Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#311

Post by nonbirithm » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:51 PM UTC

tinus_hn wrote: post #281

epicide wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You make a good point to bring up indie development (WoW excluded), but I think looking at the storefronts is also important. For these big conglomerates, the trendy thing is to have your own games store. Complete with exclusivity deals, privacy concerns, and plenty more. That's not to say that every game on a store has these issues. However, I think the lesson from mobile app stores is: don't discount the impact tha…

> For these big conglomerates, the trendy thing is to have your own games store. Complete with exclusivity deals How else are they going to get people to use these stores?

Also the fact that the Epic Games Store exists is a step towards countering Steam's monopoly on mainstream titles.

People complain about the loss of functionality like screenshots or the in-game browser when using Epic. And there are exclusivity deals. Complaints against those things are valid, and the actual implementation of the storefront needs a lot of improvement, but I'm wondering if a Steam monopoly would have been any better for consumers and developers.

To me it sounds like a lot of consumers were happy with the monopoly and saw the exclusivity deals as disruptive as they had to migrate their friends list and set up a lot of things just to play that one hyped title. But when it comes down to the hard issue of staying afloat I can see how the money Epic offers to game studios is enticing.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#312

Post by screye » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:53 PM UTC

dexwell wrote: post #263

screye wrote: post #253

I genuinely think this is an amazing acquisition. Bethesda/Zenimax has arguably the longest lineup of critically acclaimed franchises in the video game world. Additionally, almost every franchise still feels fresh and has pulling power, unlike ones like Halo and Assassins creed which have slowly lost their thunder. Additionally, Bethesda had no idea what they were doing with their 2 biggest properties - Fallout and E…

> Bethesda/Zenimax has arguably the longest lineup of critically acclaimed franchises in the video game world Let me introduce you to a little company called Nintendo.

I am kicking myself right now.

I knew I should have added 'cross-platform'. You're correct Nitendo certainly counts. Naughty dog would probably want to contend my claim too.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#313

Post by aero-glide » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:54 PM UTC

Great, yet another acquisition. So eventually everything will become one company or what? I like free markets, at least the idea of competition. I hate conglomerates. Am I contradicting myself?

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#314

Post by redisman » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:54 PM UTC

wpdev_63 wrote: post #7

Holy sh!t. Bethesda is huge! Well I was just thinking the other day that Microsoft really doesn't have any first party studio that are really as good as Sony's first party. IMO they didn't release a game 'this' gen that makes picking up a xbox one worth it. This could change that with fallout and doom. Also this allows them to bring the ID tech engine under their stewardship.... I just hope that they don't trash the…

That hasn't been true for a while now. Xbox Game Studios has acquired Rare, Obsidian, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, Mojang...

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#315

Post by screye » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:54 PM UTC

tyleo wrote: post #291

screye wrote: post #253

I genuinely think this is an amazing acquisition. Bethesda/Zenimax has arguably the longest lineup of critically acclaimed franchises in the video game world. Additionally, almost every franchise still feels fresh and has pulling power, unlike ones like Halo and Assassins creed which have slowly lost their thunder. Additionally, Bethesda had no idea what they were doing with their 2 biggest properties - Fallout and E…

I worked at Turn 10 (the Xbox studio which makes Forza) about a year and a half ago. Work life balance was amazing. The tech director of the studio made it a huge point that staff get adequate time off. He brought it up in almost every dev team meeting, "Let me know if you don't feel like you can take time off". He also made a huge point about having a sustainable team. I don't know that this is a characteristic of a…

That's really interesting. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#316

Post by KingOfCoders » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:55 PM UTC

Good move, Sony had up to now more exclusive titles for their Playstation lines. Many people wrote off the new XBox because there were not enough exclusive titles. Now perhaps next Doom etc. will be time limited exclusive for the Xbox.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#317

Post by santoshalper » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:56 PM UTC

logicOnly wrote: post #151

pjmlp wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to Switch data, Unity powers about 50% of its games. It is also the tier1 engine sponsored by Google and Microsoft for their 3D offerings, Godot needs to grow a bit more to reach that level of relevance for game studios, AR/VR companies and Hollywood now looking at Unity.

Nintendo isn't really helpful to understand the greater market. Most developers don't work with them, and their customers represent a tiny less "gaming educated" population. It's like using cellphone games as a gauge on the greater market.

That's some impressive mental gymnastics to try to redefine a market to be more like one you want it to be. Here's a tip: Markets are defined by demand, not supply.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#318

Post by redisman » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:57 PM UTC

awill wrote: post #274

It's unfortunate that the Xbox Series X and PS5 are so, so, so similar. It seems stupid to have to purchase 2 nearly identical boxes. It's not just the console. You then need multiple controllers for each, and possibly other accessories (Sony has a PS5 specific headset, camera, charger, will have a PS5 VR etc.) I've historically preferred PS exclusives (Uncharted, Spiderman, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn), and the cr…

They're both basically a great value gaming PC at this point. With a handful of hardware-level optimizations making them cheap and powerful for the price.

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#319

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:58 PM UTC

screye wrote: post #253

I genuinely think this is an amazing acquisition. Bethesda/Zenimax has arguably the longest lineup of critically acclaimed franchises in the video game world. Additionally, almost every franchise still feels fresh and has pulling power, unlike ones like Halo and Assassins creed which have slowly lost their thunder. Additionally, Bethesda had no idea what they were doing with their 2 biggest properties - Fallout and E…

[deleted]

Re: Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks for $7.5B

#320

Post by redisman » Mon, Sep 21, 2020, 3:58 PM UTC

gregjw wrote: post #71

The year is 2040. Gigaconglomerates Tencent, Activision Blizzard Ubisoft (ABU), Microsoft and Apple gatekeep the entire gaming industry. Rebel guerilla groups of small publishers and indie developers rise up to take control of their encampments.

I'm sure Disney will be there too. After they acquired Star Wars it's been a looming presence ready to swallow and regurgitate forever any entertainment properties.