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[Oddvintagechap]

Which company will Sony buy?

But Is Microsoft done? They got a nice discount with Activision. Does Sony go for Take2? Would MS even allow that? Only if they plan on buying EA. I think Sony should just go for Sega and Capcom. But watch them just make more expensive music purchases.

Sony Pictures India agrees to invest $1.6bn in merger with Zee Entertainment (September 22, 2021)

Sony closes $1.175 billion deal to buy Crunchyroll from AT&T (August 9, 2021)

Sony to Acquire Full Control of Financial Unit for $3.7 Billion (May 19, 2020)

Sony to Buy Out EMI Music Publishing for About $2 Billion (May 21, 2018)

Bruce Springsteen Sells Entire Publishing Catalog to Sony Music for $500 Million (Dec 20, 2021)

Sony Sells GSN Games Studio to Scopely for $1B (Oct 18, 2021)

 

[ReBurn]

The madness never ends

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

IO interactive.

 

[Hawking Radiation]

MS buys Ubisoft

 

[Stuart360]

I think Sony will buy Square Enix.

Microsoft will buy Ubisoft. In fact is that 7bil right?, i'm surprised its that low for Ubisoft when you take into account how many iconic franchises they have.

Feel EA being bought by Microsoft is an outside bet, a very outside bet though as from what i undestand Fifa would have to be multiplatform due to the Fifa license, so not sure EA would be worth it at that price.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

The madness never ends

I had to join the fun.

Sony is just going to buy more music rights, and playstation fans on twitter are going to go bananas.

Bryant75 where are youuuuuuu

 

[nightmare-slain]

only MS will be able to buy EA, Take Two, or Bandai.

i don't think MS is done spending. once the activision buy settles down then they'll look at something else. EA or Take Two seem like the next logical buy. god help Sony if they lose Fifa or GTA lol

 

[Y0ssarian]

I voted Sega and SquareEnix. I think those would be best...for me anyway!

 

[Hawking Radiation]

I think Sony will buy Square Enix.

Microsoft will buy Ubisoft. In fact is that 7bil right?, i'm surprised its that low for Ubisoft when you take into account how many iconic franchises they have.

Feel EA being bought by Microsoft is an outside bet, a very outside bet though as from what i undestand Fifa would have to be multiplatform due to the Fifa license, so not sure EA would be worth it at that price.

Ubisoft is an easy one for MS. Fuck man, all those IP's. Far Cry, Division, Rainbow Six??

Then there's EA too. Not sure where they're valued at but Phil with daddy Satya's credit card is dangerous prospect for Sony and Nintendo if they keep going at it like this.

only MS will be able to buy EA, Take Two, or Bandai.

i don't think MS is done spending. once the activision buy settles down then they'll look at something else. EA or Take Two seem like the next logical buy. god help Sony if they lose Fifa or GTA lol

I can see them buying EA but not Take Two. Surely there's no fucking way they'll get Take Two but then we live in weird times.

But yeah Call of Duty and GTA under Xbox is crazy. I'll volunteer to clean out Jim Ryan's office myself.

 

[EL BABE]

Square Enix

 

[Beechos]

Ea is very tricky since alot of their most inportant feanchises are licensed based. But the microtransaction money would be perfect for gamepass. Ive bought more dlc during the time ive had gamepass than my entire game life combined. The thinking is like i didnt have to pay 60 for game i can spend 20 on dlc to get the full experience. I can see ppl using the same train of though and spend the money instead on ea mtx.

 

[Stuart360]

Ubisoft is an easy one for MS. Fuck man, all those IP's. Far Cry, Division, Rainbow Six??

Then there's EA too. Not sure where they're valued at but Phil with daddy Satya's credit card is dangerous prospect for Sony and Nintendo if they keep going at it like this.

Honestly if you compare Ubisofts and EA's 'live' franchises, as in franchises that are still getting new games, Ubisoft IMO is way better than EA.
I'm surprised EA is worth that much to be honest, although obviously Fifa is a big part of that.

There were also rumours a while back about Ubisoft possibly being in some financial trouble and open to a buyout, even though games like Valhalla was the 4th best selling game of last year or soemthing. That was one of the reasons given for why Ubisoft are changing some of their games to a more 'live sevice' angle.

I feel 7bil for Ubisoft is a pretty damn good deal.

 

[Hendrick's]

Bryant75 where are youuuuuuu

 

[BusierDonkey]

Microsoft could grab EA for Fifa and the other sportz games that makes up a massive part of casual gamers who really don't give a shit what box they play it on but rather just buy whatever box their friends play on. If only one box plays them all it'll be a pretty easy choice.

My vote and heart go to Sega though, even if they are currently a husk of their former glory the IPs that come with the package are gold.

 

[captainraincoat]

I’m guessing Ubisoft is next on the ms list….they would then have a lock on one of the largest third person action adventure game makers outside of Sony…they are also pc centric as well with their own app….consolidate that with the blizzard one as well as the ms store and they have a pc and console majority

Take2 makes more sense for a Sony platform but I don’t see them dropping that sorta coin

Worse choice would be ea….

Op also missing valve/steam…ms could consolidate all pc gaming back to 1 store

 

[Beechos]

Honestly if you compare Ubisofts and EA's 'live' franchises, as in franchises that are still getting new games, Ubisoft IMO is way better than EA.
I'm surprised EA is worth that much to be honest, although obviously Fifa is a big part of that.

There were also rumours a while back about Ubisoft possibly being in some financial trouble and open to a buyout, even though games like Valhalla was the 4th best selling game of last year or soemthing. That was one of the reasons given for why Ubisoft are changing some of their games to a more 'live sevice' angle.

I feel 7bil for Ubisoft is a pretty damn good deal.

Just the madden, fifa and nhl ultimate team mtx brought in 1.6 bill last year. This is why ea worth so damn much.

 

[Chiggs]

Sony doesn't have the same kind of pocket change laying around that MS does. They can pay for exclusives and maybe pick up some devs for a good deal.

 

[Edgelord79]

Who knows. Could be anyone at this point. Not convinced Microsoft is done either.

Still think From Software will be under the Sony umbrella by the end of the year.

 

[Sosokrates]

Do sony have the cashflow for Take 2?

I thought sony or ms buying Take 2 was completely crazy, but after the revelations of today it does not seem so crazy, sony and Microsoft have had a relationship with take 2, and sony wanting to remain competitive could make a move on take 2, GTA and RDR are megatons but the issue is they only make 1 per generation, and there other games from 2k are a bunch or sports games and few other smaller things.

Despite GTA's and RDRs power I dont think sony would be interested in only 1 game per generation.

I think sony are more likely vto aquire capcom and square. Its cheaper and there content is more regular and more playstation.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

How can Sony buy anything interesting when MS can just outbid them?

 

[Aguero9320]

I feel like Microsoft wants that big title every month (although I think that’s more than is needed tbh) to feed the Gamepass machine, so they might need 48 studios producing one game each every four years . Patently ridiculous, although not all that much of a stretch now…

Personally I would say Ubisoft, because I like their games and they have a number of big franchises, but MS wants studios not IP I think.

I’m not sure they “need” anything else now though, maybe a Japanese arm, although personally I have zero interest in that weird shit and can’t understand the reverence or the appeal.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

I can't really imagine MS making anymore mega deals. Surely it has to stop somewhere?

Sony - I don't really know if they care. With the Activision deal, maybe they should just as a means of maintaining competitive posturing, even though I am against consolidation in general. If there is one area Sony could pursue it is Square, Capcom, Fromsoft, Konami, and Team Kojima. But again, I don't like that kind of strategy because those publishers are already heavily in favor of Sony platforms so the only benefit would be....preventing them from going to Microsoft or some other tech giant?

We are in desperate need of a massive tech correction to get us out of this ridiculous arms race.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

Sony doesn't have the same kind of pocket change laying around that MS does. They can pay for exclusives and maybe pick up some devs for a good deal.

Sony can easily buy Capcom or Sega, even both.

Hell they can buy Take2.

They can’t buy EA, they are involved in the Music Wars right now.

 

[Neo_game]

Microsoft is already having some 35 Game studio or something now ? Which you would think is more than enough. Do they really need more. If now people are not going to buy Xbox or GP I am not sure more games is going to convince them ? It is going to take them a decade to break even to the investment they have done with Activision alone.

In other thread some guys mentioned Sony need to invest on their own Game studio, hire more and increase the productivity. SSM only made GOW last gen. IG are probably most productive team they have. I think Sony will continue to buy small teams and hire talent. But out of the list if I have to guess SE probably with the kind of games they make.

 

[Jaybe]

Sony is just probably going to do ‘timed/full exclusive + marketing + subscription only on PS platform/or prevented from Game pass’ deals with their Japanese brethren. If these companies want revenue to stay tied to copies sold, I can’t see them being too excited for MS’s vision.

 

[balls of snow]

Square: Avengers bombed, guardians while really fucking good also bombed. Life is strange true colors was decent but made on a budget and likely didnt even make that much for square. Only endwalker was the money maker for them last year.
Its time.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

“ A group of Microsoft Corp. senior executives suggested that Xbox head Phil Spencer check in with the embattled CEO.

Behind the scenes, Spencer was working on
a merger approach.

Activision CEO and the board weren’t sold on Microsoft as the acquirer, two people familiar with the matter said. Activision made calls to try to find other interested parties, said the people, who asked not to be identified talking about private conversations. Those included Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. and at least one other big company.”

Activision Sexual Misconduct Fallout Prompted Microsoft to Pursue Deal — Bloomberg

Game publisher canvassed other would-be bidders, but didn’t receive an offer

apple.news

Lol

 

[SF Kosmo]

EA is worth way more than that. Like 130B.

 

[GametimeUK]

Tried to tick them all. Nobody is safe.

 

[captainraincoat]

I don’t get Sonys logic in terms of buying old music artists catalogues at stupid numbers

I get the music rights and royalties for life part but $500 million for a bunch of old songs is a pretty big stretch on return on investment and then you factor in the artist could go on a coke and hooker binge and be cancelled by social media it’s a pretty big risk

 

[lastmessiah]

Are any of those for sale? You can’t just buy any company if they don’t want to be sold.

 

[hybrid_birth]

Are any of those for sale? You can’t just buy any company if they don’t want to be sold.

Ubisoft almost had a hostile takeover by another company. Not Sony or MS though. They didn't want to be bought.

 

[xiskza]

Was just watching CNBC. They said Microsoft made this acquisition now to get out in front of other Big Tech companies. They said Amazon, Netflix, Google, Facebook, etc, are all going to be competing in the future to make purchases for some of the last remaining major publishers to build out their own "metaverses".

CDPR, Roblox, EA, and Take Two were all mentioned as being potential acquisitions.

Sony is in serious jeopardy of getting locked out of far more IPs than those from Acvitision if they don't move. Their position in the future of gaming is on the line.

 

[Fredrik]

I think Sony will buy Square Enix sooner or later.

MS could possibly buy Ubisoft but I honestly think they’re done now.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I don't really think buying Square would be a wise move for anyone. They are a big company with a lot of bloat and a lot of flops.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

How about none? Why does everyone need to be bought by a bigger company?

 

[Imru’ al-Qays]

Capcom would be a steal.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

How about none? Why does everyone need to be bought by a bigger company?

Gamepass

 

[normalguy09x]

Sony doesn't buy companies. They buy independent developers and invest into their own talent.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Capcom would be a steal.

And also has no reason to sell. They are on an upswing, they could wait a few years and be worth way more. Next Monster Hunter is going to do stupid numbers. Activision is in the middle of a giant shit storm right now and Bethesda was bleeding money when they sold.

 

[SF Kosmo]

Ubisoft almost had a hostile takeover by another company. Not Sony or MS though. They didn't want to be bought.

It also bears mentioning that some countries, like France or Japan have protectionist policies in place that make it hard for foreign companies to buy them.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

EA is worth way more than that. Like 130B.

EA isn‘t worth more than Activision. Remember they have Blizzard and King too. EA doesn’t own FIFA or Madden. In fact they lost the FIFA license.

How about none? Why does everyone need to be bought by a bigger company?

Because moves like this pressure other companies to make moves.

 

[Rurhanograthul02]

I have read tons of Theoretical literature on "Theoretical Buying Power" of Companies valued at over 1.3 trillion.

Over a time-span of 15 years, all Microsoft would need to do - to maintain a 1.3 Trillion Dollar Evaluation all while literally if they wanted to - purchasing 9 of these companies listed 1 after the other... is spread out each purchases to 1 supermassive purchase every 3 years!!

Since we don't have much to go on of the 1.3 trillion dollar company, aside from the recent data provided - if these companies were legitimately valued at 1.3 trillion dollars and weren't about to tank and these numbers are legitimate, non inflated, and without forgery - and based on what little data we have of the newly budding 1 Trillion Dollar Companies that have emerged, in Theory when you become that Large according to literally the worlds most masterful experts - you recoup your Mega Billion Dollar losses from such purchases every 2 and a quarter years - because at 1.3 trillion dollars when driven by wealthy Microsoft industry leading advisors/counsel - it is as if you have unlimited cash flow.

Theoretically, based on the literature I've read - at that rate they will actually grow in evaluation upwards of 3 trillion, (are probably actually valued at over 3 trillion now once these deals are finalized) and they still have ample purchasing power to buy literally every company in existence (and that 3 year wait period shrinks year to year, too) if they choose!!

If you are one of the Big Hitter, as a company, worth over a Trillion, and you remain so as Microsoft and others have.. basically all purchases become a no-brainer as you have infinite funding!! I lost it when I read this and was forced to agree, after realizing all the smartest Financiers and Economic Science Advisors who had anything pertinent to say unanimously agreed!!

So you really have to ask yourself, what's next for Microsoft!!

Once they hit 1.7 Trillion - Most agreed any company under the Sun could be purchased at 0 loss Year on Year.

The First Companies to hit 2 Trillion, as Apple And Microsoft have - can literally afford to cannibalize several 1 trillion dollar companies and at zero loss if advised correctly.

And that literally, all companies under the 1 Trillion Dollar Evaluation and even slightly above!! Were on the table as purchasing options at this level!!

In fact, at 2 trillion - they said even at a loss - which they could not actually measure with accuracy, it would be worth making the purchases they couldn't afford and taking a loss as those losses would be recouped almost instantly.

So I Don't think Microsoft is close to done!!

 

[octiny]

Sega & Capcom. Possibly Valve.

 

[SF Kosmo]

EA isn‘t worth more than Activision. Remember they have Blizzard and King too. EA doesn’t own FIFA or Madden. In fact they lost the FIFA license.

Their market cap says otherwise.

And MS paid like 30% over market cap for Activision.

 

[reksveks]

Remember to add a nice hefty premium to any market cap at the moment.

 

[Ebidramon]

Nintendo.

 

[ChiefDada]

Are any of those for sale? You can’t just buy any company if they don’t want to be sold.

True, but even private companies will find it difficult not to succumb to temptations of a hot market with attractive valuations. Couple that with the general consensus that game development is getting soo expensive and the big players are offering them much larger budgets than they could have ever dreamed of securing as an independent. Sometimes the money is just too good to pass up.

 

[DigitalScrap]

EA is worth way more than that. Like 130B.

EA's market cap is only ~$38 billion.

 

[clintar]

Sony
;-)