I don’t know if that would be possible, but an alternative for sega would be a joint venture with Sega Sammy. That way it would be possible to separate the areas.
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Microsoft is looking for acquisition so that they can put those games day and date upon release in Gamepass.
So, instead of getting bought - the studios can agree to come in Gamepass.
Hence, Xbox has two point strategy.
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There’s some real bed wetting going on “elsewhere in the forumverse” about MS acquisitions. The irony of all this is that, once acquired, more people will be able to play xbox first party than if the acquired developers ever remained multi platform. This time next year, if you have an ipad, iPhone, an android tablet, android phone, pc or a smart TV, you can get Xbox first party games.
Inagine being able to sign up for Gamepass for 3years for the same price as a PS5 with no games included.
That’s the reality of the situation.
Also, some people really don’t understand what consolidation and monopolies really are.
Gaming is expanding all the time at the moment.
In terms of major platforms. Instead of 15 years ago having PC, Nintendo, Sony and Xbox,… We’ll soon have PC, Nintendo, Sony, Xbox, Stadia and Amazon. How is that a Monopoly?
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I’m adding my energy for a Sega acquisition. I would LOVE to see Sega return to its weird and wonderful days where they generated a lot of new IP and took risks. Imagine Sega starting to fund emerging indie and AA teams in Asia with promising IP. It seems like the combination of Xbox funds, Game Pass, and xCloud could enable a lot more risks to be taken.
With that said, I think it’s going to be WB Studios with a long-term license agreement. Nadella said he wants established names and it doesn’t get much bigger than Lego, Harry Potter, Batman, and Lord of the Rings. Those are all family-friendly as well. Imagine how big Game Pass could get by being associated with those IP in their merchandising. Game Pass trials in new Lego kits, action figures, and more to play a new game on your phone, TV, or laptop via xCloud could bring in loads of kids. That kind of market presence for $4B seems like a good deal.
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Support studios will be crucial too. Currently, all support is outsourced. (Sidenote - I suspect some leaks are due to this too. ) This should definitely change as support needs to be in-house as much as possible.
I have no idea about the mobile studios. WB games can decide, I suppose. They will have sufficient autonomy.
with the mobile studios, including the one they got with the zenimax deal (alpha dog) I would imagine that they would just keep making mobile games based on ip that microsoft owns, while they are making money just let them do their thing, but if they start to lose money transition them to making smaller, E rated, family friendly games for gamepass
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In order of preference, if MS is indeed getting aggressive, I’d want them targeting…
Publishers
WB Games Ubisoft Devolver Annapurna Capcom SEGA Team 17
Studios (regardless of likelihood)
ASOBO Rocksteady Remedy Playdead Shin’en Playtonic IOI
Hear hear.
I am a massive fan of the WB IPs. I think gamers don’t realize how popular these IPs are. Also, these will be defensive acquisitions. You don’t want these IPs eing locked up somewhere else.
I don’t think that should be the thinking at Xbox.
If these studios are in the market, the IPs are too. The studios are legitimate acquisition targets, but the IPs themeselves are defensive acquisitions almost immediately. You should not trust WB to keep the IPs with them – they WILL shop it around.
I would recommend, that they purchase this with the IPs. (“Dear Phil, …”) 
I wonder what Microsofts goal is for number of studios?
I think 1 game per month would be ideal for gamepass, I think about 30 delvelopers should be enough for this task
EA is almost 5 Bethesdas. Take Two is 2.5 Bethesdas. These two are above Bethesda tier.
Capcom, Square Enix, Bandai Namco and Ubisoft are Bethesda Tier.
Sega and WB are slightly below. Valued less but have great talent and great IP.
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I think people are taking the whole “bethesda” sized acquisition thing way to literally even to the point of comparing market caps.
They pretty much just mean a big acquisition and not just a single dev studio. No reason to split hairs finding a company with the exact same market cap as Bethesda as the only fit.
Big things happening at SEGA at board level
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I told you we have to think bigger then Bloober and Playtonic
Microsoft is after big iconic IP.
Gaming and pachinko business has been split
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It is only reasonable to think they would be more. Not only Brad already said that MS, along with Amazon, Google ( and you can include Tencent ) would be targeting big names in the industry, but Nadella and Spencer’s speeches so far also pointed towards that.
With such big actors now in this industry, everyone wants a piece of the pie. MS are in a pretty good position right now, and it only makes sense they won’t give that away so easily. I know people are not fine with a consolidation, but it is happening even if we don’t want it. MS won’t just stand idly by waiting for others to catch up and calmly snatch up all their opportunities.
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The thing is that we do not know what Bethesda-size means. Price? Number of workers? Being publisher? Huge meltdown?
But for me, buying Sega would be poetic. After all Xbox has Dreamcast roots. Then Sega might have their samurai revenge over Sony LMAO
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Hmmmmm… The biggest barrier to buying Sega was the other bits of Sega Sammy. It is probably nothing, but this would make Sega a more attractive purchase to Microsoft.
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