Current Events > XBOX will "ABSOLUTELY" Buy More Studios! - Phil Spencer

(+) Yeah! (+)

While Microsoft has been slowly acquiring game studios for some time now, its record-breaking $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda parent company ZeniMax showed just how serious Microsoft's first-party development ambitions are. In an appearance on Twitch's Glitchcon opening address, Xbox head Phil Spencer touched on the Bethesda acquisition, but also confirmed it'll be adding more studios to its roster in future.

Spencer clarified first that, while the Bethesda acquisition is in motion, it hasn't yet been finalized and most likely won't be until early 2021 due to regulatory processes. "Coming together now and having them become part of Xbox I think will just be an amazing opportunity with the great games that they'll continue to build," Spencer said. "The great thing is, those games will become part of Game Pass on the day that they launch, which I think creates more opportunity for people to go play."

"In terms of continuing to invest in new studios and new games and new content, absolutely we have to do that," Spencer confirmed. "It's important that we continue to build out the library of games that are available on Xbox. We'll double the size of our studios organization when we add Bethesda, and we're going to continue to invest in great games so that people can find their next favorite game on our platform."

Spencer's comments go to show that Microsoft's gaming ambitions go well beyond the Xbox as simply a piece of hardware, and that the company is also looking to consolidate a software empire with Xbox Game Pass as its backbone. Spencer has previously commented on the Bethesda acquisition, saying that the point is not to make all its games console exclusive, or force anyone to buy Microsoft's hardware.

In the video, Spencer also apologized for the Xbox Series X/S shortages, addressing Xbox fans' frustrations with the console's limited availability.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-will-absolutely-buy-more-studios/1100-6484475/

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Now if they'll turn those into exclusives

Here's the thing, MIcrosoft can buy these studios, but the profitable ones know that cross platform is where its at. Microsoft knows that. So they wouldn't be helping themselves by making all the titles Xbox exclusives, especially when the PlayStation is as popular as it is. It would be in their best interest to allow Sony to have at least some of those titles...So they'd be paying big bucks to produce games for the competitor. Its not like Mario situation where those games alone can sell a Switch.

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I'm not real concerned about this as long as Phil's in charge. I'm worried about who comes after.

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Just leave CD Projekt alone!

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VipaGTS posted...

Here's the thing, MIcrosoft can buy these studios, but the profitable ones know that cross platform is where its at. Microsoft knows that. So they wouldn't be helping themselves by making all the titles Xbox exclusives, especially when the PlayStation is as popular as it is. It would be in their best interest to allow Sony to have at least some of those titles...So they'd be paying big bucks to produce games for the competitor. Its not like Mario situation where those games alone can sell a Switch.

Thats a lot of Sony pony copium.

Great, because major corporations buying every studio under the sun only had positive effects on gaming so far!

JoeRodonExprien posted...

Thats a lot of Sony pony copium.

I own consoles and enjoy consoles by both. I just know its not in their best interest to monopolize everything. Grow up, its not 1998. We dont do the console war thing anymore lol.

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Funny how the Bethesda buyout changed the internet's whole perspective on them. Before then, for months and probably a few years, it was "lol xbox has no exclusives gay get wrecked xbox losers lol" and now it's "Monopoly, why is this allowed to happen, too powerful"

If you buy the game on our console, you get spiderman

microsoft: ok

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Chugguhchugguh posted...

If you buy the game on our console, you get spiderman

microsoft: ok

Yeah but avengers is selling like hot cakes.........lol

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This has nothing to do with Sony and more about making it so Google or Amazon don't buy up someone big.

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Remember when people were praising Microsoft for being for cross party play when Sony wasn't?
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Not exclusive to xbox big nothing gained for xbox again

What's the point of buying many studios like that if microsoft aren't even gonna use it?
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Aki_Sora posted...

What's the point of buying many studios like that if microsoft aren't even gonna use it?

They still make money by having it on Sony's platform instead of making nothing at all.

Also makes it easier to incentivize Xbox exclusive items or modes

Also, how is Xbox's hold in Japan or overseas doing? It would be kind of bad business to alienate an entire nation of gamers or force them to switch to Xbox. Buying studios can be profitable, but i don't think anyone has to worry about them making everything Xbox exclusive. There is way more money to be made with cross platform.

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VipaGTS posted...

Also, how is Xbox's hold in Japan or overseas doing? It would be kind of bad business to alienate an entire nation of gamers or force them to switch to Xbox. Buying studios can be profitable, but i don't think anyone has to worry about them making everything Xbox exclusive. There is way more money to be made with cross platform.

yea microsoft definitely wouldnt want to incentivize people to buy their platform, that would be bad business

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DeadBankerDream posted...

Remember when people were praising Microsoft for being for cross party play when Sony wasn't?

Seems less scummy to just buy the company to make games for you rather than what Sony is doing and paying companies to release gutted games on other platforms.

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Romulox28 posted...

yea microsoft definitely wouldnt want to incentivize people to buy their platform, that would be bad business

I dont think its helpful if they already bought one. Most people dont or cant buy both.

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Romulox28 posted...

yea microsoft definitely wouldnt want to incentivize people to buy their platform, that would be bad business

Their platform is Gamepass, not just the Xbox console. Consoles don't make money.

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Oh boy more studios and ips to kill

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Microsoft's mandate to put all console games they can on PC puts me in their corner. Playstation exclusives are much more anticonsumer because you usually don't have the option of playing it on PC within a reasonable timeframe after launch.

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Vyrulisse posted...

Their platform is Gamepass, not just the Xbox console. Consoles don't make money.

This. Xbox wants to sell you gamepass for your gaming needs, that just means you also need an Xbox.

We don't see anyone complaining about PS exclusives here for some reason...

Proto_Spark posted...

that just means you also need an Xbox.

nope

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VipaGTS posted...

Here's the thing, MIcrosoft can buy these studios, but the profitable ones know that cross platform is where its at. Microsoft knows that. So they wouldn't be helping themselves by making all the titles Xbox exclusives, especially when the PlayStation is as popular as it is. It would be in their best interest to allow Sony to have at least some of those titles...So they'd be paying big bucks to produce games for the competitor. Its not like Mario situation where those games alone can sell a Switch.

The delusion is real. MS wants everyone on subscription, that's their new business model, and unless Sony allows Game Pass on their system they're shit out of luck. MS doesn't care about individual sales anymore, they want all the subscriptions. They don't get all the subscriptions by allowing their IPs on other consoles unless said console company allows their sub service.
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No, they've had this model for years now, it started with office 365 subs supplanting office 2016, windows is essentially free so you can spend money on onedrive subs and microsoft store stuff.

They havn't changed in years, so it must be super profitable.

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pogo_rabid posted...

No, they've had this model for years now, it started with office 365 subs supplanting office 2016, windows is essentially free so you can spend money on onedrive subs and microsoft store stuff.

They havn't changed in years, so it must be super profitable.

Well, newer business model. 365 was the grand experiment and they've deemed subs more profitable.
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Also, MS Azure/hosted servers AD subs is huge money

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Irony posted...

Oh boy more studios and ips to kill

Sony has killed more studios than ms. Calm down

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AlmightyCheeks posted...

Sony has killed more studios than ms. Calm down

They haven't killed any that mattered.

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Imagine spending $7.5 billion to buy a studio and then being like "yeah we gonna buy plenty more"

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Irony posted...

They haven't killed any that mattered.

They only killed games that mattered.

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Irony posted...

They haven't killed any that mattered.

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