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[A.Romero]

Fair and valid points. Though i slightly disagree with supporting a competitors platform. You're correct in the traditional sense of it, but if the option is £70 for one game or £70 quid for a years worth of 100's of games, including day one releases of AAA games, i don't see it as direct as 'supporting the competition'.

MS has more to lose by not offering these games on every platform, VS keeping it behind a gamepass sub

Well, the thing is that if anyone really wants to experience Elder Scrolls or whatever they need to either:

- Pay for Xcloud
- Acquire a Microsoft console and sign up for GP/get the game
- Acquire a gaming PC (with a Windows license) and sign up for GP/get the game

Microsoft I think is betting for those games to be enticing enough to push people towards their platforms. If people can still access that experience from their competitors, they'd be missing a possible hook.

If they sell the games all the same on all platforms (Bethesda's usual), there is no support for their long term strategy. I mean, yes, they'll get the percentage from the game sale but that's missing an opportunity for having someone signing up for their service (with a potential of a long time sub, specially if it requires getting a console). In the long term, it still makes sense to hook people into their ecosystem over simply getting $40,$50 or whatever profit margin they might get from the games themselves.

If Microsoft's objective was making a quick buck, they could have started publishing their games on all platforms a long time ago.

 

[Bog]

It’ll be funny when they wait to announce that all the Bethesda shit is still coming to PS5 just so idiots rush out and preorder Xboxes this week.

 

[Stuart360]

Skyrim was a long time ago and Bethesda have really screwed up with likes of Fallout 76 since then. Wolfenstein is not a big seller and same for Dishonored, Prey sold really poorly. The likes of Fallout are still huge names in the industry, but Microsoft definitely overpaid here imo.

Skyrim continues to sell, just look at the Steam charts. And their are a lot more games than i mentioned, dont forget they are buying the ip's as well, not just the stdios.

 

[Reindeer]

You have to ascribe value to intellectual property. Bethesda has Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, Wolfenstein, Quake, etc. + idTech's proprietary game engines (which they used to license across the industry like the Call of Duty series, etc.)).

AFAIK, Insomniac only had Ratchet & Clank as IP.

Insomniac didn't even have Ratchet, it belongs to Sony. I get your point, but I think 4-5 billion makes more sense. Disney purchased Lucasfilsm for 4bn.

 

[massivekettle]

I don't like the gamepass model and I don't like the Xbox controller and I have a lot of time and money invested in friends and trophies and a massive library on PlayStation. I also don't want two boxes I like having one

Why do you not like the GamePass model, out of curiosity?

 

[TheAssist]

Wild. I believe this is the largest acquisition in the history of video games. Not bad for a Tuesday morning, I suppose.

On topic: it doesn't change the immediate future - going into launch, Xbox still has a games drought, and its required by law to honour all previous contracts, so exclusives like Deathloop remain exclusive. But... this? This flips the tea table like nothing before it. A deal this big would require corporate to sign off on - Satya Nadella would've had to OK this. Which means Microsoft know this turns a profit for their gaming division. Microsoft are doubling down on Xbox and playing the long game. This is OG Xbox levels of commitment.

Personal thoughts: Sony have their patented cinematic third person action games, and they have the best in the world at making those games. But, I can only play so many cinematic third person action games before I just don't care. Microsoft now have, in no particular order, the best first person shooters ever made, world class racers, world class western RPGs - basically all of them, at this point, platformers, RTS games, MMOs, GaaS, third person action games, horror games, and a raft of smaller and experimental titles, not to mention one offs like Flight Simulator. With Microsoft's lineup... I'm not sure I'll have a reason to turn off my Xbox unless its to turn on my PC.

Fuck me. This really is massive.

Thats another thing I'm wondering. At what point do other publishers get frightened by this?
If MS just goes around and basically says gamepass is all you need, why would Ubi, or activision or anyone want to sell games on their platform. Sure as long as it makes them enough money they will. Im just curious to see if the xbox really becomes a gamepass machine. Meaning that people who have gamepass will play (pay) less games outside of the MS ecosystem. Or if its just another subscription for them, but they more or less buy the same amount of games as usual. Which would be weird because money aint infinite. Somebody's gonna lose.
Doesnt have to be the videogames industry though. People could save somewhere else. Who knows, maybe other services will lose subs, or people go out less for dinner or something.

Its just something to think about. Will be very interesting to follow the next few years.

 

[bender]

Pretty nuts. It's probably the first studio they've acquired that I think can move the needle because of TES/Doom/Fallout.

 

[VincentMatts]

Does anyone feel like Microsoft overpaid here? I mean it's 8 studios and works out about a billion for each studio, that's pretty expensive imo. Just for comparison, Sony bought Insomniac for $225 million.

Is it a lot, but they also have a ton of very popular IPs. Some of the biggest and all created by them. Insomniac dont have that level of original IPs.

Also Doom for example has movies, etc. So its not as simple.

 

[massivekettle]

Insomniac didn't even have Ratchet, it belongs to Sony. I get that your point, but I think 4-5 billion makes more sense.

Are you sure? I thought Insomniac owned the IP on Ratchet (but so happens the game were exclusive to PS)? Then, this is arguably a very expensive purchase for Sony - effectively buying labour for $225m.

 

[Roronoa Zoro]

Why do you not like the GamePass model, out of curiosity?

I think it makes for cheap games just to fill content in the long run. Like how most netflix stuff is just to have content. It makes it so it's less about quality and more about quantity on your service rather than enticing people to pay for each individual product and having to have them get by on their own merits. The vast majority of netflix originals seems made for a budget and just to fill time and I think that's what gamepass leads to

 

[Ash Sparrow]

I don't like the gamepass model and I don't like the Xbox controller and I have a lot of time and money invested in friends and trophies and a massive library on PlayStation. I also don't want two boxes I like having one

Okay I get that, thats sort of how I am with Xbox, all my family and friends have been on Live for years. I just got a playstation 4 and it feels a bit alien to me. I kinda wish I had played more Playstation over the years.

 

[TheAssist]

and you not accounting for new subscribers on there. so gamepass will stay at 15 mill for the next 4 years? it will grow and grow with this

read again plz

 

[NullZ3r0]

Well its one way to succeed. When you cant ro it on your own merits you can always write a check.

Sony didn't buy the studios they have? This is a dumb statement.

 

[ruvikx]

'
No way in hell they don't put out TES6 on PS5. They would be leaving tens of millions of profit on the table.

Do console manufacturers often release their own titles on rival hardware? I don't think so. I mean sh*t, maybe Sony should release some of its own (like the upcoming Demon Souls remake...) on Xbox to get those extra sales? I don't think so either.

I've seen these coping posts popup all over the internet this evening & it's a bit sad (Minecraft is not Fallout, Doom or TESVI). Face facts: The Elder Scrolls 6 is an Xbox/PC title now. For me, it's a fun throwback to the days when I needed to get several consoles to enjoy the best games (like in the late 2000's when I had an Xbox 360 for Mass Effect, Halo + fable, and a ps3 for Killzone 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance & Uncharted). Good times.

 

[Slings and Arrows]

Well, the thing is that if anyone really wants to experience Elder Scrolls or whatever they need to either:

- Pay for Xcloud
- Acquire a Microsoft console and sign up for GP/get the game
- Acquire a gaming PC (with a Windows license) and sign up for GP/get the game

Microsoft I think is betting for those games to be enticing enough to push people towards their platforms. If people can still access that experience from their competitors, they'd be missing a possible hook.

If they sell the games all the same on all platforms (Bethesda's usual), there is no support for their long term strategy. I mean, yes, they'll get the percentage from the game sale but that's missing an opportunity for having someone signing up for their service (with a potential of a long time sub, specially if it requires getting a console). In the long term, it still makes sense to hook people into their ecosystem over simply getting $40,$50 or whatever profit margin they might get from the games themselves.

If Microsoft's objective was making a quick buck, they could have started publishing their games on all platforms a long time ago.

Interesting thought. We will see over the years how it plays out. Unless MS go mental and announce something sooner

 

[Roronoa Zoro]

Okay I get that, thats sort of how I am with Xbox, all my family and friends have been on Live for years. I just got a playstation 4 and it feels a bit alien to me. I kinda wish I had played more Playstation over the years.

Also it's not like I won't have anything to play. I've had a backlog for years. I do love the new doom games but they're not enough for me to buy a console and unless starfield is phenomenal I won't see anything from their big IP that I want for years since they said elder scrolls is after that. So that's a long time for a game or two that I want. Though maybe theyve had another wolfenstein in the works too that we don't know about. Not a fallout guy either

 

[Caio]

So not happy to have only destroyed Rare, now Microsoft wanna destroy Bethesda as well ?
"Kidding" aside, Fallout5 will be exclusive to PC and XSX/XSS ? That's the only game I do care about, and I would buy a XSX the same day Fallout5 is available.

 

[massivekettle]

I think it makes for cheap games just to fill content in the long run. Like how most netflix stuff is just to have content. It makes it so it's less about quality and more about quantity on your service rather than enticing people to pay for each individual product and having to have them get by on their own merits. The vast majority of netflix originals seems made for a budget and just to fill time and I think that's what gamepass leads to

There definitely is filler right now, but remember that GamePass is still very young. As GP matures, I'd expect the overall quality to be much greater, especially as all 1st-party games are going to be present Day 1, and an increasing amount of quality 3rd-party games are making their way as well (2K Series, RE, RDR 2, etc.).

I don't even have an Xbox (I'm on PS4), and I can't believe how good of a deal GamePass is, and will become, with the slate of 1st party + EA Play + other games coming onto it periodically.

 

[Kodiak]

IMO the purchase price is worth it for Bethesda alone. Their IPs are absolute monsters. When you throw in all the other IPs and all the talent acquired...

And if MS is willing to shell out cash like this to acquire IP... you bet your ass there will be more massive announcements like this in the next year.

 

[splattered]

Benji on twitter pointed out that MS now owns the ID Tech Engine that runs Doom etc... i didn't even think of that. Damn!

 

[Rob_27]

Maybe they have written the 7.5b off already. Doesn't need to go anywhere apart from xbox and pc.

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

Huge news. Solidifies XBox as a solid buy in a year or two. IF MS gets the SW license to give it to Obsidian for KOTOR 1 + 2 remake and KOTOR 3 then I'll pay extra for it.

 

[M1chl]

Xbox is now trending #1 in central Europe.

 

[VincentMatts]

Benji on twitter pointed out that ms no owns the ID Tech Engine that runs Doom etc... i didn't even think of that. Damn!

Also, there are Doom movies out there! I didnt think of that either. Just that IP is pretty big, and thats just one game.

 

[Kagey K]

No way Sony doesn't release it's games on PC, they'd be leaving tens of millions of profit on the table.

It doesn’t work like that, people will be happy to buy a Playstation if it has the games they want to play.

 

[Ogbert]

'
No way in hell they don't put out TES6 on PS5. They would be leaving tens of millions of profit on the table.

There is absolutely zero fucking chance of Fallout 5 or ES6 every going on PlayStation now.

Smaller titles, perhaps. But the big stuff is obviously going to be MS exclusive.

 

[Yoboman]

That is massive

And honestly as a Sony fanboy I love it. The competition is going to be fierce this gen

 

[bender]

So not happy to have only destroyed Rare, not Microsoft wanna destroy Bethesda as well ?
"Kidding" aside, Fallout5 will be exclusive to PC and XSX/XSS ? That's the only game I do care about, and I would buy a XSX the same day Fallout5 is available.

Microsoft can't damage the Bethesda brand anymore than their own leadership has already done. Maybe this is the Rare Replay/Sea of Thieves redemption arc.

 

[Ogbert]

I don't like the gamepass model and I don't like the Xbox controller and I have a lot of time and money invested in friends and trophies and a massive library on PlayStation. I also don't want two boxes I like having one

Well, free market etc.

Choose which one appeals to you.

 

[NullZ3r0]

Phil 'I don't believe in exclusives' Spencer everybody.

Which one of these games will be exclusive to Xbox?

 

[Mozza]

It’ll be funny when they wait to announce that all the Bethesda shit is still coming to PS5 just so idiots rush out and preorder Xboxes this week.

You are correct, If anything at all comes to the PS5 from Bethesda it is likely to be shit.

 

[Roronoa Zoro]

There definitely is filler right now, but remember that GamePass is still very young. As GP matures, I'd expect the overall quality to be much greater, especially as all 1st-party games are going to be present Day 1, and an increasing amount of quality 3rd-party games are making their way as well (2K Series, RE, RDR 2, etc.).

I don't even have an Xbox (I'm on PS4), and I can't believe how good of a deal GamePass is, and will become, with the slate of 1st party + EA Play + other games coming onto it periodically.

Third party isn't enticing to me as I like to buy games and keep them. And if I don't keep them I sell them on eBay and get almost all the money back. So it's down to exclusives. As far as that goes they now own 4 franchises I care about all from bethesda. If all those franchises (wolfenstein, elder scrolls, starfield if it's good, and doom) come out with great games in this gen it would make me consider a series x but they'd probably need a couple more. I also do not enjoy how they're taking existing franchises away from their base.

All those games sold way more on PS. That means you just took franchises away from their biggest userbase. That's a dick move. I didnt like it when nintendo did it with bayonetta. That would be like if Sony bought something that sold way more on xbox and put it exclusive on PS (can't think of any games that aren't already exclusive that sold less on PS)

 

[MightySquirrel]

Does this mean we're getting a real Fallout from Obsidian ?

 

[SlimySnake]

Xbox is now trending #1 in central Europe.

hopefully this proves to them that exclusives matter.

i still think launching games on PC is a mistake. same goes for gamepass.

 

[M1chl]

hopefully this proves to them that exclusives matter.

i still think launching games on PC is a mistake. same goes for gamepass.

I don't agree with the PC side, I think that PC exist in different realm and that it makes it fine and brings more money to the studios. Porting is easy when you have same API for Xbox and PC.

 

[Kev Kev]

Nothing will change. MS wont get involved unless they have to.

Day to day will be the same and Bethesda continue to publish the games. MS are there for funding, technology and of course gamepass.

nah i think there's gonna be some changes. don't know what though. they'll mostly let them be though. it will be centered around money i'm sure.

 

[SolidSlug]

Why do you not like the GamePass model, out of curiosity?

Because regardless of whether you are in a period where you have time to play, you pay.

All subscription-based models are based on the idea that eventually you will keep paying while not using the service.

 

[Neolombax]

Damn this is huge. Doom and Elder Scrolls are definitely going exclusive. What now Sony? Whats your move to sway our wallets?

 

[Yoboman]

Interesting aspect is MS just took on the brunt of any criticism Bethesda is going to get in the future for the quality of their titles

Maybe this will get them to move onto a new damn engine though

 

[Kerotan]

Lol Sony don’t have the money to react to purchases like this. Sony were throwing millions around on timed exclusives and marketing rights, MS just threw down $8 billion like it’s nothing - because it basically is nothing to them. All that MS warchest meme-ing for all those years? Yeh looks like it’s opening up big time. I don’t think we’ve seen the end of it either.

Sony have €30BN in cash and that's growing rapidly thanks to playstation. They absolutely could buy a publisher. Take Two and Capcom make the most sense.

And I couldn't see Sony stopping them from making multiplatform games. MLB is multiplatform so call take two's sports titles would be too along with WWE. And not continuing monster hunter on Nintendo platforms would be throwing away money.

 

[Kodiak]

Damn this is huge. Doom and Elder Scrolls are definitely going exclusive. What now Sony? Whats your move to sway our wallets?

Imagine if Sony bought Capcom

 

[jigglet]

Sony have €30BN in cash and that's growing rapidly thanks to playstation. They absolutely could buy a publisher. Take Two and Capcom make the most sense.

And I couldn't see Sony stopping them from making multiplatform games. MLB is multiplatform so call take two's sports titles would be too along with WWE. And not continuing monster hunter on Nintendo platforms would be throwing away money.

And who uses cash to finance deals anyway. Apple has how much in the bank? Yet they still take out massive loans to buy stuff. You always want to keep that liquidity there - it's the same with personal finance as it is in corporate finance. If you had a million dollar house and a million dollars in cash, a smart investor would still take out a million dollar loan.

 

[Orky]

OK here you go....

"Gaming is about entertainment and community and diversion and learning new stories and new perspectives, I find it completely counter to what gaming is about to say that part of that is to lock people away from being able to experience those games. Or to force someone to buy my specific device on the day that I want them to go buy it, in order to partake in what gaming is about. Gaming is bigger than any one device… "

He specifically calls out devices and forcing people to buy certain systems in order to play something.

This flies in the face of that ethos. They could quite easily have just got them on board Game Pass without acquiring them and thus making the titles exclusive and retain the joint "community".

No, you are quoting him out of context.
This is about cross-gen. This is about:

Releasing their Games ONLY ON XBOX SERIES X

or releasing them on: XBOX series S, Series X AND PC and Right now also on XBOX ONE. This is what he was taking about. Joint Community = same ecosystem = Xbox community. It’s not about releasing their games on PS5 or so. It’s all about the Xbox eco system.

 

[ruvikx]

All those games sold way more on PS. That means you just took franchises away from their biggest userbase. That's a dick move.

But that "userbase" can just get an Xbox? That's literally the entire business plan here, i.e. they're selling Xbox + gamepass (whether on Xbox or PC). If you love The Elder Scrolls, you now know where you need to go to play it. There's a reason this news came out just before pre-orders for the Series X & S go online & the fact next gen hasn't begun yet. The "userbases" are yet to be created.

 

[Great Hair]

Which one of these games will be exclusive to Xbox?

Potentially all of them. Or timed up to 12 month. Elder Scrolls 6 launching 12 month before PS? That would be damaging. Not so much about Doom going exclusive or another Evil Within.

 

[CitizenX]

Xbox is now trending #1 in central Europe.

i guess thats a first and probably the last time.

 

[M1chl]

i guess thats a first and probably the last time.

Will see.

 

[Kodiak]

What do you want to bet MS purchases Capcom in the next year or two?

 

[Miutojo]

What an incredible time to be a gamer.

Big difference from the Kinect days, huh?

 

[Nikana]

Just realized this means E3 (well whats left of E3) will likely be one conference shorter and everything from Bethesda will be rolled into Microsofts show.