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[In Cold Blood]

With the revelations that both Crystal Dynamics and Edios are co developers of Xbox games, and CD was always seen as a Microsoft acquisition anyway, do you think that once the Activision deal is finished Microsoft will then buy both these studios and their IP off Embracer Group?

Alot of people have surmised that while the AKB deal was going through Microsoft couldn't be seen to be buying even more studios, and from what others have reported, the buisness unit that oversees acquisitions at Microsoft is so flat out with the AKB one that they don't have the man power to work on anything else at this point.

However on the flipside, these studios are exactly what Embracer Group is in to, and those IPs alone are worth more than the price they played.

 

[MadPanda]

Maybe, if Embracer decides they don't have enough funds for their games. I just hope they don't close those studios. Give us new deus ex, tomb raider etc.

 

[Jennings]

I'm not sure. Maybe you could call their customer service and ask.

 

[SEGA_2012]

Microsoft and Crystal are a perfect fit for each other.

 

[begotten]

What's with all these people daydreaming about all the shit Microsoft can buy. They need to improve the output of their existing developers before buying more trash.

 

[feynoob]

Yes. Considering MS wants those 2 studios. I wouldnt be surpised if they announced them soon, after activision purchase.

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

Hope not. That money can be used on a studio like Asobo.

 

[Bernkastel]

Maybe Square couldn't sell them to MS and make their partners unhappy. Hence MS made a deal with Square and Embracer, Square will sell them to Embracer, and few years down the line MS will buy them from Embracer.
Also, IOI is supposedly working on a new project with MS, and MS could eventually buy them too.

 

[lh032]

Im more interest on the rumored Sony big acquisition few month ago by Greg, what happen to this rumor!!!??

 

[coffinbirth]

Would be weird to just scoop up the IP but not keep the studios that made said IP worth purchasing in the first place.

 

[Bernkastel]

Hope not. That money can be used on a studio like Asobo.

 

[//DEVIL//]

They had the chance to get them for a penny and they didn't. 200 Million was nothing for such a team. Yet they did not unless Sony had a say with Square Enix not to sell to MS ? I mean business wise that doesn't make any logic, but Sony is a snake so who knows?

 

[Skifi28]

"-Should Microsoft buy the entire known universe?"

"-Cheerleading ensues."

 

[hinch7]

What's with all these people daydreaming about all the shit Microsoft can buy. They need to improve the output of their existing developers before buying more trash.

Yeah, its super wierd that select people actively want their first party publisher of choice to buy out third parties. I guess its just fandom being fandoms..

Not that I agree that CD are trash. really enjoyed GoTG. The new Tomb Raider trilogy, not so much..

 

[pasterpl]

I think they will get them. Would be interesting if they go after the whole embracer group.

 

[Bernkastel]

I think they will get them. Would be interesting if they go after the whole embracer group.

EU will never allow the latter. Embbracer is european, and MS will never buy them entirely. They don't even need to.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

I think they will get them. Would be interesting if they go after the whole embracer group.

That would honestly be disgusting. They can barely manage the studios they currently have in terms of consistent high-quality content, let alone improving their output beyond previous accomplishments. They'll most likely get the ABK studios soon...how much more can a glutton eat before their stomach bursts like that disgusting fat guy from that Yoshi's Island SNES commercial?

Honestly after ABK, MS should be more than fine on gaming acquisitions outside of a couple smaller dev teams, for the next 5 or so years. Anything else between that time that's a big gaming publisher or similar will hopefully get called out for what it really is: intentional anti-competitive, deprivation of content from platform rivals.

Because you only need but so much to compete and in terms of raw resources (1P teams, tech, money), MS already has enough IMHO. At least let them produce some meaningful results before entertaining the idea they should buy up a crapton of more teams.

 

[In Cold Blood]

What's with all these people daydreaming about all the shit Microsoft can buy. They need to improve the output of their existing developers before buying more trash.

That is exactly what Microsoft has done with their studios.
Unread labs have gone from an indie studio to a AAA studio for State of Decay 3. They have opened a second studio in Florida and have doubled the size of their employees since their acquisition. The step up from SOD1&2 to the new Unreal Engine 5 SOD3 is going to be massive.
Playground Games has released the best open world racing game just last year and has opened up a whole new team for Fable, which doubled the size of their studio prior to acquisition.
Ninja Theory just like Undead has doubled the size of their studio and are going from a nice Indie studio to a AAA studio.
Infact every single studio has had more employees and has been invested in big time by Microsoft.
Prior to Microsoft buying Bethesda they would most likely have released Starfield already which would have been buggy and relied on 2 years worth if patches to finally get to an acceptable level. Microsoft's investment means they can take the extra time to make sure the games is as good as can be when it's released.
Microsoft is in this for the long haul. You would have to be pretty daft not to know that the games will get released. From next year on there will be so many games coming that people will complain there's too many.
Infact I was listening to a podcast the other day and they were saying that Microsoft should hold back Avowed to 2024 because you don't want to release two big RPGs too close together or they both won't have enough light shined on them.
Even without AKB, Microsoft has 23 studios with around 30 teams combined.
If they release on game every 5 years then that's 6 first party games a year. On top of that you have Xbox Global Publishing which is employing third party studios to make exclusive games for them. We have seen this with Contraband and Avalanche Studios, Project Dragon with IO Interactive etc.
Add this plus the games from AKB and its going to be ridiculous.

While it's taken a bit for things to get rolling, I would prefer that when the games come they will be bigger in scope and higher in quality.

 

[Ozriel]

That would honestly be disgusting. They can barely manage the studios they currently have in terms of consistent high-quality content, let alone improving their output beyond previous accomplishments. They'll most likely get the ABK studios soon...how much more can a glutton eat before their stomach bursts like that disgusting fat guy from that Yoshi's Island SNES commercial?

Honestly after ABK, MS should be more than fine on gaming acquisitions outside of a couple smaller dev teams, for the next 5 or so years. Anything else between that time that's a big gaming publisher or similar will hopefully get called out for what it really is: intentional anti-competitive, deprivation of content from platform rivals.

Because you only need but so much to compete and in terms of raw resources (1P teams, tech, money), MS already has enough IMHO. At least let them produce some meaningful results before entertaining the idea they should buy up a crapton of more teams.

Just going to point out to you that MS acquisition strategy seems more geared towards Gamepass content + mobile entry than hitting any arbitrary quality milestones set by folks on gaming forums.

They’re certainly not interested in buying Embracer. Nobody’s going to add 13000 employees.

 

[Skifi28]

Nobody’s going to add 13000 employees.

"Hold my windows."

 

[SJRB]

What's with all these people daydreaming about all the shit Microsoft can buy. They need to improve the output of their existing developers before buying more trash.

No no, you don't get it.

The chances of getting a good game get higher the more studios they buy. So they should buy everyone and then the games will come.

Buy everyone!

 

[RoadHazard]

That is exactly what Microsoft has done with their studios.
Unread labs have gone from an indie studio to a AAA studio for State of Decay 3. They have opened a second studio in Florida and have doubled the size of their employees since their acquisition. The step up from SOD1&2 to the new Unreal Engine 5 SOD3 is going to be massive.
Playground Games has released the best open world racing game just last year and has opened up a whole new team for Fable, which doubled the size of their studio prior to acquisition.
Ninja Theory just like Undead has doubled the size of their studio and are going from a nice Indie studio to a AAA studio.
Infact every single studio has had more employees and has been invested in big time by Microsoft.
Prior to Microsoft buying Bethesda they would most likely have released Starfield already which would have been buggy and relied on 2 years worth if patches to finally get to an acceptable level. Microsoft's investment means they can take the extra time to make sure the games is as good as can be when it's released.
Microsoft is in this for the long haul. You would have to be pretty daft not to know that the games will get released. From next year on there will be so many games coming that people will complain there's too many.
Infact I was listening to a podcast the other day and they were saying that Microsoft should hold back Avowed to 2024 because you don't want to release two big RPGs too close together or they both won't have enough light shined on them.
Even without AKB, Microsoft has 23 studios with around 30 teams combined.
If they release on game every 5 years then that's 6 first party games a year. On top of that you have Xbox Global Publishing which is employing third party studios to make exclusive games for them. We have seen this with Contraband and Avalanche Studios, Project Dragon with IO Interactive etc.
Add this plus the games from AKB and its going to be ridiculous.

While it's taken a bit for things to get rolling, I would prefer that when the games come they will be bigger in scope and higher in quality.

What's the K for?

 

[fuck_diggity_cunt_ingdon]

What's the K for?

ABK = Activision, Blizzard, King.

 

[Negotiator101]

Isn't Crystal Dynamics working for Microsoft currently anyway?

 

[cireza]

You can work with a company without buying it.

 

[ungalo]

Embracer didn't show any sign they want to reconsider their strategy. I don't see why they would sell studios so quickly.

But despite all my concerns about Microsoft i think cd and Eidos would be better with them. I feel Embracer is never going to mature enough to finance big projects.

 

[GHound]

They definitely should. I need everyone in the industry to be owned by my favorite trillion dollar corporation which is only smaller than two other trillion dollar corporations.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Im more interest on the rumored Sony big acquisition few month ago by Greg, what happen to this rumor!!!??

They admitted it was Square-Enix they had heard.

 

[The_Mike]

Doubt it, as CMA would probably see it as unfair competition given there's been more games on playstation than pc/xbox.

 

[lh032]

They admitted it was Square-Enix they had heard.

if that is the rumor, its too bad i guess cause SE is not going to sell i believed.

 

[FeastYoEyes]

God I hope not.

 

[BeardGawd]

Unlike Sony, MS doesn't buy every studio they work with.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Honest question: when was the last time Embracer sold a studio?

 

[jm89]

RIP Crystal dynamics if it ever happens.

 

[Negotiator101]

RIP Crystal dynamics if it ever happens.

They are working on a Microsoft IP currently mate, stop with the silly comments.

 

[Godot25]

I don't think there is a need for that
If Embracer is willing to "lend" their development houses in future for Microsoft, why would Microsoft go to grab entire studio? They still have the talent from those studios at their disposal without making huge financial commitment.

The only reason would be to also grab Deus Ex/Tomb Raider etc. and make them exclusives.

I think that after ABK they should pause with those huge acquisitions and make smart and smaller buys. Like Avalanche or IO Interactive.

 

[jm89]

They are working on a Microsoft IP currently mate, stop with the silly comments.

I'm sorry is that supposed to give reassurance?

 

[lordrand11]

That is exactly what Microsoft has done with their studios.
Unread labs have gone from an indie studio to a AAA studio for State of Decay 3. They have opened a second studio in Florida and have doubled the size of their employees since their acquisition. The step up from SOD1&2 to the new Unreal Engine 5 SOD3 is going to be massive.
Playground Games has released the best open world racing game just last year and has opened up a whole new team for Fable, which doubled the size of their studio prior to acquisition.
Ninja Theory just like Undead has doubled the size of their studio and are going from a nice Indie studio to a AAA studio.
Infact every single studio has had more employees and has been invested in big time by Microsoft.
Prior to Microsoft buying Bethesda they would most likely have released Starfield already which would have been buggy and relied on 2 years worth if patches to finally get to an acceptable level. Microsoft's investment means they can take the extra time to make sure the games is as good as can be when it's released.
Microsoft is in this for the long haul. You would have to be pretty daft not to know that the games will get released. From next year on there will be so many games coming that people will complain there's too many.
Infact I was listening to a podcast the other day and they were saying that Microsoft should hold back Avowed to 2024 because you don't want to release two big RPGs too close together or they both won't have enough light shined on them.
Even without AKB, Microsoft has 23 studios with around 30 teams combined.
If they release on game every 5 years then that's 6 first party games a year. On top of that you have Xbox Global Publishing which is employing third party studios to make exclusive games for them. We have seen this with Contraband and Avalanche Studios, Project Dragon with IO Interactive etc.
Add this plus the games from AKB and its going to be ridiculous.

While it's taken a bit for things to get rolling, I would prefer that when the games come they will be bigger in scope and higher in quality.

Personally I hope they listen to the masses (small) and buy the company that has rights to The Simpsons Hit and Run and create an HD Rerelease.

 

[Thirty7ven]

Embraced bought them when they were working on these games so? Is there any sort of logic to this one or it only works if we cross our eyes?

 

[Mibu no ookami]

if that is the rumor, its too bad i guess cause SE is not going to sell i believed.

There is a decent chance Sony would buy Square Enix. S-E kind of knows that they aren't in a position where they can compete internationally. This was fueled by their sell-off of their western studios.

What does Sony have it's own abundance of western studios. What does Sony lack? Japanese studios.

It could be a real win win for Sony and Square Enix. They already have a deep relationship and maybe just maybe under Sony they'd have a shift in management and we'd see a return to quality over rush jobs and half-measures with their IP. I say this after Naughty Dog did a rush job half measure with the remake for the last of us part 1.... oy vey... Anyways I think that the price is too steep for what they offer.

But back to the OP, I think it's a bit farfetched, but not out of the realm of possibility that Embrace bought them to spin them off at a higher cost. Something that would make Square Enix look really bad unless it became clear that Square Enix was getting that cost of their books.

I think Sony will announce its own acquisitions right after the regulators approve/disapprove of the ABK deal. And then we'll see how the rest of the industry shakes out. I believe we'll see a round of mergers to stave off acquisitions too.

Capcom and Konami would make for an interesting merger. They're really the only two major third party Japanese studios that haven't had a merger and Capcom still has the development arm to make games for Konami's IP.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Prior to Microsoft buying Bethesda they would most likely have released Starfield already which would have been buggy and relied on 2 years worth if patches to finally get to an acceptable level. Microsoft's investment means they can take the extra time to make sure the games is as good as can be when it's released.

Sure Jan.

 

[adamsapple]

No, but I do see them making some kind of a 2nd party like deal ala Insomniac before the acquisition.

 

[DragonNCM]

Do we need more ruined games?
Halo is dead already.....dont kill Tomb raider....

 

[splattered]

I hope they do, nothing will happen with them under embracer

 

[Neolombax]

Sure why not.

 

[Kilau]

I would think yes but I can't vote that they for sure worked with Embracer on the deal since I have no idea or proof of that.

 

[Captain Toad]

Do we need more ruined games?
Halo is dead already.....dont kill Tomb raider....

The fact SquareEnix could barely find anyone to take Tomb Raider off their hands for the price of a pizza party, tells me it's too late.

 

[Swift_Star]

Why would they? They can’t even maintain a delivery pipeline with their current studios. They should focus on delivering the games they currently are developing instead of trying to buy the whole industry.

 

[Captain Toad]

Why would they? They can’t even maintain a delivery pipeline with their current studios. They should focus on delivering the games they currently are developing instead of trying to buy the whole industry.

They seem to be big on paying for IPs and going cheaper on developers.

With all their studios, the fact they need to hire outside studios to make their game is mind-blowing.

 

[ahtlas7]

How would anyone here know?