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Sony pictures CEO: "next consolidation will be in the game business"
- Thread starter onesvenus
- Start date
ResilientBanana
Member
You read what I wrote, right? Less output, less studios. Not less studios with more output.
Dabaus
Banned
According to wikipedia they did that back in 2012.
M3, INC. : Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile | JP3435750009 | MarketScreener
M3, INC. : Company profile, business summary, shareholders, managers, financial ratings, industry, sector and market information | Japan Exchange: 2413 | Japan Exchangewww.marketscreener.com
Go down the page to shareholders... Sony is the top one at 34%.
You can see the value of stock on the TSE.
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
Consolidation doesn't automatically mean less output. It can have the opposite effect too
ResilientBanana
Member
While correct, what I'm referring to is what the article was stating in regards to movies and saying how the gaming side is next..
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Bryank75
Banned
Yes, they still own them... and it is a huge portion of the company.
I am thinking that it was moved from short term assets (Cash and equivalents) to longterm assets.... due to the nature and length of the investment.
That would result in cash showing as 17+ billion less but longterm assets increasing.
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
He's talking about less independent studios. Not that the studios themselves are just going to dissappear
Bryank75
Banned
Unknown?
Member
No money is real ever since we left the gold standard.
Kokoloko85
Member
Yeah they need to buy someone big now that MS is doing it. Otherwise I was happy Sony doing what they were doing and buying studios they had a relationship with, ( Exclusive IP’s and games after many years, hence organic growth ) but they need to spend bigger now.
Capcom, Square, Sega are all great choices. I feel Sega + Atlus would be pretty big. But owning IP like Resident Evil, Street Fighter & DMC would be huge. Plus having Monster Hunter and Ace Attorney is basically winning Japan.
Square would also be great with Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, Nier, tons of classic JRPG’s but also Tomb Rader and Deus Ex.
Didnt realise Sega was cheaper than Capcom and Square? JRPG’s like Persona, SMT and Disgae, Phantasy Star, Valkyrie Chronicles would be great. Plus Yakuza, Virtua Fighter, Jet Set Radio, Sonic franchise, Panzer Dragoon and alot more.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
I didn't even mention anything about output.
Also, sometimes (though not always), when companies get acquired by big publishers, they grow because of more funding and can increase output, e.g., Insomniac, Obsidian, PlayGround, etc.
Dream-Knife
Banned
I don't think Sony will be buying any of the large publishers mentioned in here. If they did, they would instantly be less valuable.
kebaldo
Member
I can actually imagine a future where something like this happens looool the future of videogames is daaaark
VGEsoterica
Member
Sony releases Atari Jaguar 2 confirmed
CamHostage
Member
Heh, I'm with you; however, in your own example, the maker of Rocket League was acquired by the maker of Fortnite.
I don't know what it would take for the monopolies to take Epic Games, (a few of the big players have a piece already, which would make it difficult for one to take the other's share,) but Unreal Engine is already on its way to being the main gateway to game production (including UE Marketplace,) so in addition to the phenomenon game that makes them formidable, they are on their way to controlling the market of development.
Andodalf
Banned
I know this is a joke, but people keep saying this as if Rockstar was independent and not a part of 2k
thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
So are people who were against acquisitions and consolidation before, gonna start cheering them on now?
Just keep that same energy.
Personally doesn't matter much on my end. What happens, happens. We'll just have to see what actually occurs. But I'm not gonna make a wishlist for who gets bought (or complain when a company gets acquired).
Just keep that same energy.
Personally doesn't matter much on my end. What happens, happens. We'll just have to see what actually occurs. But I'm not gonna make a wishlist for who gets bought (or complain when a company gets acquired).
BattleScar
Member
Goodbye sweet video games.
The M&A wars have begun. Fucking trashcan humans running these corporations.
The M&A wars have begun. Fucking trashcan humans running these corporations.
yurinka
Member
No, MS did it because Sony had way more internal development teams and (currently) important IPs and generates more money, so they needed to catch up and generated way more money.
Sony continues breaking gaming history records for any console platform holder regarding generated revenue, consoles sold and games sold for their consoles. They also release more exclusives than MS, exclusives that sell more, get better reviews and earn more GOTY awards than the MS ones. Zenimax represented less than 5% of the games sold for PS4, so won't miss them if they go full exclusive in the future.
Sony doesn't have any reason to acquire a big publisher. Their plan is to continue growing their existing internal development studios, to open new ones and acquiring some that have a long, successful relationship with them working on PS exclusive games.
I think Sony won't buy Square, Capcom, Take 2, Sega, etc. even if it could make sense and Sony could have enough money. The other also has to want (or need) to be acquired. They all are in a good financial shape and have a mostly multiplatform approach where even in some cases PS is their main revenue source, to stop releasing future stuff on Switch, PC (at least at launch, PC port could be done several years later) and Xbox would be a major negative impact on their revenue cutting away in some cases over half of their game revenue.
It think they may acquire instead someone like Bluepoint, Kojipro, Quantic Dream, Supermassive, ARC System Works, etc. Game development studios whose revenue mostly was from PS exclusives, so to be acquired would mean a growth giving them more budget, resources and stability. Or due to strategical reasons, some Asian studio that may be unknown for console gamers but is huge in F2P mobile or PC Asian/worldwide market since they also want to grow there.
Source? I think it isn't the case.
Sony already has more big game IPs than the ones they can develop. And around half of the games they are developing are new IPs. Sony also mentioned they wanted to see more collaboration between divisions, so we could see them using some movie/anime IP they own on games.
When Hermen or Ryan said they were considering or open to acquisitions always mentioned studios or companies, not IPs, and sometimes specified they are particularly interested on people with a long relationship with them, so people who did work for them.
For Sony is more important Uncharted, TLOU or GoT, or their own cinema/anime IPs than Spider-Man because they get a full revenue from the games, movies, tv shows or anime. Considering Disney's cut on Spider-Man games, nside SIE their own IPs generate way more money for them than that licensed IP.
They have room to improve on how they milk these existing internal big IPs as it would be acquiring dev studios or growing the internal ones to develop them with more sequels or to use them for movies/tv shows/anime, or to use some existing big movie/tv show/anime IPs they have that may have a big potential if using them in games. And they are working on that. In addition to this, they produce new big gaming or movie IPs almost every year, so I don't see why they would want to buy more IP.
An option would be to enlarge their catalog for PS Now, their anime streaming apps or -if they ever make it- their own 'Netflix' to put there all their movies, tv shows and anime under a single app/subscription. I think they always welcome more big IPs but to grow hard PSNow and make their own Netflix isn't their priority now.
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Consolidation isnt just buying game devs. You have to think in broader terms. It could mean devs, hardware, distribution, anything in the chain that is able to add growth.
Consolidation is usually a result of companies not seeing a way to grow their userbase or profits by doing what they already are doing. For example if sony or MS think they have reached a point where they cant really expect to sell more consoles, they might look to acquire a company related to gaming to grow revenues that way.
Of course game makers are an option but not the only one.
Consolidation is usually a result of companies not seeing a way to grow their userbase or profits by doing what they already are doing. For example if sony or MS think they have reached a point where they cant really expect to sell more consoles, they might look to acquire a company related to gaming to grow revenues that way.
Of course game makers are an option but not the only one.
Boss Mog
Member
Sony and Nintendo merger. Sony focuses on home consoles, Nintendo on portables. The 2 machines can be used to play eachother, Nintendo makes games for the home console and Sony makes games for the portable, both have PSN which is more robust than Nintendo's current online. I could dig it.
Dabaus
Banned
Hezekiah
Banned
I really don't see Sony buying a publisher, and it's not really necessary.
If they're going to buy a big developer, then From Software would make the most sense in my opinion.
Microsoft have more money, if Microsoft were clever they would target PlayStation fanbase and go for Capcom and Square. They need to lock down Monster Hunter, Final Fantasy, Street Fighter. Basically give PlayStation owners no choice but to play on PC or buy an Xbox. Buying Bethesda isn't really targeting PlayStation fanbase as Bethesda is known for FPS games which fans already into Xbox. But getting those key IPs and developers that PlayStation fans love will make alot of PlayStation fans reconsider there purchase.
Hezekiah
Banned
Why is that? Windows related?
justiceiro
Marlboro: Other M
You guys know Sony pictures is about movies, right?
archangelmorph
Member
Stock price is super important for M&A as it provides the basis for valuation given most M&As incorporate copious amounts of leverage (e.g. corporate debt in the form of bonds or convertible notes; which is debt that converts into equity in future subject to certain success milestones).
yurinka
Member
Thanks, I didn't know about this. They plan to invest ~$18B (plus to increase it in the future depending on growth) over the next 3 years on strategic investment to grow their subscription services, presence on moble, and (something not very clear, may talk about user generated content like LBP/Dreams, something like integration of movie/game purchase on social media or new business models like to buy console games for streaming to play them anywhere without owning a conosle) via technology, shares repurchase and IP/Direct-To-Consumer.
Regarding IP/DTC they specify in a note 'Sony’s ability to maintain product quality and customer satisfaction with its products and services', so I assume they mean to develop and sell via their own channels their own IP instead of that they plan to buy IPs, because in another place for IP/DTC they also say ' Investment accelerated in particular over the past three years starting with the acquisition of EMI Music Publishing' and 'In the Game & Network Services segment, network sales increased almost tenfold in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 (FY2020) compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 (FY2013).'
In another place they mention 'Sony plans to further strengthen its partnerships in the area of DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) services, and accelerate its initiatives and investments, particularly in the mobile and social spaces'. Which not sure what it means for games unless they mean PS Now is coming to mobile and that you'll be able to buy games to stream them anywhere without needing to own a console. Plus releasing more mobile games.
They also mention 'As part of these efforts, Jim Ryan, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (“SIE”) stated that, “through investments in IP, group collaboration within Sony, and investment in social and mobile, we are excited for the opportunity to continue to expand our community.” Not sure if 'investing in IP' he means about buying IPs, I assume Jimbo means something more like 'we'll continue milking our IPs and creating new cool ones'.
They also add:
'Formation and expansion of communities of interest
Leveraging DTC services such as PlayStation™Network and Funimation, and collaboration between areas such as anime and games, Sony aims to contribute to the formation and activation of communities of interest (where people share emotionally-impactful experiences and similar interests), and through that fill the world with Kando.
Expanding the number of people around the world directly connected to the Sony Group
In addition to collaboration between its entertainment businesses such as games, pictures and music, and alliances with external partners, Sony also plans to strengthen its initiatives in the service, mobile and social spaces to further expand these communities, and seeks to expand the number of people around the world directly connected to the Sony Group due to their desire to consume entertainment from the current number of approximately 160 million to 1 billion people.- Sony will aim to increase the engagement of users of the PlayStation™Network as the Sony Group’s largest DTC service and community by strengthening the PlayStation™Now cloud streaming game service, and Sony intends to continue investing in or partnering with external studios in addition to investing in its in-house studios to enhance its software offering.
- Fate/Grand Order (FGO) is a prime example of how Sony is deploying its anime-related IP. Going forward Sony will continue to actively release mobile games based on anime-related IP around the world, and further focus on deploying PlayStation’s proprietary IP to mobile as well.
- In the PlayStation® business, Sony will seek to expand the community through investments in IP, group collaboration within Sony, and investment in social and mobile.'
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Dabaus
Banned
MS tried this in the early 360 days locking down Japanese content, it didnt work. The games didnt sell. New franchises were dead on arrival (Blue dragon, losy odyssey, infinite undiscovery) and ruined established franchises to this day (Tales of, Star ocean, and ace combat). Tales of is doing better now that its front and center on playstation and the most recent ace combat was ps4 exclusive if im not mistaken.
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The Alien
Banned
Yep. Definitely blame Microsoft.
kyliethicc
Member
Next developer Sony will buy is Arrowhead Game Studios.
sircaw
Banned
Hezekiah
Banned
I know they did Helldivers but they're quite new aren't they? And their next game is multiplatform isnt it.
kyliethicc
Member
They have not said much about their next game. Just "next gen" and PC.
Sony had no issue with letting Arrowhead put Helldivers on PC, even in 2015.
Arrowhead haven't said who is publishing. My bet is Sony.
And they have never shipped a game on Xbox, ever.
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Grumpy Toe Nail
Banned
Sony be like:
Hezekiah
Banned
Interesting. They're quite small and I imagine would be relatively cheap too.
Definitely seems to be something up with the three recent acquisitions, and the BluePoint rumours.
Gameplaylover
Member
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kyliethicc
Member
Bluepoint wasn't a rumor. The official PlayStation twitter shared an officially made image announcing an acquisition. And it was featured on their official PS Blog. It was then all deleted.
And yeah Arrowhead fits the model of acquisitions Sony are making.
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Ass of Can Whooping
Member
No it's nothing like that
They're just extreamly overvalued like most of the tech sector. The price is based on hype not the fundementals. You'll see this happen to other giants like Amazon, Apple, Nvidia etc too eventually
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Beelzebubs
Member
Konami or some of their IP's at least
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Sony will never spend the half of what Ms payed for Bethesda ...let's be serious here they will continue to buy single studios
graywolf323
Member
does the PS Remote Play app not have an iPad version?Sony make an iPad app so I can stream your games
PS Remote Play
Use PS Remote Play to access your PS5™ or PS4™ wherever you go. With PS Remote Play, you can: • Display the PlayStation®5 or PlayStation®4 screen on your mobile device. • Use the on-screen controller on your mobile device to control your PS5 or PS4. • Connect your DUALSHOCK®4 wireless...
apps.apple.com
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
Like I said in another comment, if they decided to buy something like capcom they wouldn't do it with all cash anyway
If they think it's the type of growth they need they'll absolutely do it.
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it's not how Sony ever operated with studios ....plus they never did an acquisition like this in gaming ...plus they already told us officially that they will continuie with organic grow plus i don't think that Sony can go out spending 5 or 6 billions everyday
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Ass of Can Whooping
Member
PlayStation is under completely new leadership. We're also in a consolidating market to boot. Just look at what they've been doing right now, they've never aquired this many studios in quick succession before.
They've said they're going to grow organically and through aquisitions.
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this is what will continue to happen...Sony will buy studios with who they are close....and it is perfectly fine ...because they dosnt have a gamepass (still)
don't expect them to buy a pub
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Ass of Can Whooping
Member
Their aquisitions will have nothing to do with gamepass
I'm not expecting anything, but to be outright confident that Sony isn't going to pull moves like buying a pub is naive
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