out cheaper than buying them outright.

Pretty much all of MS's DLC and upgrades are free now.

(Also to everyone saying "but Rare", they were on a downwards trend way before MS bought them. Anyone remember Starfox Adventures?)

I will always bring up the lack of transfer of downloadable games as a) blocking it might well be illegal in various places (various courts in the EU have said you have to allow it), and b) it is a thing to bring up and keep those aware of as it is not a right to sign away freely, not to mention have you seen the downsides of it (you might have noted a release/new pressing of a game but never its not being manufactured any more, compare instead delisting).

So they allow some of their old accessories on their newer devices? Whoo. The point was they started to include ID chips in their controllers so only those that they blessed or those that bought and cannibalised a controller could make accessories. Compare this to older devices where third party options were usually crap but still widely available.

Good for them. That it made it that far as to have a nicely polished video and widespread speaks to a rather great failure in understanding of the market.

Good for them again. I will still note it.

Pioneered online gaming? Ignoring the efforts going back to the 16 bit days then Dreamcast probably wins that honor. Also PC gaming had been a thing for years and years by this point, generally a solved issue too (users running their own servers and LAN games mean we can eventually stop hosting our own and nobody will mind much... shocking, also available from ID way before the xbox was a twinkle in MS' eye). Them pressing recompile on also a PC hardware (the original xbox being basically a PC but with some legacy hardware lopped off and custom shaped USB ports) that is essentially identical to all others it is playing against is also hardly pioneering or massive issues to solve. So they solved no great problems and got people to pay money for something that is free elsewhere, whilst introducing other very obvious problems. Magnificent act of consumer trickery but nothing to applaud from the perspective of a gamer.

So Sony are also cunts. Does not absolve MS of any wrongdoing in this regard.

Games are not getting more expensive. Devs are choosing to spend more and charge more. Gamepass does seem like a good marketing deal. The idea of a library/rental pass has been floated for years and years though. Somewhat surprised to see MS pick it up and be the one to really run with it.

pedro702 · Sep 28, 2020

Pickle_Rick said:
It's almost like they're a completely different company now compared to then.

Nobody allows you to transfer digital content. What a weird thing to blame on Microsoft. (Actually a lot of your points are like that.)

They allow XB1 accessories on the Series X|S. So you can use your old controllers and remotes on the new system.

The always online DRM was backtracked so hard they fired the guy who suggested it.

They don't charge devs to push updates anymore.

They allow you to play your BC (for three generations on the new systems) games at no extra cost if you already own them with enhancements.

They pioneered and popularized online gaming on console.

Sony does HDCP in games as well.

In an age where games are getting more expensive, Microsoft is offering a hell of a deal with Gamepass. $10 for 300 good games plus EA play and Zenimax are being added soon. Or $15 for Gamepass for Xbox and PC plus Gold.

Xbox all access is $25/$35 a month (two years then you own it) for an X|S plus Gamepass and it comes out cheaper than buying them outright.

Pretty much all of MS's DLC and upgrades are free now.

(Also to everyone saying "but Rare", they were on a downwards trend way before MS bought them. Anyone remember Starfox Adventures?)

how were they on a downward trend if the last 2 games they released before being bought were banjo tooie and conker bad fur day?

Also if star fox adventures was nintendo's doing, they forced rare to put starfox chracters in there because they wanted a starfox launch game for the gamecube, and even then how is this a bad game? its a decent game just look at the scores https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Fox_Adventures#Reception
while its no banjo kazzoie or goldeneye is still a damn solid game release, if every studios worst game came out as starfox adventures did it would be a miracle lol specially in the midst of getting low on cash and dealing with a buyout on the mid of game development...

chrisrlink · Sep 28, 2020

I kind of wonder if this means bethesda must halt development for ES 6 on ps5 better not choose and get both now guys and gals

MikaDubbz · Jan 18, 2022

Damn, that's a gigantic acquisition. I'm not crazy about Microsoft's solution of lacking great exclusives, to simply purchase huge third party devs. But at least they seem keen to let some of the biggest series remain multiplatform.

pedro702 · Jan 18, 2022

MikaDubbz said:
Damn, that's a gigantic acquisition. I'm not crazy about Microsoft's solution of lacking great exclusives, to simply purchase huge third party devs. But at least they seem keen to let some of the biggest series remain multiplatform.

they wont

they already said elder scrolls 6 will be xbox exclusive

Im seeing the next doom/wolfenstein/fallout will also be exclusive just wait and see.

They can share some smaller games like they did on the switch but the AAA stuff will all be exclusive.

MikaDubbz · Jan 18, 2022

pedro702 said:
they wont

they already said elder scrolls 6 will be xbox exclusive

Im seeing the next doom/wolfenstein/fallout will also be exclusive just wait and see.

They can share some smaller games like they did on the switch but the AAA stuff will all be exclusive.

Yeah we'll see. They also said some properties may stay multiplatform and also confirmed that Starfield will be exclusive. It’d be a pretty stupid business decision to not keep some established big series multiplatform when the bulk of their profits come from the games and not the hardware.

pedro702 · Jan 18, 2022

MikaDubbz said:
Yeah we'll see. They also said some properties may stay multiplatform and only confirmed that Starfield will be exclusive. It's be a pretty stupid business decision to not keep some established big series multiplatform when the bulk of their profits come from the games and not the hardware.

they want to sell their eggs, they want you to buy a agmepass subscription or an xbox, they will gain much more on keeping any AAA stuff exclusive so that gamepass and xbox keeps getting higher value rather than spreading it around, they are making their playerbase bigger and bigger with each aquisition and that makes them much more money than releasing stuff on the rivals console.

MikaDubbz · Jan 18, 2022

pedro702 said:
they want to sell their eggs, they want you to buy a agmepass subscription or an xbox, they will gain much more on keeping any AAA stuff exclusive so that gamepass and xbox keeps getting higher value rather than spreading it around, they are making their playerbase bigger and bigger with each aquisition and that makes them much more money than releasing stuff on the rivals console.

Let me put it this way, if they want to shoot themselves in the foot, weaken the Call of Duty brand while simultaneously strengthening the rival Battlefield brand and not capitalizing in their acquisition to make the most money they can from it, then they should make Call of Duty exclusive to them. I'm no fan of any of that crap, so I really don't care what happens there, but I'd be shocked if that is the route they go with that property.

pedro702 · Jan 18, 2022

MikaDubbz said:
Let me put it this way, if they want to shoot themselves in the foot, weaken the Call of Duty brand while simultaneously strengthening the rival Battlefield brand and not capitalizing in their acquisition to make the most money they can from it, then they should make Call of Duty exclusive to them. I'm no fan of any of that crap, so I really don't care what happens there, but I'd be shocked if that is the route they go with that property.

well they said activision will stay independent until like early 2023 so they can still release 1 or 2 COd games on ps5 until then, but i doubt we will ever see anything from bethesda on ps5 from now on, unless its like a remaster or remake of an older game, anything new will be xbox only just wait and see.

MikaDubbz · Jan 18, 2022

pedro702 said:
well they said activision will stay independent until like early 2023 so they can still release 1 or 2 COd games on ps5 until then, but i doubt we will ever see anything from bethesda on ps5 from now on, unless its like a remaster or remake of an older game, anything new will be xbox only just wait and see.

I mean after that point, it just makes sense that some titles, especially CoD will remain multiplatform, it's just the logical thing to do, if Microsoft likes money anyway. Frankly I don't care all that much as it is as there are few Bethesda and Activision games I truly care about. But I'm just calling it like I see it based on what they have said and already done and just general logic. But again, we'll see. We won't really know definitively for quite some time.

pedro702 · Jan 18, 2022

MikaDubbz said:
I mean after that point, it just makes sense that some titles, especially CoD will remain multiplatform, it's just the logical thing to do, if Microsoft likes money anyway. Frankly I don't care all that much as it is as there are few Bethesda and Activision games I truly care about. But I'm just calling it like I see it based on what they have said and already done and just general logic. But again, we'll see. We won't really know definitively for quite some time.

thats like saying nintendo should release mario games or zelda games on ps5 or xbox if they like money, it would sell more? for sure, but it would make their solo branding be diminished in the end.

Xbox isnt spending billions to just keep the games being released the same or else they would gain nothing and their investment would be a waste of money.

MikaDubbz · Jan 18, 2022

pedro702 said:
thats like saying nintendo should release mario games or zelda games on ps5 or xbox if they like money, it would sell more? for sure, but it would make their solo branding be diminished in the end.

Xbox isnt spending billions to just keep the games being released the same or else they would gain nothing and their investment would be a waste of money.

Yeah, if Mario and Zelda were first multiplatform games owned by a different dev, and Nintendo had been changing their business model over the past few years to allow exclusives of theirs to appear elsewhere. Otherwise, it's exactly the same!

Seriously, there is no point in comparing such apples and oranges, as they are very very different situations. Now, if we were still talking about the Xbox of a decade ago then yeah, your comparison would be apt, but these days, they're just way too different in how they approach the business of video games to say one situation should be directly compared with the other.

pedro702 · Jan 18, 2022

MikaDubbz said:
Yeah, if Mario and Zelda were first multiplatform games owned by a different dev, and Nintendo had been changing their business model over the past few years to allow exclusives of theirs to appear elsewhere. Otherwise, it's exactly the same!

Seriously, there is no point in comparing such apples and oranges, as they are very very different situations. Now, if we were still talking about the Xbox of a decade ago then yeah, your comparison would be apt, but these days, they're just way too different in how they approach the business of video games to say one situation should be directly compared with the other.

i will wait and see, all bethesda games were multiplat, if they go all exclusive its the same exact thing, and i like how he said in an article all games would be released on platforms that accept gamepass, like in hell would sony accept gamepass lol, they would gain a crappy % from a subscription and then loose millions on not selling their own games from the storefront or physicaly for themselves.

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