The Microsoft merger with Activision Blizzard.

[J T]

Isn't this just businesses doing what businesses do, though?

I mean, whether we agree with it or not isn't the whole set up that businesses exist to make money, and as much money as possible.

[Kin Hell]

Like J T says.....

Just another merry go round Butt F**k.

[Harrison]

Yes very true. But as gamers we really don't want corporations obtaining all successful development houses, because they only want the profitable IPs, not those who were behind making them so. Plus any technologies they have developed such as cloud gaming.

Microsoft has a track record of buying up developers and then running them into the ground, splitting them up, or just not doing much with them. They already own 21 development houses. Where are the exclusives?

By contrast, whilst Sony does buy up developers, they also like to fund independent developers in exchange for exclusive deals. Sony have been an entertainment company for a very long time. They were making games in the 80s on NES as Sony Imagesoft so were not new to the market with the Playstation. And they have been in the wider entertainment market with film and TV for a very long time. They know the market. Microsoft don't seem to, and it now seems they only managed to have success with the 360 by accident. Being the second richest company in the world ($2.48 Trillion) with so many resources it's hard to understand why they are struggling so much. US corporate capitalism and no understanding of creative markets seems to be the most obvious reason. Pinning all their hopes on Gamepass.

[J T]

21 dev houses? good grief - that's a lot.