3 ms·

I’m going to have to strongly disagree with the idea that Microsoft isn’t creating real value to players. Gamepass is literally the best deal for someone playi

I’m going to have to strongly disagree with the idea that Microsoft isn’t creating real value to players. Gamepass is literally the best deal for someone playing video games, full stop. The price may get jacked up in the future but right now it is stupid good. Also you’re really not being honest about the historical aspect of Sony and first party games. You said as much but I don’t see why you’re giving Sony a pass for snapping up a stable of developers for first party games over time but knocking Microsoft for being late to the party and close the gap. It’s the same thing for the same result. Whichever you prefer is fine. Most of Sony’s first party stuff is very different to the Microsoft stuff. Sony has engaged in anticompetitive practices a lot in recent history. They tried really hard to prevent cross platform play, going so far as to both lie about it and also throw a “think of the children” in there. They also are the platform that wants money to support cross platform play.

pbalcer 3y ago
I'm not arguing that Sony are saints and Microsoft is the devil. I agree that Gamepass is awesome value and forced Sony to improve their PS+ offerings (competition is awesome!). However, there's a stark difference between Sony buying and investing in game studios after a long partnership (like in the case of Naughty Dog or Insomniac Games), which allows those studios to create bigger and more ambitious games, and Microsoft snapping up multiple large, well funded and profitable, game publishing companies. All I'm really trying to say is that the former deploys capital to fund new games in order to gain market share by competing on quality of the product (which is clearly working for Sony), whereas the latter is deploying capital to just snap up market share directly...
- smoldesu 3y ago
  Left to their own devices, Activision/Blizzard would have just died. If your goal is games continuing to get made regardless of the platform they appear on, I'd argue the Microsoft acquisition is a net win for Blizzard fans.

pbalcer 3y ago

I'm not arguing that Sony are saints and Microsoft is the devil. I agree that Gamepass is awesome value and forced Sony to improve their PS+ offerings (competition is awesome!). However, there's a stark difference between Sony buying and investing in game studios after a long partnership (like in the case of Naughty Dog or Insomniac Games), which allows those studios to create bigger and more ambitious games, and Microsoft snapping up multiple large, well funded and profitable, game publishing companies. All I'm really trying to say is that the former deploys capital to fund new games in order to gain market share by competing on quality of the product (which is clearly working for Sony), whereas the latter is deploying capital to just snap up market share directly...

smoldesu 3y ago
Left to their own devices, Activision/Blizzard would have just died. If your goal is games continuing to get made regardless of the platform they appear on, I'd argue the Microsoft acquisition is a net win for Blizzard fans.