Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#71

Post by jmiskovic » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:56 PM UTC

ramoz wrote: post #24

If anyone has a chance at a legit “metaverse experience” it’s a tech giant who develops video games.

I don't think so. Microsoft development is too entrenched to pull off something that requires so much synergy. Currently I'd say Fortnite and Roblox are serious metaverse contenders, but one that takes the cake will probably be some new viral product made by fresh blood. Microsoft might buy them, though.

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#72

Post by geerlingguy » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:57 PM UTC

bitwize wrote: post #47

s3r3nity wrote: post #16

Congratulations to Phil Spencer, who started out leading an upstart team at Microsoft for a new game console called "Xbox" and is now "CEO of Microsoft Gaming" - a Microsoft Senior Leadership position. Oh, and he now leads the third biggest gaming company on the planet: > When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. It will be interes…

Microsoft owns CoD, Doom, Quake, Minecraft, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, and soon Warcraft, Starcraft, and Overwatch. They're becoming the Disney of gaming, which is scary, but hey, Microsoft gonna Microsoft.

And Halo, if we're counting seminal console franchises.

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#73

Post by glanzwulf » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:57 PM UTC

This is a megaton deal for Microsoft. Some of the biggest franchises, exclusive to their console/gamepass.

I wonder what will Sony do now?

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#74

Post by baud147258 » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:57 PM UTC

bitwize wrote: post #47

s3r3nity wrote: post #16

Congratulations to Phil Spencer, who started out leading an upstart team at Microsoft for a new game console called "Xbox" and is now "CEO of Microsoft Gaming" - a Microsoft Senior Leadership position. Oh, and he now leads the third biggest gaming company on the planet: > When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. It will be interes…

Microsoft owns CoD, Doom, Quake, Minecraft, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, and soon Warcraft, Starcraft, and Overwatch. They're becoming the Disney of gaming, which is scary, but hey, Microsoft gonna Microsoft.

well, maybe once they're in the extinguish phase, it will make room for other gaming companies?

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#75

Post by mandis » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:58 PM UTC

I wonder how much of this was driven by Nadella. MS has made some brilliant purchases recently.

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#76

Post by jackling » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:58 PM UTC

Kelteseth wrote: post #31

Can somebody please explain to me, why is it allowed for a company like MS to buy all of their (indirect) competitors?

I guess since there are so many competitors in the gaming market, the US government doesn't care. Not like this acquisition with make Microsoft have a majority share in the entire gaming industry.

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#77

Post by glanzwulf » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:58 PM UTC

atlasunshrugged wrote: post #34

I wonder if this will trigger any antitrust lawsuits. I know Microsoft isn't that of the 90's but it seems like the political situation is ripe for politicians to go after "big tech" and this is a pretty major acquisition that will help Xbox be the dominant player in terms of content.

Nothing will happen as we live in the post-Disney/Fox merger.

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#78

Post by raxxorrax » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:58 PM UTC

s3r3nity wrote: post #16

Congratulations to Phil Spencer, who started out leading an upstart team at Microsoft for a new game console called "Xbox" and is now "CEO of Microsoft Gaming" - a Microsoft Senior Leadership position. Oh, and he now leads the third biggest gaming company on the planet: > When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. It will be interes…

I think for gaming this is pretty negative that everything is consolidated under large developers. I also don't think that the atmosphere under Microsoft will be better than under Activision.

I hope PC gaming can detach from Microsoft as soon as possible to be honest.

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#79

Post by danso » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:58 PM UTC

salamandersauce wrote: post #13

Wow. No wonder Microsoft wasn't willing to shame Activision like Sony and others, they were in talks to buy it. Ridiculous.

I think it’d be problematic for a buyer to take public actions in devaluing its target amid takeover talks. Not just for Activision — but it’d be impossible to see Microsoft’s denunciations as principled rather than profit-motivated

Re: Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard

#80

Post by koheripbal » Tue, Jan 18, 2022, 1:59 PM UTC

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #17

Suddenly, the reason for the recent employee purge seems more clear. They never fired anybody for bad behavior before, and now, just soon to be aquired, they do.

20 employees out of 9500 employees is not significant.

You are reading too much from too little.