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Microsoft and Activision Blizzard Conference Call

Today, following the news regarding the acquisition of Activision, Blizzard, and King, Microsoft hosted a livestreamed conference for investors.

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microsoft.com
UltimateRacer1586d ago

So this is how gaming dies, with thunder applause.

Jin_Sakai1586d ago

Because Activision was doing so well before the acquisition right? We’re going from Bobby Kotick to Phil Spencer leading the teams. Things are bound to be better.

darkrider1586d ago

Phil Spencer better.... Dude... Microsoft floped last gen, lost market share. Gp isn't growing like they were expecting, it's last again this gen. If it wasn't for this deal. 2022 you would get another forza... And maybe starfield for triple AAA games. Amazing year... This with more then 20 studios, before the Activision deal... Amazing work from Phil.

Jin_Sakai1586d ago Show
PapaBop1586d ago

This is how I see it. Activision have been going downhill for years now and are dragging Blizzard with them. I have more trust in Phil Spencer than I do with Kotick and can only hope we will see a return to form, a genuinely innovative COD and Blizzard actually being more like the Blizzard of old would be great for gamers.

ALMGNOON1586d ago

actually they were doing very well, just look up their revenue, the drama that happened was really messed up but that didn't effect their sales whatsoever.

darthv721586d ago

Funny thing is rider cant even tell you why MS flopped, only that they flopped when everything else points to the contrary. MS had a very lucrative 8th gen. Made lots of $$ (which is the point after all) and made some rather big moves to secure their future going forward.

I think rider means to say in his eyes, MS flopped. But that's on him because everyone else sees through their own eyes and can see the positive change Spencer has had on the XB division when compared to previous heads of XB.

In other words, rider is pissed to the heavens and back that sony didnt get this deal.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1586d ago
Kerppamaister1586d ago

Yeah, cause saving a failing company is bad for gaming. And protecting their employees from predatory behavior is bad. How dare they do that.

PitbullMonster1586d ago

Activision a failing company? You know that COD is one of the best selling gaming franchises since three console generations, right? Wtf are you smoking?

1586d ago
darkrider1586d ago

Lol. The biggest seller of the year each year... If Cod is falling what is forza and halo... Cod was the number one game sold worldwide for weeks, halo and forza not even a day... Activision was making billions with Cod...

Hofstaderman1586d ago

Hahaha. The predatory behavior came FROM Activision execs.

Jin_Sakai1586d ago (Edited 1586d ago )

“I bet if Sony had swooped in and made the purchase no one would be talking about them "protecting employees"

Protecting the employees and having a better work environment is good no matter what. Having all their games on Game Pass day 1 is also great. Why try to turn this into a negative?

fr0sty1586d ago (Edited 1586d ago )

COD was the top selling game of 2021 (with 60% of those sales coming from PlayStation platforms... another reason why it will never go exclusive)... Actvision is far from failing, even with Kotick's antics.

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1586d ago Replies(1)
MadLad1586d ago

Phil Spencer vs Bobby Kotick.
Yeah, I'm going with Phil.

1586d ago
MadLad1586d ago

@Spence

He's been hated for years. Even after the recent allegations, it looked like he was going nowhere.

MS grabs them, and he's now out as soon as ink hits paper.

1586d ago
darkrider1586d ago

Pay to win. It started when they got the first publisher. Something that shouldnt be allowed. Buying a studio is one thing buying a publisher is another.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1585d ago
swifty11586d ago (Edited 1586d ago )

Sony should put together a cinematic polished AAA first person shooter, maybe reboot Resistance or make SOCOM first person on PS5 (drool) or start up a new IP, PlayStation needs a great first party - first person shooter imo

Father__Merrin1586d ago

No need COD 2022 is on PS5, COD 2023 is on PS5 and you can bet it will be 2024 beyond.

The deals not finished untill 2023 anyway

Viljong1586d ago

Singe player triple A FPS game not multiplayer focused/only

porkChop1586d ago

From the Helghast perspective. Would provide a completely different narrative tone, visual style, combat feel, etc.

Flawlessmic1586d ago

Was not expecting this news today but doesnt bother me to much i have all 3 consoles so im set and ready to go.

Just blows my mind the money MS are spending even if it is peanuts to them, sony gave them a good spanking last gen so its good to see there not gonna let it happen twice.

In saying that i hope they leave the aqusitions here or if they do buy further then make it just individual devs not the whole publisher as this could get out of hand real quick.

Competition is good guys, we want sony and ms to do well so they keep each other honest which in turn means we as gamers get better games and deals.

Magog1586d ago

Buying two mega-publishers is already out of hand.

Flawlessmic1586d ago

@magog and spence

I agree with you both but those both done deals now so nothing we can do.

I just hope it kinda stops here or the very least just buy standalone devs

Sayai jin1586d ago

They already said they are not done making aqcuisitions yet.

1586d ago Replies(1)
Flawlessmic1586d ago (Edited 1586d ago )

@agnostic

There is purchasing devs, then there is what microsoft is doing.

I get what ur saying but sports and gaming are 2 different things.

As i hold all 3 im not someone who will lose out so it shouldnt bother me but im sorry anyone who isnt bothered by this purchase is an xbox fanboy who is happy to see the end of sony and nintendo.

Buying whole publishers is not good for gaming espcially when only one company has the money to buy there way out of pretty much anything.

Where does it stop if not now after this?

agnosticgamer1586d ago

Even with the purchase, Microsoft Gaming is still #3 behind Tencent and Sony. If MS is interested in being number one acquisitions will continue with developers/publishers that wish to sell until regulators reject the sale.

If a publisher wishes to sell they are up for grabs why wouldn't MS pursue when they are looking to increase the appeal of GamePass before Sony announces their similar GamePass competitor. It's kill or be killed in the Corporate world. Standing still and stagnating in the corporate world gets you nowhere but exactly where you are. If you want to move up you make moves. Not small moves but huge moves. If MS doesn't buy them Sony will, if Sony doesn't maybe Amazon buys them for Luna, Maybe Apple buys them to make the jump into gaming. If a company wants or is willing to sell and it makes business sense only a bad company CEO would pass because it would hurt the feelings of other game players.

The corporate world is vicious you either compete and make moves you get passed up.

Flawlessmic1586d ago

@agnostic

Lol ur acting like even after these aquisitions microsoft is in some sort of danger.

Even when u consider there real threats google and amazon, microsofts miles and leagues ahead of them right now. If and when the day comes when ms need to throw out there cheque book like they did because of the beating they took last gen then no worries.

But sure you can hide behind business talk still doesnt change the fact that if they continue this it will not be good for gaming or gamers

agnosticgamer1586d ago (Edited 1586d ago )

@Flawlessmic

Microsoft in Danger? No, not at all. They are nearly a 3 Trillion dollar company. They are miles ahead of Amazon and Apple in gaming. Yes, they are but if they lose the chance to acquire Activision/Blizzard and one of them makes the purchase it makes Microsoft Gaming Weaker as a result and Apple, Amazon or Sony that much more appealing. You have to stay ahead of the competition not behind it.

If MS oversteps its bounds the regulators will not approve the sale. You think MS is the only one eyeing developers/publishers you don't think Sony wants them as well? They will not sit idly by and if a developer/publisher wants to sell to Sony it will happen as well.

Of course, as you pointed out MS did lose market share last generation. They decided as a corporation they want to make up and surpass the market share that they lost. They want a net positive gain as high of a gain as they can get. They could either go all-in and make big changes or stick with the status quo and be okay with the lost market share or status quo of small marginal gains. Obviously, they want to beat Sony and go all-in on games, just like Sony wants to stay ahead of them.

It's a race to get devices and services into your living room and increase profits the game is played the same for all corporations. The real world doesn't treat people with kid gloves every kid doesn't get a trophy. You compete, stay strong and grow or you lose.

To Microsoft whether this is a good move for gaming overall isn't a question they care about. The question they care about is was this a legal acquisition that will clear regulator hurdles. With them being the #3 company behind Tencent and Sony it likely will clear the hurdles. Whether this forum likes it or not or whether the average gamer likes it or not this was a powerful move that will increase Xbox market share in the future especially when paired with their other recent acquisition of Zenimax entertainment. A very strong move for GamePass/GamePass PC and moving into Mobile with King.

mcstorm1586d ago

I think part of this is to do with how gaming is going.

If you look at the most played games on xbox and PlayStation you will find alot if them are F2P games its the same with mobile.

Gaming is having to adapt to this and I feel a game pass style is they way developers will go.

What Microsoft have seen in the past with this to (zune as the example) is that this only supported 1 type of device and the uptake was low.

If Microsoft can get cloud gaming/gamepass on every Internet connected device with games like Doom,Halo, Forza & Cod in one low cost package then its a big pull.

We all know most casual games are the ones who buy a max of 2 to 3 games a year but for a service that is easy to pay for and offers the 3 games they buy each year as well as others they would like to try, that's a big market to aim for.

How many people who have game pass say they have tried x game because it was on it and enjoyed it but if it was not in it they would have never tried it?

I would also love to see the console war as such to end in terms of xbox games can be played streaming on switch and ps5 but the other way round to.

The factor then would be the best version of the game is the console version abit like how xbox x is is sold now.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1586d ago
YourMommySpoils1585d ago

Let us not forget, Sony has over a dozen better studios, than what Microsoft already bought and faded away. Until Microsoft wants to buy those too, we're still fine.

70°

Microsoft Gaming Revenue Drops 7% Year-on-Year, Content and Services Down 5%, Xbox Hardware Down 33%

Microsoft announced its financial results for Q3 of fiscal year 2026, including an update on its gaming Xbox business and more.

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simulationdaily.com
Jin_Sakai25d ago (Edited 25d ago )

Not looking good. Hopefully Asha Sharma is able to turn Phil’s disaster around.

dveio24d ago

To me it's still quite remarkable how they can cash-in 5.3bn in revenue in a single quarter, since their hardware is basically dead.

Jingsing24d ago

The stock mark is what makes Microsoft remarkable, They have convinced every institutional and retail investor to just keep piling money into them. Like many big tech giants they are just a big growing pyramid scheme. As long as people keep dropping money into ETF's that cover the market Microsoft will always be liquid. At the same time it is completely stifling innovation and competition. People need to start being more discreet in how they invest their money as it's killing the system.

Tanktopmaster9224d ago

Once they re-evaluate exclusive all will be fine….

S2Killinit24d ago

Riiiiight because people will just flock back to them for one or two games per year.

Jingsing24d ago

15+ years of bad performance is what they call irreparable in business. It is time for them to sell off the assets and get out of entertainment.

Tanktopmaster9224d ago

These declines are on the back of extra revenue received from releasing games like Forza horizon 5 on PlayStation. So I’m being sarcastic here when I said they should go back to exclusives. Killing off a revenue stream from Ps5 sales will only make things worse

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50°

Spiders Studio, Developers of GreedFall: The Dying World, Announce Liquidation of the Company

Spiders: "We're going to cut straight to the chase so you're not left wondering: After a long period without clear answers, we have received confirmation that Spiders is being liquidated.

What does it mean? This means the company as a whole no longer exists. We'll cease our functions immediately. The planned DLC will release via Nacon, and then-- well, that's it.

We're sorry that it's come to this and would like to thank each and every one of you for your support over the years.

If you have any questions or run into issues with your games, please contact Nacon directly as we'll no longer be able to reply."

60°

Take-Two CEO Once Again Side Steps Grand Theft Auto 6 Price Point

Strauss Zelnick says price of GTA 6 is being carefully considered and that Rockstar is focused on "making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth."

Kuma25d ago

If GTA 6 abandons everything that made GTA 5 great, it will crash and burn right out of the gate. GTA 5 was funny and not at all PC. My worry is that they will cave to the PC crowd and ruin the vibes.

Eonjay25d ago

They got freaking BBLs twerking on the top of trucks for the gram, the freaking Flordia joker, and dude running down the stree in their undies and you are worried about it being 'too PC'? The internet has runied gamers. It doesn't matter how non-PC they make the game, you will all listen to the grifters telling you not to believe your lying eyes lol.

gigoran825d ago

"Rockstar Games’ co-founder and former VP of Development Jamie King said he envisions GTA 6 as a game that’s “maybe not quite as edgy or quite as funny” as its satirical predecessors."

oh yeah, totally internet grifters spreading rumors...

blacktiger25d ago

That's part of the plan, they destroyed you but they need to destroy the shareholders? Only 1 shre holder is the true elite that don't care

1nsomniac25d ago (Edited 25d ago )

Meh.., if it’s above £55 I ain’t buying it.

Rockstar are genuinely not half the company they used to be. I was a die hard GTA fan I’ve purchased every game and expansion and spin off day 1.

My opinion of GTA6 is that I can take it or leave it. Not bothered. They burnt too many bridges.

DaReapa25d ago (Edited 25d ago )

So they're actually leaving the door open for an L.A. Noire sequel? Nice!

VaNdAl25d ago (Edited 25d ago )

He should just come out and say it already it's getting stupid it's going to be a 100 bucks $200 for the special edition🤡🤡; 29315;🤣♿

Storm2325d ago

I won't be getting this game until I can get it for $70. SHoot, I could wait for it to be even lower. I don't need the game that badly as my backlog is still huge and I am enjoying playing other things.

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