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[Lognor]

Neither of us can say for sure. My bet is timed exclusivity, even if for two years.

Release the game only on Xbox for one/two years at $70. Prices go down naturally and all that for Xbox/PC owners.
Release the same game plus some bonus content on Playstation after that exclusivity period is over, for the same $70.
Profit

You can also add value to your brand without exclusive games. Just make your platform a more convenient place to play those games.


No one said anything about Call of Duty being exclusive to Xbox though.
This is just speculation and fearmongering at the moment.

Of course it's exclusive. Microsoft did not buy Activision to keep their games on their competitior's console. We already have the precedent with Starfield. It's not coming to PS. If Starfield, which has the potential to sell 20m+ copies, releases without a PS version so can Call of Duty.

If you recall, prior to the Bethesda acquisition being finalized, Microsoft was cryptic about exclusivity, but once it was finalized they made it clear that future games would only be on Xbox. They are doing the same here, probably so they don't get in trouble with regulators. But after this acquisition closes they will make it abundantly clear that Xbox is the only place to play COD games going forward. Given the timing, I could see COD 2023 appearing on PS, but after that, don't count on it! Gotta buy an Xbox, my friend!

 

[Stuart360]

This is strange to me - I understand the allegiance thing, and the power of preference, but I don't really like Sony yet I own a PS5 for the exclusives I do want to play. It's not difficult or unattainable. Like I owned a PS4, PS3, PS2 and original PlayStation. If I buy a Multiplatform game it's always on Xbox, but if it's not on Xbox at all I buy it on PlayStation.

Just buy an Xbox? Or a PC? Or use XCloud? Why would you only play them if they are on PlayStation? There's no principle in play here, and Sony don't care about you as much as you care about them, so just buy an Xbox (unless you really can't afford it I guess) and you don't even have to care. Microsoft seem to be embarking on a shock and awe policy to end the console wars so it might be time to reconsider those entrenched positions and just enjoy the games?

Yep exactly, i mean nothing has actually changed, just buy an Xbox or play on PC if you want to keep playing those games. Xbox conveniantly already have a budget console for you to do that cheaply.

 

[mckmas8808]

Microsoft Buys Scandal-Tainted Activision in Bet on Metaverse

Microsoft Corp. plans to buy Activision Blizzard Inc. for $68.7 billion, acquiring a legendary game publisher responsible for franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, but recently roiled by claims of sexual misconduct and discrimination.

www.bloomberg.com

There you go. Sony isn't going anywhere and the Playstation brand will be perfectly fine.

JIM RYAN IS GOD!

Playstation gamers. DO NOT BELIEVE THIS!!! He used the word "intent" for a reason.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[mckmas8808]

Yep exactly, i mean nothing has actually changed, just buy an Xbox or play on PC if you want to keep playing those games. Xbox conveniantly already have a budget console for you to do that cheaply.

Because not everyone (me included) wants to pay an additional $500 for a real next-gen Xbox console plus more for controllers. Nor do I or others want to pay over $1,500 for an amazing PC either. It's not that hard to understand.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

1 year later

 

[Unknown?]

It really wasn’t, it was all the same tosh about respecting platforms where they have a legacy etc.

They can’t speak about it until the acquisition goes through officially. It’s bad PR to come out and say ‘lol fuck paystation buy an Xbox if u want cod - noobs’

Is it not worse to make a clear quote like that in the OP then go and change your stance? Just don't say anything and it really was more cryptic with Bethesda.

 

[Stuart360]

Because not everyone (me included) wants to pay an additional $500 for a real next-gen Xbox console plus more for controllers. Nor do I or others want to pay over $1,500 for an amazing PC either. It's not that hard to understand.

And thats your choice. My point was that the games are still there for anyone to play, you just need an Xbox or PC to do it. Just like i would need a PS5 to play most of its exclusives.

 

[JerryinSoCal]

Not really. The mass amount of casuals that they are going to bring into gamepass, XBL subscriptions & and/or game purchases from COD alone more than offsets keeping it on PS.

The whole point of these purchases is to bring people into the MS eco system. They didn't purchase them to keep the status quo.

You do realize it's not just $70 Billion right? that's just the purchase amount, there are roughly 10,000 people who work for activision/blizzard, that's likely more than all of MS's current studios combined, it's nearly five times as many people as Bethesda had plus they'll have new properties that they will have to pay taxes on, rents on and upkeep etc. This is a huge purchase and game pass won't make the money back for it, COD is too big of a franchise to make exclusive, they won't bring everyone over and the last game was the worst selling in the past 14 years so why would you reduce the potential player base by so much? It makes much more sense to let it be MP and put it on GP for their players while Sony owners buy the game and MS gets hundreds of millions of dollars from those extra customers.

 

[JerryinSoCal]

This is strange to me - I understand the allegiance thing, and the power of preference, but I don't really like Sony yet I own a PS5 for the exclusives I do want to play. It's not difficult or unattainable. Like I owned a PS4, PS3, PS2 and original PlayStation. If I buy a Multiplatform game it's always on Xbox, but if it's not on Xbox at all I buy it on PlayStation.

Just buy an Xbox? Or a PC? Or use XCloud? Why would you only play them if they are on PlayStation? There's no principle in play here, and Sony don't care about you as much as you care about them, so just buy an Xbox (unless you really can't afford it I guess) and you don't even have to care. Microsoft seem to be embarking on a shock and awe policy to end the console wars so it might be time to reconsider those entrenched positions and just enjoy the games?

You mean a company who makes their money on PC operating systems and servers that wants to come in and buy out another industry that they weren't able to compete in organically? An industry where they've lost MarketShare? a global industry that's shown little interest in their products outside of the US and UK?

 

[Dick Jones]

Hah, MS are not putting any games on PS5 if they can help it. Spencer claimed the same rubbish after Bethesda was bought. I'd rather Phil grew a pair and admitted as much. That way this board won't be filled with people thinking MS will continue COD as multiplatform. Now we have people who think the PS5 will have COD in 2023. It won't.

I stopped buying Activision games due to Bobby K. MS please fucking bury this man.

 

[Aguero9320]

You mean a company who makes their money on PC operating systems and servers that wants to come in and buy out another industry that they weren't able to compete in organically? An industry where they've lost MarketShare? a global industry that's shown little interest in their products outside of the US and UK?

Yes, if you want to put it like that, I mean exactly that company

 

[StreetsofBeige]

You do realize it's not just $70 Billion right? that's just the purchase amount, there are roughly 10,000 people who work for activision/blizzard, that's likely more than all of MS's current studios combined, it's nearly five times as many people as Bethesda had plus they'll have new properties that they will have to pay taxes on, rents on and upkeep etc. This is a huge purchase and game pass won't make the money back for it, COD is too big of a franchise to make exclusive, they won't bring everyone over and the last game was the worst selling in the past 14 years so why would you reduce the potential player base by so much? It makes much more sense to let it be MP and put it on GP for their players while Sony owners buy the game and MS gets hundreds of millions of dollars from those extra customers.

You mean a company who makes their money on PC operating systems and servers that wants to come in and buy out another industry that they weren't able to compete in organically? An industry where they've lost MarketShare? a global industry that's shown little interest in their products outside of the US and UK?

Relax.

Similar to Minecraft and Bethesda games, MS isn't going to take away Activision games from PS anytime soon.

 

[Aguero9320]

I'd rather Phil grew a pair and admitted as much.

He's not allowed to do that until they own it officially. As happened with Bethesda.

 

[lefty1117]

The Endgame is console + Gamepass bundled subscription. For $30/month get an Xbox + Gamepass. The library of games makes it very compelling.

 

[Lognor]

Like I said, there's a short term strategy, and a long term one.

Their full exclusivity plan will apply only to their cloud service.

Source?

And when you say short term that is still 5-10 years! LOL. You gonna wait 5-10 years to maybe play those games on PS? I don't think so!

 

[Stuart360]

You mean a company who makes their money on PC operating systems and servers that wants to come in and buy out another industry that they weren't able to compete in organically? An industry where they've lost MarketShare? a global industry that's shown little interest in their products outside of the US and UK?

185mil console sales over 3 generations is competing. I think a lot of companies would like to compete at that level with their products.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

Can't wait till Battlenet gets shut down.

 

[mckmas8808]

Hah, MS are not putting any games on PS5 if they can help it. Spencer claimed the same rubbish after Bethesda was bought. I'd rather Phil grew a pair and admitted as much. That way this board won't be filled with people thinking MS will continue COD as multiplatform. Now we have people who think the PS5 will have COD in 2023. It won't.

I stopped buying Activision games due to Bobby K. MS please fucking bury this man.

This is a way to force Playstation to put GamePass on the PS4 and PS5. It's a smart long term play that MS will win. Sony will have to give in to it at some point, because MS is not stopping here.

 

[Edgelord79]

You mean a company who makes their money on PC operating systems and servers that wants to come in and buy out another industry that they weren't able to compete in organically?

I would have been disappointed if someone hadn't used the organic business growth argument at least once in this thread.

 

[Genx3]

I think you underestimate just how many people play COD and only COD. I'd say plenty would buy an xbox, at least an S to play. Its a system seller no doubt (if its a decent entry).

Zero chance once the dust settles anything new is coming to PS unless its an existing GAAS, unless of course gamepass comes to PS but the chances of that happening are also close to zero.

I have no skin in this game btw i own both.

It takes years for the dust to settle.
Just this last year Bethesda released 2 PS exclusives under the XGS banner.

I think Activision will continue being 3rd party but games will also release on Game Pass.

The reason I believe this is because $70 Billion isn't the change that $8 Billion was for MS. It's about half their cash.

Investors are definitely gonna want to see the receipts on that one.

 

[octiny]

You do realize it's not just $70 Billion right? that's just the purchase amount, there are roughly 10,000 people who work for activision/blizzard, that's likely more than all of MS's current studios combined, it's nearly five times as many people as Bethesda had plus they'll have new properties that they will have to pay taxes on, rents on and upkeep etc. This is a huge purchase and game pass won't make the money back for it, COD is too big of a franchise to make exclusive, they won't bring everyone over and the last game was the worst selling in the past 14 years so why would you reduce the potential player base by so much? It makes much more sense to let it be MP and put it on GP for their players while Sony owners buy the game and MS gets hundreds of millions of dollars from those extra customers.

You keep saying "gamepass" can't make up for the lost PS COD sales, ignoring what I said earlier..

Any COD sales lost on PS will be gained from casuals moving to Xbox purchasing XBL, gamepass and/or COD at full price, on top of the people who already are in the eco system. That's up to 3 new potential streams of revenue w/o Sony taking a single cut. There's no player base lost by not having it on PS, it's delusional thinking that COD fans will stay on PS after COD moves on. They will buy whatever system it's on. The amount of revenue generated from different avenues, brand recognition & PR MS gets to tote by simply having COD exclusive offsets keeping it on PS.

You guys will still have Warzone, and MS will be making money on that as well.

As I said before, they aren't buying them to keep the status quo.

 

[Adam_802]

lmao, clinging on to false hope, are we?

 

[Dick Jones]

This is a way to force Playstation to put GamePass on the PS4 and PS5. It's a smart long term play that MS will win. Sony will have to give in to it at some point, because MS is not stopping here.

Gamepass will never enter PS ecosystem. MS need to be the market leader and they are still no. 3 on the list. The question is how long Sony can rope a dope MS until they buckle like their music or mobile phones attempts.

 

[quest]

lmao, clinging on to false hope, are we?

It's like a time warp to the zenimax deal day. Microsoft won't leave money on the table. They can't ignore playstation players. They need to get money back on investment ect. Other max copium until it is official and phil drops the exclusive bombs.

 

[kyussman]

What a buzzkill....that sucks all the fun out of the annoucement,lol.

 

[clarky]

It takes years for the dust to settle.
Just this last year Bethesda released 2 PS exclusives under the XGS banner.

I think Activision will continue being 3rd party but games will also release on Game Pass.

The reason I believe this is because $70 Billion isn't the change that $8 Billion was for MS. It's about half their cash.

Investors are definitely gonna want to see the receipts on that one.

Those deals were inked well before they got bought. How many games are bethesda or xbox releasing in the future that aren't tied to a previous exclusivity deal? 0

Pretty clear MS's strategy here starve the competition of content, so they cant have a viable gamepass competitor and increase their own MAU.

You think sony will allow you to sign into your xbox account when you boot up COD 2024 on your PS5? not happening.

You don't achieve that by going third party.

 

[Topher]

You think sony will allow you to sign into your xbox account when you boot up COD 2024 on your PS5? not happening.

If the option is signing into Microsoft account or no Call of Duty then hell yeah, Sony will allow it. Too much money at stake. Pride only goes so far with stockholders.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[//DEVIL//]

Deal will close by mid 2023. AB has to operate assuming the deal will not close so they will plan CoD games on PS5 through 2025 at a minimum. That will be 5 years into PS5 lifecycle. Cutting the franchise off at that point makes no sense and it would not go over well with the fans who play COD on PS5. PS6 would be where they draw the line if they choose to do so. You can't argue that they are pissing off PS6 & COD fans if they make it clear the the PS6 will not get new COD games before it even launches.

That said, it is not clear to me that they would stop publishing these games on all platforms. The game sells a shit ton on every platform, every year. This is different than TES/FO that release 1 game each per generation at most. COD releases the biggest game each year. For a 7 year generation this is ~5x or more more copies sold than those titles. It would be much more expensive if they get it wrong. My guess is that they would determine that strategy as they move into whatever the next gen is, not now.

Deal will close mid 2023 ? Where did that come from ?

 

[Topher]

Deal will close mid 2023 ? Where did that come from ?

I read that as well on CNBC, I think. This is a complex deal and has to go through a lot of government regulatory evaluations. Particularly, those in the realm of antitrust. It certainly won't be as quick as buying Bethesda which was a private company.

 

[HundredThousandTrillion]

Microsoft just bought a user-base. Chances are they will keep it as wide open as possible and grab that money rake.

Microsoft bought wildly successful content (past, present and future) and intellectual property.

In this case the users just so happen to come built in with it. In many ways it’s no different from the land grab going on in video streaming.

Content far outlives users. This is an IP race.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

Of course it's exclusive. Microsoft did not buy Activision to keep their games on their competitior's console. We already have the precedent with Starfield. It's not coming to PS. If Starfield, which has the potential to sell 20m+ copies, releases without a PS version so can Call of Duty.

If you recall, prior to the Bethesda acquisition being finalized, Microsoft was cryptic about exclusivity, but once it was finalized they made it clear that future games would only be on Xbox. They are doing the same here, probably so they don't get in trouble with regulators. But after this acquisition closes they will make it abundantly clear that Xbox is the only place to play COD games going forward. Given the timing, I could see COD 2023 appearing on PS, but after that, don't count on it! Gotta buy an Xbox, my friend!

This is almost certainly the correct take.

Same thing every single time: if they wanted to sell games on PlayStation, Halo, Forza , Gears of War, all would be on PlayStation.

If it's out now, if it's already got a deal signed, things will proceed as you would have expected them to before this news. Everything else, I think it'd be an unwise bet to make.

 

[Chiggs]

Just give it a few years....

 

[SenjutsuSage]

You mean a company who makes their money on PC operating systems and servers that wants to come in and buy out another industry that they weren't able to compete in organically? An industry where they've lost MarketShare? a global industry that's shown little interest in their products outside of the US and UK?

You know, I had a response typed, and I just decided I don't even need to bother. The subject of the thread is enough.

 

[Menzies]

Sitting on $150 billion in cash probably doesn't make sense at the moment with interest rates and inflation. Better to invest it.

The thing about making this announcement at the cusp of the new gen, means "all that massive PlayStation userbase" is whittled away to the current ~20 million PS5 gamers. This is not a lot of opportunity cost by keeping things exclusive if that's what eventuates.

 

[thebigmanjosh]

It really wasn’t, it was all the same tosh about respecting platforms where they have a legacy etc.

They can’t speak about it until the acquisition goes through officially. It’s bad PR to come out and say ‘lol fuck playstation buy an Xbox if u want cod - noobs’

Not just bad PR but saying the wrong things could impact FTC approvals and antitrust defense.

Coincidentally (or not), DOJ & FTC announced today they plan to rewrite M&A guidelines over the next 60 days: https://thehill.com/homenews/admini...int-inquiry-aimed-at-blocking-illegal-mergers

MS may not be out of the woods yet if they decide to use this case as an example for the new laws/precedent

 

[The Alien]

They probably will focus on Game Pass. This is a long term aquisition, will take years to the money return. Until there, I can't see reason to make everything exclusive. Money is money.

Recent history says otherwise.

Money is money....but Microsoft views money differently. Microsoft just paid cash for this deal. Cash that was just sitting around. Rather than let it sit, they made a long term investment....not something they will rely on Sony to help recover costs. Thats rediculous thinking.

Sure u can say that XBox has a limited budget...but it completely aligns to Microsoft's vision (Cloud, etc.). It will help the entire company. After next quarter, this will barely be a blip on their bottom line.

 

[//DEVIL//]

I read that as well on CNBC, I think. This is a complex deal and has to go through a lot of government regulatory evaluations. Particularly, those in the realm of antitrust. It certainly won't be as quick as buying Bethesda which was a private company.

Sure it’s bigger deal. But there is no way it will take 1 year and 3 months to close. Not when both companies are US based

 

[AGRacing]

“I’ll just say to players out there who are playing Activision Blizzard games on Sony’s platform: It’s not our intent to pull communities away from that platform and we remained committed to that,”

That could mean "Your old current COD game will continue to work!". Could mean "We're open to allowing Game Pass on competitor platforms!". Could mean anything... because the statement itself means absolutely nothing.

As an aside ... the modern use of the word "communities" makes me want to throw up.

 

[packy34]

He's obviously just talking about pre-existing releases and deals. You don't pay 70 billion dollars to help sell a competitor's hardware and services.

 

[Fake]

Recent history says otherwise.

lolwhat? What 'recent' history do you have?

 

[Saber]

Money is money....but Microsoft views money differently. Microsoft just paid cash for this deal. Cash that was just sitting around. Rather than let it sit, they made a long term investment....not something they will rely on Sony to help recover costs. Thats rediculous thinking.

Ridiculous thinking is this infantile idea that MS will shut the doors of CoD to other places when CoD nets a massive amount of cash in multiple plataforms.
Seriously, they are not stupid like most of console warriors. They didn't spend 70b just to go exclusive and throw the rest of the starting flux in the garbage. They will have their return of cash in long term thanks to CoD popularity over multiple plataforms.

 

[lastmessiah]

They didn't spend 70b just to go exclusive

That's exactly what they did though.

 

[Stuart360]

Ridiculous thinking is this infantile idea that MS will shut the doors of CoD to other places when CoD nets a massive amount of cash in multiple plataforms.
Seriously, they are not stupid like most of console warriors. They didn't spend 70b just to go exclusive and throw the rest of the starting flux in the garbage. They will have their return of cash in long term thanks to CoD popularity over multiple plataforms.

Its the opposite for me. They didnt spend 70bil to put games on their rival systems, especially when we are talking about a game in COD that is probably as much a 'system seller' as any game series could be.
Of course there will be some deals already in place with COD and Sony, but once those deals are up, COD will be Xbox/PC exclusive. Probably COD 2023, assuming no deals are already in place.

We already went through all this with Bethesda, and yes this is a lot more money but Microsoft just paid for this deal with cash, CASH.

 

[supernova8]

Idk if WoW subscription will join Gamepass but I can see they implement something akin to what Final Fantasy does with the free-to-play version to all gamepass holders, and possibly the subscription with access to the latest DLC only to Ultimate members. This could be a genuine move on WoW's revival.

Strangely I would probably get Gamepass if WoW was included. That would be a mega bargain.

I think Gamepass is getting to the point where it's the Amazon Prime to Sony's Netflix in terms of content. By that I mean, even if (lots of) people think Netflix has the better quality content, it's literally just movies and tv shows whereas Gamepass is going to end up having all sorts of stuff included to the point that it's an offer you cannot refuse (just like Prime with delivery, music, free ebooks, video etc.).

 

[Airbus Jr]

He's obviously just talking about pre-existing releases and deals. You don't pay 70 billion dollars to help sell a competitor's hardware and services.

Nothing is certain yet so far so we shall see about that

 

[quest]

Its the opposite for me. They didnt spend 70bil to put games on their rival systems, especially when we are talking about a game in COD that is probably as much a 'system seller' as any game series could be.
Of course there will be some deals already in place with COD and Sony, but once those deals are up, COD will be Xbox/PC exclusive. Probably COD 2023, assuming no deals are already in place.

We already went through all this with Bethesda, and yes this is a lot more money but Microsoft just paid for this deal with cash, CASH.

Exactly COD would move series consoles and in turn sell gamepass subs and dlc plus other profits. Versus short term profits selling on the PS5 but selling less series consoles and gamepass subscriptions. You don't spend 70 billion to not sell series hardware which is where gamepass subscriptions come from. It be like Amazon getting lord of the rings tv rights and putting it on Netflix also.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Exactly COD would move series consoles and in turn sell gamepass subs and dlc plus other profits. Versus short term profits selling on the PS5 but selling less series consoles and gamepass subscriptions. You don't spend 70 billion to not sell series hardware which is where gamepass subscriptions come from. It be like Amazon getting lord of the rings tv rights and putting it on Netflix also.

Agreed.

MS is currently still in full support of PS, but at some point they will start to cut the cord. Just a matter of when.

They might be playing a waiting game as hardware is in short supply. But if the chip shortage peters out and tons of consoles are available to buy, thats when you might see MS start to pull some strings. I dont even think there's any big name Bethesda or Activision games coming out soon until Starfield and the next COD game end of the year too.

But for now, MS might as well support both platforms.

 

[Chris_Rivera]

They obviously just want to dunk on Sony for the lulz. Return on investments are overrated.