You seem to be under the impression that everyone who is against this acquisition would change their minds if it was Sony that was doing the acquisition. People like
@Topher and myself have made it very clear that this isn't a Microsoft vs. Sony argument that we're making. We are against consolidation of large publishers by mega corporations. Period. If Microsoft or Sony want to acquire a small start-up and make that studio grow under its leadership, that's fine by me. (Note: I am not speaking for
@Topher on this point as this is just my own opinion.) The issue is the market leaders buying up traditionally multi-platform publishers in order to foreclose and make these titles, in full or in part, exclusive to their console. That's not okay, and nobody should feel good about that.
While this is a fair point and I agree with it, Sony is playing dirty here.
With your logic, if big publishers are off limit, and Sony keeps using its power to secure exclusive games and content from those big publishers ( and its much easier for sony to do so vs MS because of both userbase and influence on the market ), MS will never have a chance to compete. they will always be the underdog, they will always be losing money on the Xbox project and their game pass subscription service will never grow to the point where it needs to be.
At its current state, if I am a game developer, and I get 2 job offers from MS or Sony, I will work with Sony no questions asked. that's where the talent is and that's where I will get to work with the big devs and make a name for myself.
MS has lots of IPs under their wings. from Rare to Bethesda etc. but there is no talent to develop these games. MS is not missing IPs. they are missing devs. and MS is hoping by buying big publishers like ACT, is have all those devs under its wing AND gain enough power in the market where
1- Devs want to work with them
2- it gets harder for Sony to secure big exclusives now that Xbox has a user base and name. it will require Sony to pay lots of money to secure a game from a user base like Xbox / game pass and thus dominating power.
I do not have an Xbox. only high-end gaming PC and PS5. and I really hope this deal goes through just so Jim can eat shit, and Sony play fair in the market. Whether it's Final Fantasy 7 Remake or 16 or forsaken or Street fighter 5 or whatever, Sony keeps using its power to have all the games not come on Xbox. they keep playing dirty ( and fair enough, that's how Business and Market are, it's business at the end of the day ), but since they decided to go that route, MS is now using its power ( money ) to hurt Sony just like how Sony is been doing.
LoL. I really hope this deal goes through. just for the salty tears of Jim crying in interviews. but whatever. CMA is sony cunts and it's obvious. I hope Euro approve this deal before CMA get the chance to vote, at least if they block it, the whole world will know they are Sony cunts. I hope this deal goes through when FTC and Euro approve it and CMA doesn't. this way British gamers will riot against these fucklets when they can't get COD anymore because it's under MS name and they are blocked. .. they will burn CMA to the ground. ( Edit : this not a serious wish. more like it will be funny how UK gamers will react when MS goes with the purchase and no more COD for them. it will be very interesting to watch but I do not think it will reach that point anyway. so grow up LoL)
Again. I do respect everyone who is against big publishers being purchased by Mega publishers. but this case specifically, where MS has been trying for more than 20 years now, it needs to be approved and happen. enough of Sony being the market leader for all this long. time to offset some balance, if it's up to them we will be paying 100$ per game next gen if we leave it to Sony. being the market leader alone is killing this hobby. and if it was someone else besides MS, they would have left a long time ago. Google tried, Apple tried a long time ago, and Amazon tried, but they all crashed and burned and left the industry. if MS does that,,,,, yeah its game over.