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What Microsoft Buying Activision Would Mean For PlayStation

PSLS writes: "Earlier in the week, reports of Vivendi’s interest in selling its stake of Activision Blizzard surged the internet. It didn’t take long for a few major corporations to show interest, and rumored to be among them were Time Warner and Microsoft. While Time Warner or really any other company taking a deal would make headlines, a buyout from Microsoft would send a shockwave across the video game industry, and more importantly make Sony’s job a lot more difficult."

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Dante1124933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

If MS were to buy Activision and cut Sony out of the CoD games, they'd lose alot of profit (angers investors). I'd be more worried about Activision considering MS handling of their first party dev teams more if anything (Rare).

Edit: Damn, I completely forgotten about Guitar Hero (forgot that Activision owned that franchise). Wonder what happened to it, it was so popular at the beginning of this gen which makes me think, could that happen to CoD if an amazing FPS come out next gen?

Irishguy954933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

.

Edit----I have no idea what you're talking about bro.../

:x pff the damage is already done.

But really, if MS gets this, it's a massive win for them, for me, it's just another game I won't buy

rdgneoz34933d ago

Nice stealth edit. Guess you found out what Activision Blizzard is :P

Also, from around 2 days ago, "Vivendi, according to Bloomberg, is not finding much success in selling its $8.27 billion majority stake in Activision Blizzard Inc."

jadenkorri4933d ago

even if MS bought activision and limited cod to 360 only, they would lose out on so much money, cod makes alot more money being multiplat system game than being exclusive to the 360. With BF3 out there or another BF coming, killing cod on 1 system would mean those exclusive ps3 players find something else to do. But this is a sale of shares not the company which means MS may have little say in anything.

xPhearR3dx4933d ago

@jadenkorri

If PS3's number 1 selling game (COD) goes 360 exclusive. 360 console sales will sky rocket. And with their $99 Kinect + 360 thing going on, it will bring in the casuals in masses.

dcbronco4933d ago

CoD is a game already seemingly on it's way out. If MS paid billions for the company and cut off Sony they would have a hard time getting their moneys worth out of it. They will still have WoW. But that would be a slow recoup.

@Dante

I'm not sure how MS could do any worse at ruining CoD than Kotick already is. The current model of the every increasing arcadyness and willingness to let bugs persist are what is making so many people move to BF. At least MS would work on the hacking.

pixelsword4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

That's a lot of Kinect games...

Their success will rely on their ability to sustain the companies currently under Activision, plus Microsoft will have to keep their hand out of the pie. corporations tend to ruin the companies they buy or deal with, so if MS can keep their fingers out of the pie, they can pull it off.

A second thing is if Activision is going into the red, they will have to fix that as well.

SeekDev4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

@dcbronco

BF3 on PC on average has aboot 30000 players, the consoles each respectively double that number (take with huge grain of salt).

http://bf3stats.com/ says Global stats are at 18000 for PC, 37000 for PS3, and 31000 for Xbox 360 (As of right now, I do believe).

Those numbers aren't too great (do consider that it's night time in half the world right now, so again, grain of salt).

Bottom line, people are running away from BF3 in droves. Some reasons, imo, are the dropping of the official servers even though they were later reinstated (damage was still done), BF Premium OPed guns, infrequent patches, Origin only. The BF Premium OPed guns are debatable, but it'd make sense as an incentive for possible buyers, and I don't believe EA has 'integrity.'

miyamoto4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

AQuantive
Nokia
Kin
Rare
Yahoo!
Bing
Windows Phone
Zune
Orig Xbox
etc.

bureaucracy and mismanagement?

I know M$ can handle hundreds of billions of dollars in losses but does Activision Blizzard really want to join this bunch?

nukeitall4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

If MS where to buy a majority stake in ATVI, they would merely be ensuring platform preferential treatment. MS would not prevent any game from appearing on a competing console due to major losses in profits. However, the cost of acquiring ATVI is so big, I doubt MS would be interrested despite the large number of profitable IPs.

@axelstone:

Did you know MS owns a stake in Facebook? Did you know MS saved Apple from bankruptcy and subsequently owned a stake? MS also makes MS Office for OSX. Xbox 360 is a huge success, and Bing is the second largest search engine. Rare still exist and recently sold over 3 million copies for the original Kinect Sports (more than many hardcore games).

Now, what 3rd party companies do such as Nokia, Yahoo and so on is irrelevant as MS has no control over how they manage THEIR OWN business.

miyamoto4932d ago

My fist console this generation was the 360. I was a huge fan of M$ until Ballmer became CEO. I can't stand that guy! Anything he touches turns into crap.
Bill Gates any day!

But there maybe hope for M$.....to do things right first by kicking Ballmer out!

NewMonday4932d ago

A Big reason for trying to sell is because Kotick knows thy are getting to the end of the line, their franchises have peaked and the digital market will eat their prospects for growth, this is what his kind of investors do, get a company to cash in as much money as it can , raise its stocks , then dump it on someone else.

As for MS $8.27 billion i to much even for them, and they would have to buyout the rest of the 40% shares before they can make CoD exclusive, that would take it over 15 billion, not worth selling just 2-3 million more consoles than the competition, because their is a large segment of gamers that are multi-console owners, and many will just switch to something else .

humbleopinion4932d ago

@axelstone
You forgot Apple: MS Pretty much saved them from bankrupcy.

ShinMaster4932d ago

I'm not affected by it because it would just be another game I wouldn't buy, just as it has always been.

And for those who do play COD, this doesn't necessarily keep them from buying a PlayStation system just because COD is on Xbox(if).
Fanboys here don't realize that A LOT of people actually own both systems.

Legion4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

@SeekDev

You do realize that those stats are just active players online at the time? They do not show the actual numbers of people owning the game. As we obviously know that more then 100,000 people have purchased the game.

Also, fluctuation of people on BF3stats has been one day doubled or tripled and the next reduced to a fraction. I use BF3stats but it hardly is accurate on reporting users.

Here you can see a comparison of PC alone on MW3 and BF3. http://www.gamestat.co.uk/

Obviously PC is a bigger area for BF games then MW games... and visa versa on consoles. But the facts are any deal with Activision and MS would be a huge deal.

nukeitall4932d ago

@axelstone:

"I was a huge fan of M$ until Ballmer became CEO. I can't stand that guy! Anything he touches turns into crap."

What about Ballmer do you not like? Generalized statements without facts do not say much nor does narrowingly focusing on the negatives.

Ironically, the Xbox 360 was created under Ballmer's watch which you bought and has been a huge success. Even the competitors wouldn't deny that.

Ballmer became CEO way back in 2000. That also means a slew of products was released and has been successful.

dcbronco4932d ago

@SeekDev

More people are running away from CoD. Mainly because there are more to run away. But just reading post on forums you see the tides turning against the game. A negative comment on CoD used to cause you to lose bubbles. Now you get mostly agrees. The games has lost it's way. The next "future" version seems like a reach. Trying to include every possible fan base to keep the numbers high. But CoD is headed the way of Madden. It may remain a top selling game, but you won't see continued growth. There is a reason for Vivendi looking to sell.

I do agree that EA is incredibly stupid when it comes to supporting games. Moving servers around instead of buying or renting more. Rushing games out and ruining them so badly that they have to give away tons of DLC to try to keep the sales going. DLC that would have been worth tens of millions. Premium is no reason to leave though. Buy early and get a discount. What's the difference between that and CoD Elite. By the reasoning people should have left CoD.

But EA has no integrity. Neither does Activision.

dcbronco4932d ago

@Newmonday

Owning 60% is enough to call the shots. They would have to convince the Board that it would be worth it to cut off the PS3 and Wii U(though they would probably allow the Wii U). The only way to do that would be by paying a huge sum to make up for any losses. Cutting off the PS3 only benefits MS. Not Activision. So it wouldn't happen unless, like you said, they bought the whole company.

And digital doesn't hurt profits. It increases profits a lot. There are a lot of things a company no longer pays for with a digital model. And as far as creating only a few more sales of consoles. It may only be 2-5 million. But it is a group that would include many of the early adopters. Which would translate into an early jump on consoles sold. So even if they start out at the same time, it might be a 2 or 3 million advantage in the first year.

Shepherd 2144932d ago

axelstone

Im pretty sure the original xbox did pretty well, as does Yahoo and Zune

sjaakiejj4932d ago

@nukeitall

"Did you know MS owns a stake in Facebook?"
Are you trying to say Facebook isn't crap?

"Did you know MS saved Apple from bankruptcy and subsequently owned a stake?"
This was the result of the direct influence of Bill Gates. It was a deal agreed on between him and Steve Jobs - Microsoft as a company had little to do with it, Steve Ballmer even less.

"MS also makes MS Office for OSX."
Have you ever even tried MS Office on OSX? It's crap, and the Windows version is infinitely better.

"Rare still exist and recently sold over 3 million copies for the original Kinect Sports (more than many hardcore games)."
I think it's quite clear what Axelstone meant by stating Rare had turned to crap. The company is producing products its developers don't even really want to work on, because Microsoft is dead-set on shoving Kinect into our throats.

Ken224932d ago

@seekdev
*, BF Premium OPed guns, *.

Umm what op guns??As far as i know everyone has access to guns if you buy them you don't need premium to get the guns.Please do some research it helps alot.

BattleAxe4932d ago

If MS were to buy Activision, CoD would lose almost half of its financial value since MW3 sold 12 million units on the PS3 and 14 million units on the 360. Share Holders would not be happy.

nukeitall4932d ago

@sjaakiejj

"Are you trying to say Facebook isn't crap?"

Indeed! Facebook isn't crap just because you are too cool to like it.

Millions of people use it while there are many competitors. I think FB speaks for itself.

"Microsoft as a company had little to do with it, Steve Ballmer even less."

Perhaps you should read the entire conversation before commenting. This was a response to axelstone pointless remark that "They say everything that M$ touches turns into......" and has nothing to do with Ballmer nor Gates.

"Have you ever even tried MS Office on OSX? It's crap, and the Windows version is infinitely better."

Yet it is the most sold software on OSX. Doesn't speak much of the OSX ecosystem does it? Anyhow, still doesn't matter, because something is better doesn't make something else crap!

"The company is producing products its developers don't even really want to work on, because Microsoft is dead-set on shoving Kinect into our throats."

Really?

Because they seem pretty happy there and excited about what they do. Put up or shut up! Show some recent Rare developers involved with Kinect not liking the work.

PoSTedUP4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

it would cost them 10 BILLION dollars. to recuperate that money they would have to keep it on the ps3 and profit off of the ps3's sales because the console's sales spike is not going to be enough profit guessing it will spike the consoles sales 15-20 million Each Generation, you think that's gonna make their 10 billion back anytime soon if ever? keeping it on ps3 might not even be enough profit either. like i said this is a stupid thoguht its not gonna happen.

but what Is happening is corporations are making big moves on the chess board right now and MS is going to need a well thought out strategy to counter gaiki, i think.

sjaakiejj4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

"
Indeed! Facebook isn't crap just because you are too cool to like it.

Millions of people use it while there are many competitors. I think FB speaks for itself."

People use it because others do, not because it's such a great system. It's better than MySpace, but it's still rubbish. Countless glitches hindering user experience, poor implementation of many features such as the chat, privacy issues and more recently, Timeline, and yet you claim Facebook isn't a crap system?

"Perhaps you should read the entire conversation before commenting. This was a response to axelstone pointless remark that "They say everything that M$ touches turns into......" and has nothing to do with Ballmer nor Gates. "

Perhaps you should read my sentence before commenting back. I noted that Microsoft as a company had little to nothing to do with the Apple Deal at all - it was Bill Gates personally who decided to do Steve Jobs a favor.

"
Yet it is the most sold software on OSX. Doesn't speak much of the OSX ecosystem does it? Anyhow, still doesn't matter, because something is better doesn't make something else crap!
"
Sales != Quality. Windows sells loads, yet it's the worst operating system of the major three. Microsoft Office on Mac sells loads not because it's good, but because of compatibility concerns - majority of PC users are Windows users, and majority of those use Microsoft Office.

Quality is measured by comparing it to other products. Regardless, go ahead and Google, I'm sure you'll find a large number of people complaining about how terrible the Mac version is.

I know a lot of people who use Macs, and have used Microsoft Office on it, and I've heard a lot of comments about it - none of which were positive.

"Really?

Because they seem pretty happy there and excited about what they do. Put up or shut up! Show some recent Rare developers involved with Kinect not liking the work."

Telling you how I know is pointless, because you won't believe it anyway. Take it with however much salt you want, but you have my word that a lot of the developers at Rare want to work on non-kinect games, but aren't allowed to.

Note that I am not saying that ""They say everything that M$ touches turns into....." is a true statement - it's far from it. I'm just saying that the examples you picked were poorly chosen, and his examples were valid choices.

nukeitall4931d ago

@sjaakiejj:

"Sales != Quality"

Sales usually correlates with value. Do you know how value is defined? It is offering relative to competition with respect to price. I don't see another better offer?

I think it is pointless to talk to someone whom say:

"Windows sells loads, yet it's the worst operating system of the major three. Microsoft Office on Mac sells loads not because it's good,"

Really? That is the most idiotic comment I heard in a long time. Only an idiot believes that. Anyone working with all three knows one excels in one area and not in another. Applies to all three.

Your MS hate is showing. XD

"I know a lot of people who use Macs, and have used Microsoft Office on it, and I've *heard* a lot of comments about it - none of which were positive."

I *heard*, but can't say what is so bad about it. Popular things are often complained about! People are far more likely to complain about something than talk positive about a product. We all also remember negatives far more than the positives.

"Telling you how I know is pointless, because you won't believe it anyway."

Yes, yes... I heard from my brothers sisters grandmothers daughter son that works at Rare, there are terrible gremlins there!

"his examples were valid choices."

A person that provides no reason or facts after being repeatedly asked, then just throws out more opinion has "valid choices". I hope the University of Manchester does a better job of teaching you analytical skills.

+ Show (21) more repliesLast reply 4931d ago
user54670074933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

They would also crush any chance of Sony owning the rights to Crash Bandicoot and Spyro again.

If this was to happen then I hope Sony would try anyway possible to get the rights back.

wishingW3L4932d ago

Sony doesn't care about those franchises anymore.

BrutallyBlunt4933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

Why would Microsoft want to buy Activision? They already have a great relationship and it's doubtful Microsoft wants that kind of overhead. Look at how much money Valve makes and Apple makes off of games. Valve doesn't have very many of their own games and Apple doesn't make any to my knowledge.

This whole idea of securing companies to sell hardware and capp off your userbase to me doesn't make much sense. We are heading in a direction where the actual hardware is becoming more and more irrelevant. Companies like Microsoft need to start thinking outside the box so to speak. The days of securing 3rd party exclusives has already dwindled this generation, so why buy a powerhouse like Activision when their games are much more profitable when they are available on many systems? You buy them and then only allow their games on Windows and XBOX limits the chances of turning a profit in an already competitive market that sees so much money lost as it is.

Micrsoft should have tried to buy Sega years ago or Capcom if it was possible. At least then they'd have a lot more hope in Japan and have a lot more IP's that have worldwide appeal. In todays times it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense, and since Microsoft already benefits from Activision there really is no need to buy them.

joab7774933d ago

I agree actually. I'm not so sure they wouldn't just launch on all platforms and run it like a separate business. Although, it could b a huge selling point. Problem is that all these franchises are fragile right now and it could backfire. I don't think they would make it a Microsoft only studio.

WeskerChildReborned4933d ago

Yea i was thinking that too and if MS did buy Activision, i have a feeling that 360 would get the game a month earlier or something.

Thatguy-3104933d ago

Activision Blizzard doesn't do COD games!!! Ppl need to see that. Do they actually think that activision will put up the biggest franchise for saleO.o I mean why in the hell would they do that. This whole thing is base off Blizzard which is in charge of the pc games like WOW,starcraft, diablo. No COD

Intentions4932d ago Show
stragomccloud4932d ago

I really hope they don't. Microsoft only seems interested in acquiring devs to promote a system.... then once people have bought their system... they kind of just run those companies into the ground.

iTs_RichieF4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

They done pretty good

mistajeff4932d ago

but microsoft didn't own bungie, only the Halo IP. if this were to happen, and i don't think it will, i think the long-term impact would be bungie's contract with activision. call of duty would hurt in the short run, but there really can't be more than a few years left in it before it gets the tony hawk and guitar hero treatment.

stragomccloud4932d ago

At least they handled Ensemble Studios okay for a while. Though, before they even released Halo Wars, they let them go. Kind of lame.

cl19834932d ago

@ mistajeff- Bungie was bought out by Microsoft. After the release of Halo 3 Microsoft sold Bungie game division, but not the halo property.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4932d ago
showtimefolks4932d ago

it would mean one simple thing

EA would have the biggest selling FPS since their game will be on 3 to 4 systems compare to COD on one.

MS and Activision= never gonna happen

andibandit4932d ago

nah, EA/Dice shot themselves in the foot with the the Private server thing. People are fleeing from that game.

ardivt4932d ago

lol you think that ms would stop selling cod on all other systems? most stupid thing I read for months.
they would make it a timed exclusive, but not a xbox only game. that would ruin the just aquired company

Oh_Yeah4932d ago

if microsoft purchases them...even if they purchased 100% and owned all their games..that still wouldnt make me any more interested in the next xbox. wait why am i even commenting on this? activision...lol i could make better games in my toilet trying to sink my turds with my pee....

jk im not a hater saints row and prototype are okay i guess.

gdogg9794932d ago

You know Saints row is developed by Volition and published by THQ right??

_-EDMIX-_4932d ago

so why would they want to be bought by MS? Last i remember, MS track record in terms of teams is not that good.

Activision- "so where looking to be bought...i think its best if we go to a more limited company so we make more money"

o....k. A 3rd party publishers goal is to make as much money as possible on as many systems as possible...not sure why on earth a publisher would even do that and limit there money. This article is stupid on so many levels. No one wins from this.

COD and other titles will lose sales (fact) MS can barely hold on to the teams they have know, let alone an entire 3rd party publishers teams.

From what i've seen, MS likes the money they make off COD as a multiplat game as suppose to funding and marketing and distributing a COD game. I don't think they want to take on such a burden.

solid_si4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

Activision is company that is going downhill...think about it. A company that has dead I.P's such as guitar heroes and tony hawks. Activision lives off COD. Once COD dies out, they have nothing. They will just end up as another THQ.

IF M$ buys activision, Blizzard will certainly leave from the merger.

But it would make sense for M$ to buy Activi$ion. They can advertise and sell Call Of Duty on there next gen only. It would be a huge selling point for next gen XBOX.

With HALO, GEARS OF WAR & COD....U got the best shooters only on ur platorm. Thats the big three shooters M$ would certainly would want. So it wont be a bad move. Its will be capitalising on console market.

TBM4932d ago

for me this would mean nothing as CoD is not the only game in the world. i don't spend my every minute playing, caring, or thinking about CoD.

i already have my doubts about buying the next xbox system, and if they did buy them that wouldnt temped me to buy the system.

Straightupbeastly4932d ago

I bet at least 75 percent of ps3 gamers would buy an Xbox just to play cod. Ps gamers love their cod

lilbrat234932d ago

Guitar Hero franchise is dead, and at the rate they are doing COD games it will die as well. Right now I hope MOH is as good as it looks and maybe give COD a run for it's money. MS is already buying exclusivity on the lame maps and making the game exclusive to the xbox would mean a major lost in money so it won't happen.

strifeblade4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

call of duty is a game where people would buy the console just to play it trust me.

Just like metal gear sold playstation- call of duty can sell xbox.

By your way of thinking why not put uncharted on xbox? why not put halo on playstation? those games might sell twice as much but you dont see msoft or sony doing that.

if msoft had the most power with the takeover, they can do as they wish.

if cod became msoft exclusive, sure it might sell less- but it will defenetly sell xbox.

they dont need to make call of duty exclusive this gen since both consoles have an established base. But come next gen where there is no install base for both ps4 and 720, imagine what console people will buy when they see call of duty as an xbox exclusive, that can really shift ps3 gamers to shift to xbox nextgen when they see msoft has cod as en eclusive.

So yes this move is dangerous for sony. If Msoft can play their cards right, it will be devestating for sony next gen.

ATi_Elite4932d ago

if MS bought Activision/Blizzard:

Nothing would change!!!

A/B makes way too much money for Microsoft to interfere with how A/B operates.

and if MS did interfere:

Dunno about Activision BUT Blizzard would just walk out. Blizzard is way too powerful to be controlled. Blizzard works how they want to.

A Blizzard game made by NON Blizzard employees would have Horrible sales figures. PC Gamers love Blizzard and would stay loyal to the Devs.

orange-skittle4932d ago

Why would MS stop supporting a multiplatform game when dealing with a 3rd party developer. Of course they would continue to sell to sony only customers. Its about money and recouping their investment. That "this is mine and that is yours" crap only works on the playground. This is business people.

Gamerpeanuts4932d ago

Wanna know what, I dont care I think CoD games know are boring, and if Microsoft buys Activision yay for Microsoft, if not then so what. PS3 has to have more games than just Killzone and God of War holding them up. And microsoft would fix theirs by having Activision games be exclusive. If you PS gamer...(by the way i have a PS3 and i love it...DEMON SOULS FTW) disagree with my comment, if Sony bought it you would agree...and dont lie to yourself. Good for microsoft!

willie324932d ago

In the words of William Wallace, "FREEDOM!"

mt4932d ago

let is jump to the conclusion this won't happen Activision will never sell themselves to Microsoft. because one console doesn't mean moooar money.

TBONEJF4932d ago

you also forget to mention lots of PS3 owners that plays COD also. It would be a lot of B.S. if M$ buys ACTIVISION and if they force ACTIVISION not to release any COD on PS3 it would be bad business. and I don't think ACTIVISION doesn't need M$. Their top selling game is COD after all. Bad news here in the gaming industry

+ Show (18) more repliesLast reply 4931d ago
irepbtown4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

Modern Warfare 3

PS3:
Total Units

North America: 5.23m 43.3%
+ Europe: 4.51m 37.4%
+ Japan: 0.40m 3.3%
+ Rest of the World: 1.93m 16.0%
= Global 12.07m

Xbox 360:
Total Units

North America: 8.85m 62.1%
+ Europe: 3.95m 27.7%
+ Japan: 0.09m 0.6%
+ Rest of the World: 1.37m 9.6%
= Global 14.26m

Meaning if Microsoft make Call of Duty an exclusive, it will hit sales hard. But i'm sure they wont do that.
Anyway, I'll throw in the PC numbers too. I stole them from VGChartz.

PC:
Total Units

North America: 0.34m 23.4%
+ Europe: 0.86m 59.7%
+ Rest of the World: 0.24m 16.9%
= Global 1.43m

cstyle4933d ago

I bet sony is shitting bricks right now.

MrMister4933d ago

Trust me, COD might sell like crazy, but it's not worth getting one system over the other. Sony could definately survive this. 40 Awesome exclusives from the past 2 years shows us this. No way COD's popularity is going to last into the next generation.

cstyle4933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

"40 Awesome exclusives from the past 2 years shows us this."

It also shows s that not many people bought them. COD outsold all of them and is still the playstation 3s sales champ. Don't get it twisted. PS has a lot of exclusives but they only have like 2 heavy hitters. If you don't believe that then go and check their sales vs COD. In case you all forgot Activision is a publisher and not a developer so MS would own other IPs like prototype. I don't think they will buy but at least they can afford to. Sony sure as hell can't. Activision is worth about the same as sony right now.

Frankfurt4933d ago

Sony's exclusives don't sell.

Halo, Gears, Mario, COD, GTA do.

One Gears sells in a MONTH what a God of War or Uncharted takes months (or even years, in the case of God of War) to sell.

PS3's best-selling game is COD.

Irishguy954933d ago

Not for us, I'm afraid for Casuals, it definitely is. I know alot of people who buy nothing but cod every year. Including Ps3 owners.

PirateThom4933d ago

@Frakfurt

Gran Turismo doesn't sell?

Ravenor4933d ago

@Mistadonzie

Agree a million percent that CoD isn't worth purchasing a single console for.

Buuuuttttt the reality is, a lot of people would buy a Xbox specifically to play CoD. It's not like Madden or Fifa is going to be a PS exclusive, so it's not like a lot of those people have a huge incentive to not get the Xbox.

In all honesty I think the idea of MS buying Activision is pretty slim. I don't think these articles should show up until AFTER a confirmed sale. Wild speculation!

Godmars2904933d ago

Yea; we're in the "Sony Exclusives Don't Sell" zone.

And yet let Alan Wake sell less than Uncharted and hear screams of bloody murder and disservice.

To the coming disagrees: the issue's about quality and diversity kiddies. COD may sell in truckloads, but like Madden its the same game year after almost literal year. Its success is not going to promote attempts at a STG, flight sim or RPG. Worse, as its actually doing, it'll make other games and other game genres like it, replace creativity in favor of market research.

blue7_74933d ago

To you it might not be but then again the N4G audience is usually bashing COD so I doubt you guys are the COD audience. Every time COD comes out it does push hardware sales for all systems it releases on it's the most popular franchise this generation by miles. So yes I'm sure their would be millions of people who would buy one system over the other just for this game it's that popular.

COD popularity is going to stay the same for years to come maybe even a decade people have been saying this that it will stop selling yet every new COD outsells the last one and even if it doesn't outsell it they manage to post some impressive number 20 plus million very very few franchises can do that. So it's not like the sales are going to fall of a cliff all of a sudden the audience is there and they will stay for quite a while.

DA_SHREDDER4933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

Sony only has 2 heavy hitters?! I know 2 exclusive heavy hitters coming out this Christmas, let alone this whole gen. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be a hater, but this would only be a defeat to anyone who only plays COD. Fact is, everyone plays more than COD, sure COD sells more than everyone, but the market is way bigger than COD will ever be. If you start talking sales then Ill start throwing Wii Sports numbers around.

LOL, seriously though, I would love to see Microsoft be the hatchet that brings COD down. The reason why this won't ever happen is because Microsoft already knows COD, the way it is, will never be the end game to anything this gen.

FlyShootRaceSims4932d ago

Trust you? If there is ever a game that's a system seller, it'd be COD. I won't be surprised if PS3-exclusive-gamers will jump ship to the darkside just to get their COD fix...or play it on "PC" ;/

ShinMaster4932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

PS3 exclusives don't sell?

Uncharted 3 sold more than Skyward Sword, matching Gears 3.
GT5 sold more than 2 Forza games combined.

360's best selling game is also COD, you hypocrite
....no wait, I think it's Kinect Adventures LOL
__

@csstyle

Many fanboys don't realize this, but outside of the internet, A LOT of people are dual console owners. COD won't keep people from buying one system or the other.

CernaML4932d ago

It's pretty sad how Frankfurt actually believes what he spouts.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 4932d ago
Neko_Mega4933d ago

If Sony would be worry about COD being on Microsofts system only, why don't they make the add ons come to PS3 first? Because it isn't a big deal and they aren't worry.

You are just trolling, plus whats the point of spending that much money on making it only for your system. The real money is having it on the other consoles.

blue7_74933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

or maybe it's because they can't compete with Microsoft's money. MS could buy Sony if it wanted to Sony can't do the opposite.

It's been established by both Nintendo and Sony in interviews from the past that they can't compete with Microsoft's way of dealing with the industry throwing money at developers to get exclusive things. They instead rely on their relationships with developers to get exclusive things I remember reading an interview about Nintendo saying something like that and one with Sony as well just go google it.

Jazz41084932d ago (Edited 4932d ago )

When cod came out last year I tried to goto a gamestop 2 days later to get my reserve and they stil had lines to there door and the employees said this is nothing compared to the yesterday and there are 38 gamestop in my area in Las Vegas alone. I don't think ms will buy acti becaused they already make enough from them doing it how they do It now. Ms already owns 20 game studios and buying them would mean a lot of restructuring, letting studios and people go and combining them to make profitable and I don't thbink ms will want to shake up there studio when games are going away from retail titles to just hav cod as a exclusive. Ms will stay away from this as they are about maxing there profits and activison hasz some debt. Activision blizzard btw make lots of money on there own its just vivendi has accumulated a lot of debt outside activison and can't really afford to reorganize there profit house without loosing a ton so by selling activision bliz they pay off there existing debt. It would be a huge move in the gaming biz and I gurantee ms has its lawyers looking at it. On the motorola front if ms looses expect ms to appeal till the 360 is not relevent anymore to avoid paying them more then they are worth.

stonecold34932d ago

not really sony can take away the spiderman games since sony owns the right to the movies and second off sony should buy rockstar if not ea ?

NastyLeftHook04932d ago

cstyle, ever heard of gran turismo? selling astronomical numbers.

ever heard of the highest rated hd concole game? uncharted 2.

yeah you better check yourself.

Azazel4932d ago

Are you kidding me? Because of 1 game? *facepalm*

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4932d ago
shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

Less 12 year olds on ps3? 12 = $$$.
Also microsoft will ruin every game but CoD so no worry. Starcraft 3 will be kinect game. They will try to use that to push kinect into MLG.

Dante1124933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

Lol, you know something. I could really see MS messing the Starcraft franchise up if they did buy Activision (especially with their new "motion control gaming future" push). Oh the horror!

Edit: @ Pirate

Knowing MS, we would probably get a new CoD game every 6 months lol. It's all about the money baby.

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

They would alternate between game like this.

2013 Forza,Gears + CoD
2014 Halo+Cod
2015 Forza+Gear+Cod
2016 Gears spin off+ Halo remake+Cod

Also they would make WoW with xbla avatars for xbox 720 & window 8 and you would have to pay to get online then subscribe to WoW.

MS will basically do what they always did. Dumb down games and create more steam users.

MadLad4933d ago (Edited 4933d ago )

Will never agree with this.

Microsoft is headed by one one of the greatest humanitarians alive at the moment.

As far as the business side of things, would it be preferable to you if they were in the negatives, cutting jobs and wages, like the other gaming companies are?

Seems to me that Microsoft's Xbox division is being less greedy and more a . . . I don't know . . . a business? Something started in the hopes of bringing in profit, not bleeding money.

360GamerFG4932d ago

As opposed to SONY who are all about not making money for the last 4 years. They'd probably bankrupt them in 6 months.

PirateThom4933d ago

Part of the problem, and the reason it won't happen, is that Activision Blizzards value comes entirely from the fact they publish on every single platform under the sun. Microsoft, even if they did buy them, would probably run it separate from Microsoft Game Studios just to actually benefit from owning them in monetary terms. It's not like buying a single studio, it's buying a whole publisher and the lost revenue from multiple products would SEVERELY devalue them.

dgonza404932d ago

This definitely makes a lot of sense.

_-EDMIX-_4932d ago

this is the huge reason on why it won't happen.

Mind you MS has let go a bunch of studios in favor of building Kinect studios, if they wanted to have more studios...they wouldn't have let go so many.

Bungie anyone, Bioware anyone, Bizarre creations, Fusa (the list goes on) its not like MS hasn't been in position to buy studios before.

Show all comments (217)
50°

Kotick claims lawsuit objecting to MS-Activision deal was "tied to Embracer's desire to boost sales"

Former CEO describes lawsuit filed by Swedish pension fund as a "collateral attack" on Activision Blizzard.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
OpenGL1d 2h ago

Yeah, the Microsoft deal has DEFINITELY worked out for everyone.

galgor23h ago

Can this mother fucker just get lost already

PRIMORDUS22h ago

He belongs in here ⚰️, hopefully sooner than later.

MrDead7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Kotick Made $155 million from MS in the buyout, the little b*tch needs to stop whining. Thanks to this Microslop deal and massive industry consolidation thousands upon thousands of devs and other workers lost their livelihoods. This greedy piggie pervert needs shut up and f-off.

160°

Forza Horizon 5 PS5 port tops 5 million sales, securing $300m in additional sales for Xbox

Forza Horizon 5 has reportedly sold more than 5 million copies on PS5.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
ocelot075d ago

I happily contributed during the Christmas sale.

Eonjay4d ago

All are winners here. Especially Microsoft who actually has a audience now that will buy their games. While I do miss the competition from Microsoft as a consumer, it is nice getting those games without having to buy another console and get another subscription. I just wish they released proper physical games.

ocelot074d ago

Yup fully 100% agree with you. On one hand I'm sad the way Xbox as a platform as gone. On another hand as you said one console is all you need really now for majority of games.

Wish they did release this physically as well as age of empires, flight sim, age of mythology.

Lightning773d ago

Xbox guys still buy games. Gotta kill this narrative.

fr0sty3d ago

It's a hard narrative to kill when MS confirms it by having to reach out to other platforms in order to get sales.

Lightning773d ago

@Frosty as usual you make no sense. With your logic then PS needs PC since those games are on there and HD2, deathstranding on Xbox. They're reaching out for sales because console is no longer enough.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3d ago
Agent755d ago

More reason for Microsoft to ditch Xbox and release on PS and PC. Imagine if Nintendo stopped faffing on with consoles, their games would reach eye popping sales, but they love control and that's losing them millions or billions a year. Mario Kart 8 and World on PS5 and PC, what sales would they hit?

Sgt_Slaughter5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

This comment makes absolutely zero sense. Nintendo is never leaving the console industry as a manufacturer; they have the second highest selling system of all-time, and some of the highest attachment rate of any developer ever. The PS5 won't even touch Switch 1 sales, so why would Nintendo even entertain the idea of this? MK8D sold 70 MILLION UNITS on the Switch. That is the "eye popping sales" you're going on about, if anything Sony wants that for their games that they never get.

Agent754d ago

What you're saying is, if Nintendo ditched consoles, it wouldn't make a bigger killing from releasing all of its games on PlayStation and PC, maybe even Xbox if Microsoft grows a backbone? Mario Kart 8 and Breath of the Wild as examples, what sales would Nintendo hit on PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series X? Nintendo could still bang on with controllers, joycons and cams etc. to bulk up its profits. Nintendo has been holding back its fans for years now when it comes to tech. Last time it was up there was with the GameCube and that generation, it was the second most powerful console, Xbox being top in terms of tech, followed by PlayStation 2 then Dreamcast. Average tech holds back AAA games, the Switch 2 is apparently up there with PlayStation 4 tech. I agree that the Switch has pulled off some amazing games, although some games were Wii U ports. I understand that Nintendo will never leave the console industry, but it most definitely has missed the boat when it comes to maximising game profits. Nintendo has only been on top (not handhelds) with the NES, Super NES, Wii and Switch, but the Switch is a handheld console, Nintendo skipped that generation and didn't release a home console and that's also the case with the Switch 2. The Switch isn't anything new to a certain extent, as SEGA's Nomad and Sony's PSP could be connected to a TV. Some gamers can't accept that Nintendo pulled out of the home console market with the release of the Switch, comparing to sales of home consoles is a pointless exercise. I don't care about PC gaming, but I hope Microsoft ditches consoles for PC and PlayStation. Most gamers are fed up with all these consoles and game sales at an all-time low, gaming does need a single format. One tech, we all choose which brand we want to buy and that's it. It has never done the likes of VHS, DVD and Blu-ray any harm and someone mentioned on here a number of years ago, owning a Sony DVD player, you could only watch Sony produced movies and play Sony produced music CDs.

5d ago Replies(6)
DivineHand1255d ago

I agree. Nintendo is leaving billions on the table. If they left console gaming behind and let us say released a mainline Pokémon game on android and IOS, in addition to console and PC, I cannot imagine the amount of profit they would enjoy.

Modern phones are good enough to play most Nintendo switch games so if they made a mobile controller that can interface with android and IOS phones, they could port games like Mario Kart 8 to mobile phones and other consoles. I am sure they would be enjoying sales from both their own unique controllers and the game sales itself.

The only thing they stand to lose is the 30% cut from all software sales being released on their system. Perhaps they believe they can earn more from that vs sales of their own IPs on other platforms.

Agent754d ago

Mario Kart 8 apparently hit just under 70 million sales on Wii U and Switch, although that figure includes the game packaged with the console, so I'm not sure on single game sales (disc, card and download). No Nintendo console out there, I think Mario Kart 8 would've hit bigger sales when you add Android and IOS, which is a good point. Nintendo's games don't exactly need ground breaking tech, but if that was there with a single format, Nintendo could then keep up. Don't get me wrong, I love the Switch and Switch 2, but PS4 tech games going into 2026 and onwards, again, it's a limited console from Nintendo.

BehindTheRows5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Nintendo games already reach eye popping sales. In fact, neither PlayStation nor Nintendo really HAVE to put their games on other systems. Even Sony's PC releases don't sell anything big (outsold of outliers like Helldivers II).

That said, I agree about Microsoft with Xbox. Outside of being a gateway to Game Pass, they should drop the platform and cut their losses. Stick it out as a 3rd Party pub and make bank that way.

5d ago
Neonridr4d ago

so what.. just have PlayStation in the console space? Great news for innovation and pushing each other to be better.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
neutralgamer19925d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Yeah it makes way too much business sense for these games not to be on PS and PC. If it's 300 million Sony got 90 million from simply allowing the sale of the game. MS need to get the development house in order so these games can come out at the same time that's when you make real big money

5d ago
Eonjay4d ago

This is correct. There is a lost sale aspect by not being available day and date on PlayStation. Halo is day and date so everything else should be too. This may not be possible all the times but they are not served at all by taking the Forza 6 route. No one is buying and Xbox or getting GamePass to play the next Forza. When the realize this they will just enforce day and date for all games.

4d ago
Eonjay4d ago

Halo is coming out after FH6...

VenomUK4d ago

@Wommens @Potdy Keep creating those alt accounts!
The truth is Forza, Gears and Halo and Starfield and the WHOLE SLATE will be going to PlayStation.
Microsoft has sold more copies of Forza on PS5 then it did on Xbox Series S/X.
The RAM price rise could lead to the 'Xbox PC' being delayed - if that happens Microsoft might not release it at all.

Stop running defence for a trillion-dollar company that doesn't know you exist.

maximusprime_5d ago

The way I see it, most racing gamers prefer playing on Playstation. It has been so since PS1.

As I said before, that Forza Horizon 5 would do well on PS5. So I was right

Sgt_Slaughter5d ago

Racing games have primarily been an arcade + PC endeavor in-terms of popularity. GT and Forza pale in comparison to the decades of arcade/PC simulator racing games that defined the genre. iRacing, Assetto Corsa, Rfactor, NR2003, Automobilista, GTR 2/GT Legends, GPL, GP4, Daytona USA, Richard Burns Rally, SEGA Rally, Virtua Racing, etc..

Console games have only just started on the path to comparing to them, but even then, the physics on PC are unmatched.

BehindTheRows5d ago

Again you don't know what you're talking about. Daytona/SEGA Rally, as examples, never sold ANYWHERE NEAR what GT has and has never been as popular either (particularly in EU). Put out a new Daytona and GT8 and watch the latter absolutely dog walk it in sales. On top of that, most of those games are very different from one another. They can co-exist. If you want to go there, the highest selling "racing" series is Mario Kart. Hint: console. It hasn't been an Arcade + PC > console for a very long time.

badz1494d ago

all those games combined didn't sell as much as Gran Turismo

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80°

RAM Price Increases Could See Next-Generation Console Releases Delayed

Insider Gaming has learned that the ongoing price increases in RAM due to the rise in AI could delay the next generation of console releases.

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
17d ago
slate9117d ago

What is even the incentive of upgrading to the next-gen after this console generation we've had? Graphics are plateauing, prices at an all time high, studios skipping entire generations or simply releasing just one game for it...
Its a mess

Jin_Sakai17d ago

Been gaming all my life. This is the worst generation ever.

jznrpg17d ago

How do you gauge each generation? There has been a lot of really good games this gen. I only care about the games. First party hasn’t been the best but the generation isn’t over yet

DarXyde16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

jznrpg,

Thing is, every generation before this one has had something that defined console identity. Very little beyond bigger/more detailed games and performance modes are really there.

I feel the last generation that cared very much was gen 7; Capcom's darkest era, but I have to give them props for being really experimental at the time. We saw plenty of new games that still tried to do something new. Outside of Metaphor and Clair Obscur, this gen has been pretty forgettable if you ask me. I'm sure a lot of it is the corporatization of the industry and the creative talent has to keep making sequels and spiritual successors because the cost of development is out of control. But even then, plenty of these experiences are experiences we've had already. And the thing is. Switch 2 and PSVR2 could really be doing incredible things, but it's just not there. Xbox I just don't see the value or point anymore but that's just me.

anast16d ago

Why has is been the worst? I've been gaming all my life and this gen. has been one of the best.

Vits17d ago

Not to mention that just like this generation, the next one will also be shared between the current and next gen console at least for a couple of years. So the few titles that it will had, just like this one, will run on the console you already have.

franwex16d ago

We will be getting games on PS4, PS5, and PS6, haha.

Extermin8or3_15d ago

I think people have to remember the pandemic at start of this gen and how it effected game development. This next gen we will see the PS4 etc support dropped and truly see the full utilisation of SSD's improvements to ray and path tracing and the impact of AI upscaling etc will be where the biggest improvements will come from.

isarai_lee16d ago

My sentiments exactly, next gen has got to prove it's worth before i buy into it this time. This has been the weakest generation in my 30yrs of gaming. From the drawn out cross gen garbage, to so many games getting stuck in development hell or canceled, to the ABSURD levels of trend chasing to the point of self destruction, this gen just wasn't worth it

thorstein16d ago

I'm pretty sure I've already read a story that said Playstation is only halfway through this console's generation and that PS6 is a way off.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 15d ago
darthv7217d ago

Im good with next gen being pushed back to 27/28. It feels like this gen has only just begun.

Melankolis16d ago

Covid-19 held back everything at least 2 years worth. Although many people disliked, i think only UE5 can generally distinguish this gen from the previous one.

DarXyde16d ago

UE5 is definitely impressive, but I would also give the nod to the current version of Decima, at least the way it looks for Death Stranding 2.

CornholioX16d ago

That's normal how you think. Time goes faster when you're older and i bought my PS5 since day 1 release and now it's 5 years old. I don't mind a year delay to release PS6 in holiday 2028.

DoubleYourDose16d ago

Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us.

Eonjay16d ago

I was under the impression that next gen wasn't coming till 2027.z u9gsq

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 16d ago
victorMaje17d ago

Regardless of RAM price increases, I strongly believe there’s still a lot of potential left for the current gen. I’d be fine with at least 3 more years.

jznrpg17d ago

Whenever it comes out is fine with me. I still have backlog for the next year at least

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