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

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

#231

Post by ianhorn »

Firebrand wrote: post #84

Bethesda Games are not going not be exclusive to Xbox -- Confirmed by Todd Howard: >Like our original partnership, this one is about more than one system or one screen. We share a deep belief in the fundamental power of games, in their ability to connect, empower, and bring joy. And a belief we should bring that to everyone - regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you play on. Regardless of the screen siz…

I don't read that as saying Bethesda Games aren't going to be exclusives. Or maybe it'll be xbox plus windows. Meanwhile, there's this quote from Satya Nadella from press release at the bottom of OP, speaking about this acquisition:

> Quality differentiated content is the engine behind the growth and value of Xbox Game Pass—from Minecraft to Flight Simulator.

"Differentiated content" sounds to me like exclusives.

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

#232

Post by partiallypro »

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…

Microsoft doesn't care about exclusives that much, imo. Sure, a few here and there, but overall they just want people to use their software. That's why their new "exclusive" titles are also on Xbox One. Microsoft will make money by selling their Bethesda titles to PlayStation users, etc. They might make a few of their titles exclusive, but Fallout and Doom won't be among them.

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

#233

Post by TheRealDunkirk »

bzalasky wrote: post #86
bsagdiyev wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is The Outer Worlds? I heard it is basically space Fallout, which if that is half as good as it sounds I am all over it.

For me, The Outer Worlds was right there with Witcher 3 as one of the best games this generation. It really does feel like Fallout, but perhaps somewhat less open world when you're actually on a planet b/c of map boundaries and enemies too dangerous for your level to keep you on track. The diverging story lines and open space travel (once you get the requisite navkey to be able to land) compensate for that somewhat.

While it IS a great game, it's REALLY short. I've been hoping for a surprise DLC to expand the content. (There are several other planets in the galaxy map you can't travel to. Hint, hint.) I hope the game did well enough to get a larger treatment in Outer Worlds 2.

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

#234

Post by unethical_ban »

QuixoticQuibit wrote: post #194
curiousllama wrote: post #172

Microsoft is just trying to recreate console lock-in without having to subsidize hardware so much. (1) Microsoft is trying to expand their gaming division, but struggle with first-party games. This acquisition is an acknowledgement that MSFT needs Bethesda creatives. (2) Microsoft's big strategy right now is to build their Xbox ecosystem - they're pushing GamePass, Xcloud, etc. heavily, and trying to become Netflix f…

I don’t see how $10/mo is at all profitable with them adding all these AAA games to it.

Netflix has something like 150,000,000 subscribers. $10-15/mo adds up quickly.

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

#235

Post by lostmsu »

bsagdiyev wrote: post #45
Danieru wrote: post #32

Incredible that Fallout and Obsidian are now under the same roof again. The Outer Worlds was fun, and I want to see Obsidians efforts continue. Still, new Vegas 2 would be fine too.

How is The Outer Worlds? I heard it is basically space Fallout, which if that is half as good as it sounds I am all over it.

I am not sure it is half as good as it sounds. Played through a few first quests, and got more Borderlands feeling from it, than Fallout. It was so gimmicky, I did not continue to play.

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

#236

Post by darknavi »

QuixoticQuibit wrote: post #194
curiousllama wrote: post #172

Microsoft is just trying to recreate console lock-in without having to subsidize hardware so much. (1) Microsoft is trying to expand their gaming division, but struggle with first-party games. This acquisition is an acknowledgement that MSFT needs Bethesda creatives. (2) Microsoft's big strategy right now is to build their Xbox ecosystem - they're pushing GamePass, Xcloud, etc. heavily, and trying to become Netflix f…

I don’t see how $10/mo is at all profitable with them adding all these AAA games to it.

Think of how many people have Netflix that don't even use it. They want to get Game Pass to the point where it's a de facto standard that a gamer has Game Pass.

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

#237

Post by smileybarry »

MaxBarraclough wrote: post #46
bzb5 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I saw Doom 2016 running on OpenGL I was shocked. I would’ve never thought you could write an AAA game with it. It made me wonder why game developers use DX instead.

If you want to target Xbox, you need to write a D3D renderer anyway (although the Xbox API has some significant differences, if I understand correctly). There's little point writing an OpenGL renderer if your target platforms are Windows, Xbox, and PlayStation (which has its own graphics API). Also, my understanding is that on Windows, OpenGL generally runs into more issues with driver bugs than D3D does.

> Also, my understanding is that on Windows, OpenGL generally runs into more issues with driver bugs than D3D does.

I'm not sure if that's the case anymore, but it definitely has a bad rep on Windows. Initially (throughout XP and maybe some of Vista) OpenGL support on Windows was done by a OpenGL -> DirectX translation layer, so performance was always worse in OpenGL mode unless a game's Direct3D implementation was especially awful. This stopped being the case when NVIDIA started shipping a full OpenGL driver. (I'm not sure when AMD/ATI started shipping theirs)

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

#238

Post by bnycum »

MaximumMadness wrote: post #174
curiousllama wrote: post #172

Microsoft is just trying to recreate console lock-in without having to subsidize hardware so much. (1) Microsoft is trying to expand their gaming division, but struggle with first-party games. This acquisition is an acknowledgement that MSFT needs Bethesda creatives. (2) Microsoft's big strategy right now is to build their Xbox ecosystem - they're pushing GamePass, Xcloud, etc. heavily, and trying to become Netflix f…

What's your take on the potential long-term success of Game Pass?

I've been using Game Pass for roughly 18 months. Really like it so far, though I've gotten it for "free" through MS Rewards. I'd probably have a different opinion if I actually paid for it monthly.

The thing that is missing are the huge AAA games, but I honestly can't see most of those coming to Game Pass. They may come but like 1-2 years after initial release.

Minus like the Forza and Halo series, most of the MS owned studios developing games are fairly shorter in length. Don't take that the wrong way though, even though they are shorter some are real gems. Just don't expect to play every game on there for 20+ hours or anything.

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

#239

Post by [deleted] »

the_hoser wrote: post #185
logicOnly wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 silly gatekeeping bullshit. By the numbers, mobile gaming is the greater market. It's traditional gaming that's becoming the niche.

[deleted]

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

#240

Post by kwanbix »

partiallypro wrote: post #232
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…

Microsoft doesn't care about exclusives that much, imo. Sure, a few here and there, but overall they just want people to use their software. That's why their new "exclusive" titles are also on Xbox One. Microsoft will make money by selling their Bethesda titles to PlayStation users, etc. They might make a few of their titles exclusive, but Fallout and Doom won't be among them.

Isn't XBOX ONE from MS?
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