Support NeoGAF

[Gavon West]

Interested doesn't mean 100% buy. They're could just looking into what the selling of WB entails.

MS 172B and Sony's 30B are both spending money. What do you mean don't mention Sony. How convenient for your argument. Haha.

Or should i bring up something more directly gaming related that would affect who buys WB? Especially is regards to audience purchasing power?

PSN Alone Generated More Revenue Than the Entirety of Nintendo in 2018

Online network also bigger than Microsoft's entire gaming division

www.pushsquare.com

That's a big potential audience being cut off if MS buys WB. Which i'm sure things like this are definitely being looked into with WB possibly being up for sale. A 3rd party publisher would be a better buyer in that case.


Or should i not mention this either?

No one said 100% buy. Now you're just moving goal posts broski.

And they would lose a lot of PS gamers if their noteworthy, WB license games went Xbox exclusive. But Gamepass and the Xbox community would grow exponentially. That's the point.

 

[Valentino]

Eugh, I'd rather not see Harry Potter or Batman under the Microsoft brand

 

[quest]

Sony wont allow GP on their system. You can let that one go. Outside of that, PC, Steam and Xcloud pretty much gives them alot of real estate to cover. I agree that if MS buy's these studios a good majority of them would be to bolster their ecosystem exclusively. People may not like the thought but its truth.

Exactly this would be a move to get gamepass new exclusive content period. Like Netflix spending billions in new content. There would be no point to board these studios to keep them multiplatform and have to manage them. You could still play them on PC so it is not land locked like if Sony brought them.

 

[eastwood333]

You can disagree through your green tinted lenses all you want, the numbers still don't add up. You're viewing this as a fan, I'm looking at it objectively as a corporate finance professional.

I do disagree and value my opinion over yours. And have a college degree in management.
Who do you work for?

MS wants a piece of that sony marketshare. You don't get it by putting everything on it, including system sellers like a Rocksteady game. You get people buying into your products/ecosystem by having products you can't get on the competitors platform. There are a few exceptions like Minecraft, however.

Xbox/PC/Steam/Xcloud are already plenty of platforms for these games to be on.

 

[SaucyJack]

No one said 100% buy. Now you're just moving goal posts broski.

And they would lose a lot of PS gamers if their noteworthy, WB license games went Xbox exclusive. But Gamepass and the Xbox community would grow exponentially. That's the point.

Exponentially? How?

 

[SaucyJack]

Who do you work for?

A multinational Investment Bank.

 

[Kagey K]

Eugh, I'd rather not see Harry Potter or Batman under the Microsoft brand

If AT&T is determined to sell to someone, MS is the best outcome out of the 4 publishers that have supposedly thrown their hat in the ring.

 

[Gavon West]

You can disagree through your green tinted lenses all you want, the numbers still don't add up. You're viewing this as a fan, I'm looking at it objectively as a corporate finance professional.

If you really are looking at it from a corporate financial position, then you cant argue that this type of acquisition is EXACTLY that. Thats not looking at things from a green tinted perspective at all. Those are just facts.

The studios and licenses from this kind of acquisition would pretty much guarantee Xbox wins a huge majority of the mind share back with gamers next gen. It would take a few years to recoup the investment but something like this is a long game any way.

 

[MMaRsu]

God I hope they get it, the other options are so much worse

 

[SaucyJack]

If you really are looking at it from a corporate financial position, then you cant argue that this type of acquisition is EXACTLY that. Thats not looking at things from a green tinted perspective at all. Those are just facts.

The studios and licenses from this kind of acquisition would pretty much guarantee Xbox wins a huge majority of the mind share back with gamers next gen. It would take a few years to recoup the investment but something like this is a long game any way.

Nonsense.

Show your workings.

 

[Javthusiast]

God I hope they get it, the other options are so much worse

Oh come on, you don't wanna buy batman or suicide squad ultimate team booster packs? xD

 

[quest]

Exponentially? How?

Not exponentially but i could see a ton of potential with lego games. Pump them out like crazy with lockheart and be the family with younger kids console with a ton of lego games on gamepass it keep parents subscribed. I could see potential for many millions of sales like that.

 

[eastwood333]

Exponentially? How?

By offering significantly more exclusive games/value.

 

[SaucyJack]

Not exponentially but i could see a ton of potential with lego games. Pump them out like crazy with lockheart and be the family with younger kids console with a ton of lego games on gamepass it keep parents subscribed. I could see potential for many millions of sales like that.

WB does not own the LEGO license. The LEGO Group does.

 

[Andodalf]

Not exponentially but i could see a ton of potential with lego games. Pump them out like crazy with lockheart and be the family with younger kids console with a ton of lego games on gamepass it keep parents subscribed. I could see potential for many millions of sales like that.

I would love to see TT have a bit bigger budget. Their games are great but they clearly don’t spend much money on stuff like their menus and settings. Makes the games feel outdated

WB does not own the LEGO license. The LEGO Group does.

LEGO made its own games till LEGO as a whole nearly went under in the early 00s, and then the game division was scrapped and TT was formed from most of the old employees. I doubt LEGO would ever deny TT the ability to make LEGO games.

 

[Gavon West]

Exponentially? How?

Game Pass!

You seriously dont see how huge of an impact having Batman, MK, Lego, LotR or even HP on the Xbox ecosystem could have on gaining more mind share in the gaming community, world wide, for MS? Like, really? Really?? And these are just the licenses, not the talent associated with a purchase like this. This is a juggernaut deal to be sure. It would automatically put XGS a step above the competition. IF.......this happens.

 

[SaucyJack]

By offering significantly more exclusive games/value.

Do you understand what "exponential" growth is?

Spoiler

So if Gamepass has currently 10 million subscribers then what is it going to get to after growing exponentially? 50/100 million?

If they were to even double their Gamepass subs the deal would be so far under water that it would be remarkable.

 

[Gavon West]

By offering significantly more exclusive games/value.

On Gamepass, day one and Xcloud, no less. If they pick this up its a juggernaut move for sure.

 

[SaucyJack]

Game Pass!

You seriously dont see how huge of an impact having Batman, MK, Lego, LotR or even HP on the Xbox ecosystem could have on gaining more mind share in the gaming community, world wide, for MS? Like, really? Really?? And these are just the licenses, not the talent associated with a purchase like this. This is a juggernaut deal to be sure. It would automatically put XGS a step above the competition. IF.......this happens.

Game pass isn't an answer. How is it going to grow exponentially? As per my earlier post, do you even know what exponential means?

And you can scratch LEGO, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings from your list, WB only licenses those from the owner.

 

[Gavon West]

Do you understand what "exponential" growth is?

Spoiler

So if Gamepass has currently 10 million subscribers then what is it going to get to after growing exponentially? 50/100 million?

Bruh....TF? Lol.

I already said this would be a long game. But Gamepass and the Xbox ecosystem would see a huge surge in subscribers and content. And that's not even mentioning the studios they've already bought and the couple others we'll hear about in a couple of weeks.

 

[SaucyJack]

Bruh....TF? Lol.

I already said this would be a long game. But Gamepass and the Xbox ecosystem would see a huge surge in subscribers and content. And that's not even mentioning the studios they've already bought and the couple others we'll hear about in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for confirming that you have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[SaucyJack]

I would love to see TT have a bit bigger budget. Their games are great but they clearly don’t spend much money on stuff like their menus and settings. Makes the games feel outdated




LEGO made its own games till LEGO as a whole nearly went under in the early 00s, and then the game division was scrapped and TT was formed from most of the old employees. I doubt LEGO would ever deny TT the ability to make LEGO games.

I have no doubt that The LEGO Group wouldn't hesitate for a second to pull the license if they felt their brand and overall sales was in any way diminished by, say, no longer being multi-platform.

 

[Gavon West]

Game pass isn't an answer. How is it going to grow exponentially? As per my earlier post, do you even know what exponential means?

And you can scratch LEGO, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings from your list, WB only licenses those from the owner.

Game pass isnt an answer. You're right. My bad. its THE ANSWER.

Its no secret MS is pushing heavy on Gamepass to become the Netflix of gaming. There's a reason why they still invest in consoles, PC and next gen, Xcloud. The end game is Game pass. They want subs from all over the world broski. Think on this....

Batman on GP, day one. MK on GP, day one. Harry Potter on GP, day one. Lego (for the kiddos) on GP, day one. LotR on GP, day one. Im not even including all these games not only being day one, but on Xcloud WITH Gamepass next gen. They already confirmed Xcloud wil be rolled into GP not long ago.

If MS is already at 10 million + now, what do you think will happen when these games are released in the ecosystem? The revenue they'll make from this (long term) will be madness.

If the asking price for this deal is $4 billion, you can bet your ass there's - at the very least - a multi year deal in place to use the licenses associated with this buy, other wise it isnt worth it. They can buy all the studio for under 2 billion alone.

 

[MilkyJoe]

That's stupid. Just like Sony, MS would buy the studios to bolster there own products and ecosystem. That's like saying Sony buying Insomniac to only make games for the PS5 is not business. Or locking Spidermand to PS only is not business.Of course it's business. MS wants to entice people to buy there products and services.

MS wants to build up its library on Gamepass by having heavy hitters releasing every few months or so to keep people engaged and subscribed on it. But also to buy into Xbox/PC and their ecosystem.

My belief is that any future games made by these studios would be Xbox/PC exclusive and the only way to play them on a PS5 is via Gamepass. That way MS has their platform/ecosystem on PS5.

Hello minecraft

 

[quest]

Hello minecraft

That was already multiplatform platform and management of a 1 mid size studio that prints money. Versus management of 4-5 large studios that may or may not make a lot of money depending on licensing costs a lot of risk and mananagement time sunk for little gain as a multiplatform purchase. As a gamepass only purchase the risk is still high but the pay off is much higher and all internal and it will help push what the CEO loves azure and subscriptions. This makes no sense for Microsoft to purchase to keep as multiplatform. Might as well let ea have it they still get the games.

 

[MilkyJoe]

That was already multiplatform platform and management of a 1 mid size studio that prints money. Versus management of 4-5 large studios that may or may not make a lot of money depending on licensing costs a lot of risk and mananagement time sunk for little gain as a multiplatform purchase. As a gamepass only purchase the risk is still high but the pay off is much higher and all internal and it will help push what the CEO loves azure and subscriptions. This makes no sense for Microsoft to purchase to keep as multiplatform. Might as well let ea have it they still get the games.

Batman

 

[On Demand]

No one said 100% buy. Now you're just moving goal posts broski.

And they would lose a lot of PS gamers if their noteworthy, WB license games went Xbox exclusive. But Gamepass and the Xbox community would grow exponentially. That's the point.

Thread is about MS buying WB. The only goalpost moving is you.

And LOL at gamepass making up for the huge loss of the PS platform. Gamepass current growth is from .99 cent deals. Not any one major software title. It would not grow like you think it would because of WB license games. Half the audience lost would not flock to gamepass.

 

[CatLady]

No one said 100% buy. Now you're just moving goal posts broski.

And they would lose a lot of PS gamers if their noteworthy, WB license games went Xbox exclusive. But Gamepass and the Xbox community would grow exponentially. That's the point.

I think if they went exclusive with the noteworthy WB IPs, there is a good chance they would gain a lot of PS only players in the MS ecosystem; either on PC or Xbox.

 

[plip.plop]

AT&T owns DC. It's a possibility that they give the buyer exclusive rights to the DC universe. I have no idea about the Other IP's though.

 

[replicant-]

You can disagree through your green tinted lenses all you want, the numbers still don't add up. You're viewing this as a fan, I'm looking at it objectively as a corporate finance professional.

Out of interest, what is a corporate finance professional?

I mean a cashier at Costco could be spinned as being a sales professional within an international trading corporation.

 

[eastwood333]

Hello minecraft

And? Sony is putting Horizon Zero Dawn, Death Stranding, on PC. Does that mean those are coming to Xbox too? Sony is putting MLB The Show on Xbox. Does that mean TLOU2 and other 1st party are coming to Xbox?

There's this saying "exceptions don't make the rule"

 

[eastwood333]

A multinational Investment Bank.

What a bank teller at the local Chase Bank?

 

[Dabaus]

I’m Going to call Microsoft’s bluff here and say they are not actually interested in buying wb gaming division, this is for headlines and more false hope to their dwindling Audience. Their sales and revenue drop 50-75 percent consecutively every quarter, maybe it’s up a little because of COVID but so is Sony and Nintendo’s as well. I bet interest for their next gen system have nose dived, especially after the Ps5 reveal so they throw this carrot on the stick out there to keep hope alive until the the next ea or sega acquisition rumor pops up again. Rinse repeat.

 

[eastwood333]

I think if they went exclusive with the noteworthy WB IPs, there is a good chance they would gain a lot of PS only players in the MS ecosystem; either on PC or Xbox.

Yup, which would be the whole point of bolstering 1st party. Same reason Sony acquire Insomniac and puts Spiderman exclusively on PS4, which then went to sell over 10 million copies and who knows how many systems that single game sold for Sony.

There seems to be a double standard here. Sony fans want to scream "Xbox has no games". But when MS does significantly invest in studios, it's "but that makes no sense limiting it to only Xbox". "It would sell more being multiplatform!" My response is, well so would Spiderman. So would TLOU2. So would GoS or GOW.

 

[eastwood333]

I’m Going to call Microsoft’s bluff here and say they are not actually interested in buying wb gaming division, this is for headlines and more false hope to their dwindling Audience. Their sales and revenue drop 50-75 percent consecutively every quarter, maybe it’s up a little because of COVID but so is Sony and Nintendo’s as well. I bet interest for their next gen system have nose dived, especially after the Ps5 reveal so they throw this carrot on the stick out there to keep hope alive until the the next ea or sega acquisition rumor pops up again.

That's nothing but sheer sony fanboy, butthurt rhetoric.

MS has been significantly investing in studios (7 in the last few years) because they're investing big in the gaming sector.

 

[eastwood333]

Batman

Spiderman

 

[Gravemind]

Damn. That would be a big dick move.

Hope it happens.

 

[johnjohn]

I’m Going to call Microsoft’s bluff here and say they are not actually interested in buying wb gaming division, this is for headlines and more false hope to their dwindling Audience. Their sales and revenue drop 50-75 percent consecutively every quarter, maybe it’s up a little because of COVID but so is Sony and Nintendo’s as well. I bet interest for their next gen system have nose dived, especially after the Ps5 reveal so they throw this carrot on the stick out there to keep hope alive until the the next ea or sega acquisition rumor pops up again. Rinse repeat.

The salt lol.

 

[Hosam6xavi]

Who owns the IPs ? WB or the studios ?

If the studios without the IPs it's not worth it for Microsoft

 

[eastwood333]

Who owns the IPs ? WB or the studios ?

If the studios without the IPs it's not worth it for Microsoft

I'd assume a deal of this magnitude would include a long term licensing deal. If not, then i'm sure the price would much lower than the 4 billion mark.

 

[Dthomp]

Man I love the Batman games, but when on earth did anything coming out of WB here get classified as "system sellers"? This is just hype, enjoy it for what it is.

 

[oldergamer]

The studios don't own it no. Its always WB. They might pay a small internal license so it factors into cost

 

[oldergamer]

I'd be down with a new buffy game, or lollipop chainsaw

 

[VincentMatts]

Man I love the Batman games, but when on earth did anything coming out of WB here get classified as "system sellers"? This is just hype, enjoy it for what it is.

Batman games are absolutely system sellers. Some of the best games made. Hell, if it wasnt for batman, spiderman wouldnt be what it was.

 

[The Alien]

I have no doubt that The LEGO Group wouldn't hesitate for a second to pull the license if they felt their brand and overall sales was in any way diminished by, say, no longer being multi-platform.

Let's be honest lego needs those licences probably more than those licenses need Lego.

The top sellers for all things Lego are licensed properties (Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, Jurassic, etc.). My kids like City and Elves just fine, but that shit ain't moving anything close to the same quantity of units as all that licences stuff.

 

[John254]

Because the studios are worth shit

I’m Going to call Microsoft’s bluff here and say they are not actually interested in buying wb gaming division, this is for headlines and more false hope to their dwindling Audience. Their sales and revenue drop 50-75 percent consecutively every quarter, maybe it’s up a little because of COVID but so is Sony and Nintendo’s as well. I bet interest for their next gen system have nose dived, especially after the Ps5 reveal so they throw this carrot on the stick out there to keep hope alive until the the next ea or sega acquisition rumor pops up again. Rinse repeat.

I don't think even you believe bullshit that you wrote

 

[eastwood333]

Man I love the Batman games, but when on earth did anything coming out of WB here get classified as "system sellers"? This is just hype, enjoy it for what it is.

They are definitely system sellers and some of the highest rated games in the industry. They're spread across multiple platforms. But if say MS did acquire Rocksteady/WB Montreal to make new Batman/Superman games, or NetherRealm making Mortal Kombat, those games would be system sellers for Xbox. Which is the whole point in MS acquiring these studios. To entice people to buy an Xbox/Gamepasss/XCloud etc....

 

[Kadve]

I don't even see why Warner would be interested in selling. Gaming has been quite profitable for them in the past.

 

[eastwood333]

I don't even see why Warner would be interested in selling. Gaming has been quite profitable for them in the past.

they're apparently over 100 billion in debt after making some very bad acquisitions that didn't pan out

 

[quest]

don't think even you believe bullshit that you wrote

If you think those studios are worth 4 billion with out a dc licensing deal i have a bridge to sell you. That could buy 16 insomniac type deals only rocksteady is on that level they only do 1 type of game. This is a1 1.0 - 1.5 billion dollar deal without a DC type license deal. Im probably over valuing studio type IPs oh well but far shy of 4 billion