Questions for Xbox bros:
- What do you think Sony will do to respond to this acquisition once approved?
- What would you be okay with? And what would you be not?
A few examples to clarify the questions:
- Sony may stay the course: increase current studios organically by adding more developers and buying smaller studios every now and then.
- Sony may start acquiring smaller publishers (< $10 billion): SquareEnix, Capcom, CDPR, FromSoftware, Ubisoft, Sega, etc.
- Sony may attempt a bigger publisher (> $10 billion): Take-Two, EA, etc.
- Sony may go all in timed-exclusivity deals.
- Sony may go all in on full-exclusivity deals for major multiplatform franchises
- Other stuff like this that I didn't list here.
What do you think they are most likely to do? And what would you be okay with/not okay with?
It's business. If they want to buy Ubisoft, go for it. But the thing is...Sony probably can't afford to go big (Take 2/EA). And not only because they cost too much, but also because it could wake up other huge companies (Amazon/Apple) who then can outbid Sony if they go for megapublishers.
I think they will go for Square. And while I don't think they need Square (their games are defacto PlayStation exclusives), I see it as a logical next step. Square is clearly preparing for buyout and they are trimming fat everywhere they can. Ubisoft if too unwieldy to buy tbh. They are not that expensive but to get them into good order would be few years worth of work. ABK/Bethesda are good because they are literally "plug and play". I think that Tencent won't allow From Software going to Sony especially after Elden Ring. And Sega? They are too PC focused to have real value for PlayStation. Capcom would be good get, but I doubt Microsoft would not fight this merger by trying to outbid Sony. And since they will have similar size in terms of revenue postABK-merger, they are on same playingfiled in terms of regulators.
Problem for Sony is that IF ABK merger would have desired effect for Microsoft (Call of Duty on Game Pass will draw players from PlayStation onto Xbox), it will cause many problems for Sony in the future. Outside of missing revenues, closer marketshare position between Xbox and PlayStation would have negative effect on ability of Sony to enter into timed-exclusivity deals and full exclusivity deals, because they will become more expensive for them.
I know that many PlayStation diehards won't agree with me, but I think that Sony just need to expand more aggressively on PC. Bring on own launcher, so you can keep 100% revenue from selling games. Consider day one PC releases. It clear, that huge majority of people are playing on console because they want and not because "XYZ games are only available on PlayStation." Make other mid-sized purchases and also try to go harder into mobile gaming where real money lies.