Microsoft tried to buy a different mobile game publisher before Activision Blizzard!

“THE COMPANY HAS SAID IT WANTS TO CREATE A NEW “NEW XBOX MOBILE PLATFORM”

Yes, Microsoft has been looking to expand its presence in the gaming industry for some time now and has made several attempts to acquire game publishers. Before attempting to buy Activision Blizzard, Microsoft was reportedly in talks to acquire Electronic Arts (EA) in 2017, which would have been a significant deal in the gaming industry.

However, the talks reportedly fell through due to a disagreement over the price. Microsoft has also acquired other game development studios in recent years, including Obsidian Entertainment, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine Productions, as part of its efforts to build a strong portfolio of first-party game studios for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Sure! Microsoft has been interested in expanding its presence in the gaming industry and has tried to acquire various game publishers over the years. In 2017, before attempting to buy Activision Blizzard, Microsoft was reportedly in talks to acquire Electronic Arts (EA), one of the largest game publishers in the industry.

However, the talks ultimately fell through due to a disagreement over the price. Microsoft has also been acquiring other game development studios in recent years, such as Obsidian Entertainment, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine Productions, as part of its efforts to build a strong portfolio of first-party game studios for its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

The advantage of Microsoft acquiring game development studios like Obsidian Entertainment, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine Productions is that it allows the company to build a strong portfolio of first-party game studios. By doing so, Microsoft can release exclusive games for its Xbox console and PC platform, which could attract more users to its gaming ecosystem.

This could lead to increased revenue for Microsoft through the sale of consoles, games, and subscriptions to its Xbox Game Pass service. Additionally, by having more first-party studios, Microsoft could potentially release more high-quality games, which could improve the overall perception of the Xbox brand.

The disadvantage of acquiring game development studios is that it can be an expensive endeavor. Microsoft would need to spend a significant amount of money to acquire these studios, which could impact the company's finances in the short term. Additionally, there is no guarantee that the games produced by these studios will be successful or popular, which could lead to wasted resources and investment.

According to new documents submitted to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Sony has expressed concern about Microsoft's potential acquisition of Activision Blizzard, specifically regarding the future of the Call of Duty franchise. Sony is worried that Microsoft may raise the price of Call of Duty, make it exclusive to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, or reduce the quality and performance of the game on PlayStation.

Sony cites a hypothetical scenario where Microsoft could intentionally release a buggy and problematic version of Call of Duty on PlayStation, which could lead to gamers losing faith in the platform and potentially switching to Xbox. Sony is leaving it unclear whether this would be a purposeful detriment or simply a result of Microsoft prioritizing Call of Duty on its own platform.

Sony is also concerned about Microsoft ignoring features of Sony's new console and prioritizing Call of Duty on Xbox, potentially sabotaging the game's performance on PlayStation. The two companies have a history of fighting for exclusive rights to the franchise, with Sony worried that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard could tip the balance of power in its favor.