During the last generation of video games, Electronic Arts Games was lambasted for their business practices. Such practices included releasing what was basically the same game every year (their yearly sports series) and shutting down competition essentially trying to monopolize as much as possible. This generation it’s really changed for EA. They still release their yearly cash cow; however, they’ve been at work releasing new and innovative IPs such as Mirror’s Edge and Dead Space. With EA turned “good” someone else had to take their mantle and that someone is Activision.
Most of the controversy surrounding Activision this gen has been brought upon them by their CEO, Robert Kotick. It all began with their claim that that Activision doesn’t want games unless they can “exploit them.” Then came Robert Kotick’s infamous threat against Sony to cut support on the PS3 if they failed to lower the price-point and sell more consoles.
That doesn’t seem too bad, right? Well, it get’s worse. After threatening to cut support, they turn around and, guess what, they raise their prices in the UK. From 49 to 55 pounds. If this wasn’t enough they decided to price the P.C. version of Modern Warfare 2 the same as the console version. Finally, Robert Kotick recently said he “would like to raise price even more if he could.” Apparently it was just a joke, but I don’t think he was joking at all. If this guy could raise prices, trust me, he would.
So, how is this a threat to us: the average gamer? If Modern Warfare 2 still sells as much as it’s predecessors even at a higher price point other game publishers will notice people are willing to pay more for games. Last gen the standard was $50, this gen it’s $60, and if Activision succeeds could the new standard be perhaps $70? Maybe more? Activision is testing consumers to see just how much their willing to pay and I very much recommend that you do not buy Modern Warfare 2 at this higher price point. Wait a little bit to buy it second hand or just don’t buy it all. Don’t support Activision’s greediness. While they are allowed to do as they please with their products it is us, the consumers, who decided if their product succeed or fail.
I never thought I’d say this but Activision has sunk beneath EA. They’re greedy and they don’t care about games or gamers. They don’t even hide it. They’re the definition of hypocrites asking Sony to lower their prices while raising their own. These types of companies shouldn’t be supported by anyone and you should know: if you buy Activision’s games you’re just hurting yourself in the long run.
Microsoft announced its financial results for Q3 of fiscal year 2026, including an update on its gaming Xbox business and more.
Not looking good. Hopefully Asha Sharma is able to turn Phil’s disaster around.
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.
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.
Riiiiight because people will just flock back to them for one or two games per year.
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.
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
The charity event will be streamed live from Gamescom in August.
Thanks to the slip-up of an artist working on the title, we now have more evidence that a new Injustice game is in the works.
Stop crying. From 50 to 55 pounds?
We pay 65 Euro for a game already for years.
55.00 GBP
=
64.3842 EUR
Jees, PS3 poor tards these days.
Great article.
Pretty much sums up my frustrations i put across in my YouTube video that went front page on N4G at the weekend.
youtube.com/wedotech
Keep em coming.
I'm just pissed at Activision for getting delusions of grandeur.Seriously these guys are pushing my buttons and disrespecting gamers everywhere
We'll if they jack the price up they might as well raise it above 100 dollars, that way we dont get no kiddies in the game. :)
Games for adults to be played only by adults.
I was meaning to write a piece similar to this..but don't really need to anymore...
The main thing that got me was activision calling out the ps3...if they care so much about pushing ps3's make exclusives or extra content on the ps3. There are millions of ps3 gamers world wide anyways. It is not like the ps3 is the dreamcast redone. I have all three consoles and play each for different reasons.
-Activision in the past has given me some great titles...but their greed is showing...look at the whole Brutal Legends fiasco
http://www.gamepro.com/arti...
EA may have to deal with robbing the world of NFL 2k6- present but Activision is soiling their own name in 2009.