The problem with a lot of these analysts is they use the lowest possible number to estimate. When Xbox says “we have sold more at this point than any previous generation” they use the absolute lowest possible number to guestimate what that means for Series S|X
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Yet ironically use the biggest estimate for Playstation.
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What’s Sony meant to say? CoD exclusivity will kneecap us in the West and PSN subs will drop like a rock, but we’re cool bro! We bought Haven which has over 60 employees! Of course they’re going to say that. Because CoD is a big deal to lose.
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There’s clear examples of companies making games that rival it too lol. I mean if we look at the landscape we have Fortnite and Apex Legends as clear rivals in the shooters categories and both are newer IP. Crossfire too.
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Scanned this today and noticed that Ubisoft isn’t mentioned in the “look how many other competitors there are” list, and liked how there is language using Sony’s subscription service as evidence that there is enough competition. Language saying Sony has almost 50% of the console market with the rest split between Nintendo/Xbox suggests that additional mega deals would be harder to push through if Xbox ends up gaining significant share this gen.
There are lists of console storefronts (just the big 3) and then PC storefronts (10+ with steam and epic at the top) which is an interesting dynamic to think about. All those other companies would rather newer generations get away from the consoles and into their storefronts, showing how it’s not just younger generation’s new habits pushing away from consoles, it’s also non-Sony/Nintendo competitors. Adding this to Spencer saying “we’re worried about google/amazon/facebook not nintendo/sony” and Satya saying Xbox has been the market leader reinforces that if you’re not thinking outside of the box/console, you’re going to fade away. Another reason NPDs are dumb.
It’s pretty dry but is essentially “Microsoft explains the gaming industry to old government people”, I’m sure there are a lot of other insights in there.
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Both of these are done on purpose for sure.
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Pretty contrarian for Microsoft to play down the effects of CoD going Xbox exclusive given “ThEy aLrEaDy CoNfIrMeD iT wAs StIlL cOmInG tO pLaYsTaTiOn”
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Pretty sure MS would want to do this whether or not they confirmed it lol.
(I have no horse in this COD exclusively argument)
I’d like, if I may, to tell you a story.
It’s about a man you might know. Here’s some footage of him:
So, Seth Rogen and Sony produced a movie in 2014 called Sausage Party. It was… certainly something. However, Seth knew that like Team America and South Park before it, the movie pushed the boundaries of what regulators deemed acceptable for an R rating and came up with a plan. Him and the team came up with a scene so vile, so disturbing it virtually guaranteed the movie an NC-17 rating. It would overshadow everything in the film, and would leave the regulators so disturbed, they would have to ask for edits. But in doing so, it would distract them from all material effects otherwise.
NSFW description so feel free to click away.
The scene was a food orgy. It was 8 minutes long, exceptionally graphic and… it worked. The MPAA were entirely hung up on the fact that the Lavash had an unshaved pair of testicles. They were so unnerved that they ask, to get an R rating, that Seth shave that Lavash’s doughnut holes and he dutifully complied. The regulators were so happy he listened that they let the movie through.
Call of Duty is the lavash’s unshaven testicles. It is such a big game, so vital to the industry, that MS not only playing nice but expanding it to Switch looks good. And if they do this, they can probably get away with making everything blinking else exclusive if they so desire. They could even reduce the dev cycle on CoD and make a legitimate argument that it is allowing for a more competitive landscape by not sucking the air out of the room.
CoD is the sacrificial lamb that will still boost the ecosystem by being better on Xbox, possibly first for BETAs and hitting GP day one, and will make the rest of ABK’s console stuff look puny in comparison.
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Seeing Sony squirm and whine about CoD AND Gamepass is giving me some petty, childish satisfaction….and I can 100% admit it. 
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It makes me think Sony expects MSFT to throttle their margins on CoD or something, just 1-5% of a smaller cut to keep the game on their platform would cost them tens or hundreds of millions.
Honestly shocked they didn’t redact all of that.
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Lol , I actually want that printed on the boxed games as well. Would be a magical moment!
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Nah. If CoD isnt exclusive they may as well stop buying anyone again.
The Kingmaker is already in their hands. Placing it on a sacrificial alter to buy favor to search for another King maker is dumb.
The FTC can decide if its a monopoly or it isnt (it isnt, we know because CoD going exclusive to Xbox doesnt affect Switch one IOTA and that is selling ok and thus cannot be a monopoly).
They cant dictate where Xboxs product releases. Worse case…the deal goes through this September…Microsoft doesnt cancel Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 PS5 and says “see FTC, not everythings exclusive” fulfill the 2024 CoD game and thats it. “Case by case basis” thereafter. By 2026…the Playstation version wont be sustainable or profitable. Microsoft can say its because PS5 is underpowered or anticonsumer cross play fee makes it unfeasible.
Once the market hears the game is free on Xbox, PC and Xcloud through gamepass then the $70 CoD market collapses. Thats all Sony will have. Marketing to an overpriced game.
Our children and generations forward will grow accustomed to subscribing to Call of Duty, not buying it.
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“SONY could easily create a competitor to COD”
Surprise to see third party publushers “ok” with the deal honestly. Thought they would have something to say.
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Anyone reading the resetera on various companies (i.e Sony) response to the acquisition? They can’t be any more biased if they tried, hilarious 
As a consumer I go where the best deal is. Which is why I went from Xbox → 360 → PS4 → Series X.
Brand loyalty is weird.
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Who do ya think is gonna fill in the gaps when Blizzard and Activision stuff goes exclusive and CoD goes semi annual. They stand to win a lot here too.
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Same I had the PS1 & PS3 too but they weren’t my main consoles, I regret ever buying the PS3, it was one of the worst consoles I ever owned.
The PS4 was a really good console though, don’t regret that at all.
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They are okay with the deal because COD is still COD even if the ownership changes. They still have to believe they can compete, or at least say that they can, either way. In other words everyone else is already a COD competitor while Sony doesn’t want to have to move from benefiting from COD to competing with it.
I like the way you think!