With Sega getting Rovio, it will help Sega really grow and in theory if Rovio can turn Sega’s IP’s into mobile game success stories, then I can see Sega acquiring many other game developers. I could easily see Sega buy Platinum or other developers for one or two reasons.
One being to bloat their sell value or two because they think they can fill the third party void that will be left once ABK is finally bought.
So this move is a power move on Sega’s part.
It is a small support studio with no IP that has been absorbed into Zenimax Online. Blizzard also absorbed a support studio last summer. The consequences of these acquisitions are minimal, which is why they go under the radar. I think it would be different if it was a notable studio with cultural heritage. Probably for this reason that Microsoft did not acquire Crystal and Eidos. But these are issues related to the ABK deal. Putting that aside, I think it’s probably best for Microsoft to acquire publishers first and studios second. Even if the studios do not weigh heavily in the balance, it may be better not to take a risk until the acquisitions of publishers are completed. It is also a good thing to have an overview of the publishing branches in order to be able to assess the needs and be able to complete them. For example, if Microsoft acquires Ubisoft, it won’t necessarily need to acquire many independent studios, but there will still be a need to fill in Japan. That’s just my point of view, and I too would like Microsoft to acquire some independent studios, but I feel it makes more sense to build the publishing branches first and then complete them.
If the acquisition is small enough, it doesn’t even need to go through regulatory approval. Most acquisitions like that are not the ones that were after (tho still a nice thing).
Sega has become more expensive with a purchase that is not even attractive which makes it a worse option for MS.
The purchase of Rovio makes Sega even more attractive. Microsoft wants to reach a massively diverse set of 3 billion users. Mobile is an essential part of that strategy. Users that play games like angry birds and candy crush are absolutely essential to reaching that many consumers. The set of users play angry birds is very different from console and pc, and you wont capture that audience with more console and pc focus.
Sega would enhance their ability on every front in gaming.
And the bad takes keep on coming… first with Minecraft shouldn’t diversify and now with Sega being less attractive because of possible mobile expansion.
Sega already makes mobile games, that’s not the point. Rovio is not something a leading mobile publisher would look for.
That’s uh…. Well a lot 
I know, but i think that all these extra additions are in the realm of possibility.
3 more publishers in the realm of possibility? This is not even a future id want for the industry.
4 publishers, if we respect Focus lol
Haha true, I mentally went to Asobo mentally
On a long enough timeline, yessir? The way I see it
I imagine much like Disney and Netflix MS doesn’t want to just settle, they want more and to do that they aren’t going to gain 10s of millions of subscribers with single studios or unknown IP, they do it by grabbing publishers and their legacy.
Agreed.
SEGA has been pushing into mobile for a while and have a couple of promising projects coming up with Persona 5X and Yoko Taro’s new game (404 Game Re:set). Then they’ve had Sonic Dash, SMT, and other releases.
Rovio wasn’t a studio I was expecting to go to SEGA, but it makes sense. Just like no one should be surprised if Halfbrick (Fruit Ninja, Jet Pack Joyride) gets picked up over the next couple years.
Will MS go for SEGA? I have no idea, but as my previous memes and statements have shown it makes a whole lotta sense. I’d also prefer it if everything under SEGA (aside from maybe new IP or revivals of cult IP) staying multiplat, but that’s a discussion for a different time.
That’s totally reasonable and i appreciate your input and i will admit, that 9 publishers under one umbrella is maybe a bit too much.
But i am also a fan of these publishers and i think to take the next step, someone like Microsoft would benefit them.
Square Enix and Ubisoft are (more or less) financially in trouble and i would love for Microsoft to step in and provide them a more stable home.
Focus Entertainment has some really talented devs that i would love to see to work for Microsoft and to provide some first party games.
And SEGA is simply the natural fit for XBOX with all the legacy and history both share.
So where would that leave the industry? We’d have Capcom, Koei Tecmo, and Konami (who barely counts) in Japan and Take 2, EA, WB, Embracer and probably a couple of others in the US/EU?
As much as I like Xbox, I don’t think we can count on them always being the good guy if they gain too much power.
Precisely my concern. Not even just too much power, but leadership changes, economic realities, etc. can all really shake things up in the worst way.
lol Square Enix is a funny one even leaving them fully multiplatform just having all their games on Xbox and Game Pass day 1 would be a difference maker
For the record they are my least favorite pub but it’s something to think about
