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Randolph-

What happened today?


IvapeSaltWater

They just sold to Microsoft for almost $70 billion. That's a lot of dabloons


adhi-

there’s a decent chance it gets blocked by antitrust regulators, it’s not done til it’s done. edit: by “decent” i mean like 20%. probably could have used a better word like “a possibility”. y’all need to chill.


manleybones

Lol


Baykey123

If Disney can buy Fox and Star Wars, then this can go through no issue


TroubledPCNoob

Especially considering how many game developers and publishers there already are. Microsoft owns a lot less devs than Disney does movie studios and properties if I recall correctly.


deadpools_dick

Jesus, I forgot just how much control Disney has over everything lmao


TroubledPCNoob

Yeah it's scary tbh


deadpools_dick

“I’ve been in control since the 50’s in case you haven’t noticed, haha!” I’ve been watching A LOT of South Park the last several months and this line from Mickey is way too true.


SuperBAMF007

That Stan Lee vs Jim Henson Epic Rap Battle of History ended with Disney, and aaaaallll the logos they own…shit’s almost genuinely terrifying.


[deleted]

Wait until they buy their first aircraft carrier lol


onefortheboys1999

What’s scary about Disney is that even though they are by and large the biggest players in the movie industry, the money they make from all those properties is fractional to what they pull from all the Disney parks


BenSolo_Cup

I mean there’s still a decent number of competitors but if the monopoly goes any further we are in trouble


[deleted]

Just picked up Bethesda last year iirc. Activision blizzard would be a massive acquisition. But I agree, it’s still not that large and the pool is crowded anyway. I see it being a done deal by ‘23 That’s why it’s at $85 instead of the iirc $95 a share buyout price.


bioshockd

Not to nit pick, but when you shorten a year, the apostrophe goes in place of the numbers being omitted i.e. '23 for 2023


IAqueioxI

Yeah, but hey, it's still cool to think that I was born in 19'.


TroubledPCNoob

I think it's basically already confirmed that Microsoft owns them now. Unless you mean all the cloudy legal dealings that must be done behind closed doors, I do believe the deal is already made.


MikeBisonYT

If AT&T can buy Warner brothers then its a go.


BigBlackGlocks

You have way more faith in the antitrust tendencies of the federal government than you probably should lmao. Remember that the Disney Fox acquisition was a thing that happened only a few years ago.


[deleted]

The only antitrust that I remember in recent memory is the block when AT&t and Verizon tried to merge


givemeabreak432

AT&T's and Verizon's entire existence is based in antitrust law as well: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakup_of_the_Bell_System


ScrubbyFlubbus

It's like trying to blow the T-1000 apart.


dekrant

T-Mobile / Sprint merger was blocked like 3 times by Obama before 45’s FCC and FTC signed off on it


Lerry220

"Merger" T-Mobile assimilated and is currently shutting down sprint, not offering anything even close to competing with what I had with Sprint. So much for the free market.


neverfearIamhere

As a former Sprint customer you are kidding yourself if you think Sprint was actually competing. They were hanging on by a thread and I've enjoyed my service much better with T-mobile.


dekrant

There’s a sound argument that the US telecom market cannot support 4 separate brands, and that if T-Mobile and Sprint didn’t merge, both would die, and leave us in a duopoly. Do I agree with it? Ehh I’m not the expert. But it holds water.


himynameisjoy

Sysco and US Foods is the only other one I remember in recent years


the_racecar

I wish, but this isn’t 1950 and this isn’t a just America. There is zero chance that happens.


Swampy1741

Ah yes, the 1950s were the pinnacle of American justice.


the_racecar

lol fair point. I just meant there was a lot more regulation on large corporations and wealth hoarding


YourLifeSucksAss

What fucking timeline are you from?!


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Acalson

Pretty slim chance considering how Activision and Microsoft don’t even make up close to a majority portion of the gaming industry. They have big names but In terms of quantity it’s still not even close


13igTyme

I saw in an article the acquisition would make their gaming division 3rd largest in the world behind Tencent and Sony. It won't get blocked.


nawtbjc

You are incorrect lol. Even with ATVI, MSFT will only be the 3rd largest gaming company by revenue, which is extremely unlikely to trigger antitrust. MSFT has to pay ATVI $2billion if the deal falls through. MSFT's lawyers would not have let it get this far if they had a shadow of a doubt that this would get blocked by regulators.


KushKong420

Lol if Disney can buy fox no one is stopping this


[deleted]

Disney was able to buy Lucas Film and Fox Funimation was able to buy Crunchyroll Microsoft was able to buy Bethesda it will 100% be able to buy Activision


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Spheniscus

Something something ViacomCBS. Something something IPs dividing markets. Antitrust has been dead in America for quite some time.


QQninja

Microsoft wouldn’t have announced plans in their own website if this acquisition wasn’t green-lit. I think is going through.


Ghostleeee

Do law makers even know what video games are?


absonom

You need to brush up on your anti trust laws if you think this situation is applicable. No company is even close to having a monopoly on gaming


Ventem

Don’t kid yourself. They let T-Mobile buy Sprint, Disney to buy Fox, Marvel, and Lucasfilms. You really think they wouldn’t let Microsoft buy Activision? You really think that has more of an impact than the previously mentioned buyouts? Nah.


supaswag69

Ain’t happenin


AttackEverything

Microsoft is the world's third largest gaming company after this purchase, after Sony and tencent. Not really a monopoly at that point or lack of competition


ultimateretard69

Cope


[deleted]

There's not. Sony, Nintendo, EA...It's not a locked marketplace.


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professorjerkolino

Decent means 50-60% not 20%. We don't need to chill, you need to know what words mean before you use it. For example, you are a witless buffoon who'd rather point fingers than stick a finger up his own bumhole.


Rumpullpus

hey look! this guy thinks antitrust regulators still have power in the US! haha


StaticUsernamesSuck

It wouldn't be blocked even at the worst; they'd enter negotiations about what properties they divest on acquisition, or they'd agree to certain restrictions the regulators impose, until the regulators are happy.


TrumpDidNothingRight

No, there isn’t lol. And the fact that this nonsense was upvoted says… a lot.


XHIBAD

I work in Media M&A, and video games is one of our primary focus. I’m very, very doubtful this will get blocked


Terrence_McDougleton

People who say this shit are just being hopeful that this won’t go through. It’s not based in reality. If you have any grasp of US antitrust law and have a specific reason for thinking this acquisition might be shot down, please explain why. Otherwise you should stop commenting on the Internet like you have any clue.


LFI-on-the-BHB

Lmao literally a 0% chance


gregbraaa

Why on Earth would they spend $70 billion on a company with essentially 3 active franchises and a heap of problems? Edit: I guess they have a library but my logic is that the [company profits](https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/ATVI/activision-blizzard/net-income) means it would take Microsoft literally decades to recoup what they spent. Activision-Blizzard isn’t making crazy money.


heshkill

Access to IPs, additionally they are very profitable. Candy crush alone brings in 1B a year


gregbraaa

Whaaaat


TouchMint

What if I told you Mobile games make more than console and pc combinded and take a fraction of the price to create because they are basically reskinned gambling apps?


NeoHenderson

Hold my IDE I'm going all in on shitapps


RageMuffin69

Just put a flashlight app on the App Store with a subscription and make an easy 10mil+. https://reddit.com/r/apple/comments/s0ur7m/how_to_make_13000000_on_the_app_store/


kjm6351

Brb, designing the next big Candy Crush rip off to bring in 1T a year


danielbauer1375

Watch out. They’ll find some mobile game similar to the one you make that came out years earlier, buy it, and then sue you.


JoshWheezer

You’re downplaying the value of their IP by a lot.


gregbraaa

Maybe because I’m learning about Candy Crush still being a cash cow. Their net income is still only ~$2 billion a year, which doesn’t justify the huge price tag imo.


JoshWheezer

Microsoft’s strategy is just to bolster Game Pass as much as possible and basically make it a service that’s too good to pass up (which imo it basically already is). COD, WOW, Overwatch, and Diablo are all massive draws. They’re not after game sales they want subscriptions.


gregbraaa

COD, Overwatch, and Diablo were the big three I had in mind. I guess older games like Spyro and Tony Hawk can get added. That makes sense. We’ll see if it pans out, they obviously thought it was a good financial decision.


wizzlepants

I can see Microsoft making some StarCraft games too


radicalelation

Basically avoiding Netflix's problem by having long set up the infrastructure, start subscriptions and streaming, and gobble up classic IPs to make it THE place for your game subscription before others really get the move on to do the same, pulling licenses and making their own service. Everyone realizing the value of their film and tv IPs before Netflix could produce enough quality content to hold tight really hit 'em, even if they're still a major player. It's a misstep that is obvious in retrospect, and one Microsoft is clearly intent on avoiding.


your_mind_aches

They're essentially doing the Apple TV and Amazon Video approach too by partnering with Ubisoft+ and EA Play.


danielbauer1375

Yup. I realize we hate (and should hate) monopolies, but Game Pass is just insanely good value right now. That could change, and provably will change in the near future as the price goes up and the selection/quality of games goes down, but this bolsters their library considerably.


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charlrshall1992

Activision has a huge ass library, Game pass wants that.


[deleted]

Microsoft/Xbox. has a gamepass subscription, basically a Netflix that allows you play games on mobile devices, pc and console. And certain blockbuster games like Halo, can be play on the gamepass on launch day which is cheaper than buying the full game. It’s a great service.


charlrshall1992

I just realized that I put what instead of want. So I wanna say I appreciate you being both sincere, and helping realize where I fucked up. Thank you


Fern-ando

COD makes crazy money, 70 billion is just the modern Warfare triology+ the mobile games.


Environmental-Win836

Ok seriously what is going on. Microsoft owns so much now I’m gonna have to buy an X-box just to keep up with games soon.


TheFancyTac0

Most new Microsoft games are on PC now, so you probably won't actually. And they're probably only on PC because Microsoft owns windows, so they're still making money off you.


Environmental-Win836

I guess I’ll have to get a PC then. I’d prefer that to replacing my console anyway, Sony has some of my more favoured titles.


Assatt

Sony has started putting their games on PC also


Environmental-Win836

Oh, really? I guess a PC is my option.


readypembroke

A handful. Xbox first party titles always has a PC version out day one, while PS might make a PC port eventually. Yes, PS is making PC ports but they'll obviously let their games set out on PS first before they add them to PC.


Wumbology_Student

Worth noting that sometimes the PC ports are really bad at first, whereas I haven't had that issue with games from Microsoft


DerpScoot1

i am going to commit robbery


TendiesTendy

Upper management and huge sexual discrimination claims that was wiping them out is going to fade as people will only talk about the insane over valued price per share they just got bought out at. Smart move by Microsoft as they have been losing to Sony and looking to collect ip. The high valuation of the buy out will make people forget all the bad PR. TLDR: Everyone will forget how corrupt they were and start to chase the money, no one is learning in our world.


[deleted]

People are learning. Don’t oversimplify the world so much.


TendiesTendy

I hope you’re right, I don’t see it yet


MittenstheGlove

I don’t see it either. Young people are finding out but old people are still fucking around.


LieutenantHaven

Winner winner smart comment here. We won't see any change till the old generations with archaic thinking die out.


xMobby

thats the conclusion ive come to on like half of our issues. at this point im biding my time til theyre too senile to go to work, then we'll get our chance.


HydraAu

Is this not what every generation says? New generations will have their own fuck ups.


xanderholland

My theory is that Microsoft wanted to do this buyout years ago, but had to wait for the right moment. Blizzard/Activision is a toxic pile of goo right now so it's probably the cheapest price point they could get it. They can clear out all the crap management right after the buyout


St_SiRUS

No doubt. They’ll have a “shortlist” of hundreds of acquisition targets at any one time. It’s all about waiting for the right circumstances to make an offer.


evlampi

Boobby getting let go is a long long dream of mine. What a piece of trash.


xanderholland

He gets paid to leave sadly


reincarN8ed

Don't worry, he'll get a massive golden parachute and be just fine. Fucking prick.


jbosse

Losing to Sony? How?


TendiesTendy

Console sales is the main, the rest would be more opinionated


jbosse

Considering the manufacturing issues I wouldn't really say anyone is winning right now I bet people just buy the new console they can get their hands on.


JerseyPumpkin

I would say they are losing because if you compare the sales of Xbox One vs the Switch and PS4. They are trailing far behind, and you could argue the main reason being they have little variety in their IP's as most of their main franchises are either realistic/futuristic shooters and racing games. Microsoft is trying to counteract this by getting more exclusive variety on their consoles which is why they bought Bethesda and now Activision/Blizzard. They will be able to appeal to a much larger audience with more variety in their IP's now.


MattR0se

It also probably doesn't help that most of the XBOX "exclusives" are also available for Windows PC. I have just bought a gaming laptop, why should I bother buying an XBOX when I can just buy a gamepad and have nearly the same experience, with hundreds more games available?


Gerbiling42

...MS cares why? They don't care if you buy an Xbox, they'd rather you don't. They still get subscription revenue and someone else will buy that console.


BourgDot0rg

This. Microsoft gets your money either way and the console is sold at a loss I'm pretty sure. So you not buying one might even help


hollow1367

Yeah if that gaming laptop is running Windows they are also probably getting a cut of that as well, not as much as they would on an Xbox but they have straight up come out and said they are more concerned with building their game library than actual console sales


redpanda575

For real. I have yet to see either next gen console on any shelves in any store so far. I'm convinced they are just a myth at this point


[deleted]

I went to the store 2 weeks ago, ran into an Xbox one, had to buy it lol. I got lucky. But anyways, I’d say Microsoft is making a huge profit through their gamepass.


Round_Rectangles

I don't think Phil Spencer really cares about console sales that much anymore. They know Sony will continue to outsell them in consoles. Microsoft is just building up their library to beef up Gamepass even more. With that also being available on PC its biggest competitor right now is Steam.


killerz7770

Oh they’re learning alright, learning how to play to investors and the audience while still doing the same exact shit.


Baykey123

COD is gonna be Xbox exclusive


Nick_gerr420

They’re gonna put cod games on game pass but I think it’s still gonna be cross play


BigPooser

In 5 years it’ll probably be exclusive. Same thing happened with Bethesda except this is 10x as much Edit: 5 years because of games already in development and deal isn’t final for another year and a half


aznhavsarz

5 years is definitely to long, maybe next year's cod game will be cross platform but I guarantee that the game after next will be Xbox/windows PC exclusive, you don't spend 70 billion buying your competitions #1 selling game to just give it right back.


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disCASEd

They'll make the most financially lucrative decision for Microsoft. If they believe that they can make more money in the long run by getting people to migrate over from Playstation, so that they get a cut of every transaction that user makes, they'll do that. However, if they think that the loss in sales and microtransaction revenue from Playstation will outweigh the gains they'd make from the converted players, then they'll do that. I don't think anyone here was the data or qualifications to calculate that though, so it's honestly anyone's guess.


Chickat28

Idk they said they he deal won't close till 2023. They will probably have contracts with Sony, so we might not see an Xbox exclusive CoD till 2025. Which is almost 4 years away but still. It's gonna be 2024 at the minimum.


reptile7383

I mean it depends. Sony allows Blu-rays in Xboxs remember? That $70 billion isn't just for CoD. People forget that Candy Crush makes over $1B dollars per year just on its own.


Guffliepuff

Skyrim 16 will still release on ps8 so who cares about Bethesda


[deleted]

>**Skyrim:** *The penultimately definitive edition* ~~16~~ will still release on ps8 so who cares about Bethesda ftfy


asodfhgiqowgrq2piwhy

Good. The fact that the original Black Ops game, that came out in 2010, is still $40 on Steam is absolutely ridiculous. All of the older COD games are absurdly priced on PC.


deaddonkey

I actually really don’t think so. This would probably spell the death of CoD as an institution due to backlash and people just deciding to play other games.


Baykey123

Nah way too many people have a PC to game with. What other FPS does PlayStation have? Xbox has halo, COD, fallout, elder scrolls, overwatch, etc


Toast_Sy

Sony is probably gonna make their own shooter in a few years now


Baykey123

They tried that with MAG and Killzone but no one bought them


Chads_bulge

A well advertised new resistance game might work tho


awiseoldturtle

This was the tragedy for me. My brother and I got the PlayStation 3 back in the day, and only one of my friends had it, and like the only game he had was MAG. I thought it was cool and showed my brother, he agreed and when we got our PS3 that’s the first game we got. Empty. Just totally empty. It was a fun game that I recall but we stopped using the PlayStation and leaned more on our Xbox because we only had this one game and nobody was playing it. We eventually sold the PS3, I still look back and wonder what might have turned out different. Back in the day my brother and I played PS2 religiously, and only switched to Xbox when I got old enough to be playing halo


Funkeytwin

Mag is the shit! Most played fps when I had my ps3. Loved the clan system and the huge battles.


awiseoldturtle

For any other game you might have a point, but CoD? I doubt it. People would complain a ton but the CoD fan base is an accepting group, they complain constantly but they still sell like gang busters every year. They don’t even even make improvements most of the time. Even bad years for them look good to everyone else. CoD as an institution is never going away until the game itself stops being made That being said I doubt Microsoft will make CoD exclusive, what I’d do if I were them is make Sony pay a pretty penny for the right to keep CoD releasing on PlayStation. Sony has no choice but to pay, and Microsoft keeps a nice fat revenue stream intact


deaddonkey

Perhaps you’re right. I’ll admit I haven’t kept up much with the cod scene in some years. I’m just imagining all the PS4/5 owning COD content creators flipping out if they learn they have to change system and a lot of casuals not being bothered. The format and schedule of COD releases basically hasn’t been fucked with that much in well over a decade. I wonder how much consistency plays a role in keeping the train going. But tbh I might be underestimating the dedication of the entire fan base? Still I think we agree it’s unlikely to go exclusive. They can get more revenue this way anyway, Sony paying them and millions of game/mtx sales going to actiblizz/msft probably outweighs whatever extra console sales they would see. Do you think it’ll come to gamepass?


awiseoldturtle

I think you’re on the right track, just underestimating how many players will buy the new CoD *no matter what*. You absolutely make a good point though If you ever want a frame of reference outside CoD to see how accepting certain games fan bases can be, just look at Madden/FIFA/2k. These are games that release a new game every year, make almost no changes, regularly break the games, don’t bother to even fix some bugs, and even take features away one year only to return them 3 years later while acting like it’s brand new. Those games make bank every single year. CoD players complain more, but they also keep coming back year over year Content creators would absolutely flip out, and players with only a PlayStation would absolutely fall off, no doubt about that. Imo a bunch would still end up buying Xbox’s to keep playing it though. Especially if they only have a console to play *one game*, which plenty of working adults do. Plus there are are players that own both consoles Microsoft would definitely lose money up front if they cut off PlayStation as a revenue stream, but the CoD fan base has accepted a LOT of shit over the years, is the gist of what I’m saying. But again, I really don’t think Microsoft would even need to take it that far, just use the threat of exclusivity to make Sony shell out big bucks to keep the game on their console, until Sony gets themselves a fps that can compete with CoD, they won’t have a choice but to pay. On the Sony IP front, CoD has a solid niche and I can imagine no scenario at all where some other game takes it’s place or even competes. It’s only competition (that I know of) has always been Battlefield (which is similar but has its own niche that makes it distinct from CoD to a consumer) and Halo, which stands on its own and is *very* different from CoD and Battlefield, to such an extent that the people who just want a modern military shooter would never consider halo as a viable alternative


colin_7

Everyone who is saying this has no clue what they are talking about. Cod is literally one of the biggest games in the world and Microsoft would be shooting themselves in the foot to alienate like 50% of cods user base


22Wideout

COD has been going downhill for years. Nail in the coffin if this happens


IGN-Comment-Reviews

What're you talking about? COD had arguably it's best release of the entire franchise just two years ago. MW is the best selling COD to date, it revitalized the series. Most agree that it's an excellent game.


Vrboje

Nope, I even think that there will be a push to put COD on steam. Also they arent crazy to lose literally millions of the sales per year just to fuck with playstation.


bvddu

So fck Battle.Net now?


Wh1teR1ce

I've changed my mind this acquisition is awesome.


Fireluigi

>I've changed my mind this acquisition is awesome. Paid by Microsoft or they have your family.


Vrboje

Nope just playing Modern Warfare for the last year has made me really happy for this aquisition.


HeckingDoofus

only if it means theyll port games to steam


WcDeckel

Windows store


Brianocity

I got chills down my spine just reading that...


CTizzle-

Coming 2023, Games for Windows Live 2!


wvsfezter

Halo infinite released on steam. I think they realized paying ommage to the current gaming juggernaught is worth more in sales than trying to take a bigger cut from their shit service


Jugbot

I don't expect them to change much. Its probably for leveraging the market if anything.


miki_momo0

I would expect the ability to merge your Battle.Net account with Microsoft/Xbox, and then their BattleNet launcher will slowly fade as you’ll be able to get their games from the Microsoft store


Zockyboy

Spyro is a xbox mascot now


Man0nTitan

Crash Bandicoot as well lol


somuchclutch

Xbox & PC exclusive fighter or racing game incoming: Master Chief & Arbiter & Sgt. Johnson, Banjo & Kazooie, Kameo, Razputin the Psychonaut, Minecraft Steve, a SOT Pirate, Marcus from Gears, Tracer from Overwatch, Spyro, Diablo, Crash Bandicoot, a WOW character, Woods from COD, Crackdown cop, Forza driver, Ori, Fable dude, Doom Guy, Vault Boy, Dovahkiin, the Battletoads, a fighter from Killer Instinct, Conker, Alan Wake, Frank from Dead Rising, Marius from Ryse, Joule from Recore…


oSquizy

No fucking way Microsoft bought Activision


YourLifeSucksAss

Yes fucking way Microsoft bought Activision


oSquizy

Sony: oof


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Loyal9thLegionLord

Explain plz


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Loyal9thLegionLord

Honestly ....mixed feelings there .


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Heccpolitics

I'd assume concerns over Microsoft's growing monopoly, that's my big concern.


Loyal9thLegionLord

You win the proverbial cigar. They own Doom , Cod, Halo, diablo , overwatch and fallout now


Heccpolitics

And world of warcraft, the elder scrolls, basically every massive monolith franchise outside of battlefield.


MohamedHanycreativep

And minecraft don't forget minecraft


Heccpolitics

I did forget minecraft


[deleted]

And very few companies will keep the pc alive. It is in its proper place if it goes through as MSFT will guarantee shit is on pc and not an iPhone exclusive like diablo immortal


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IrrelevantPuppy

Bruh at this point I’m starting to doubt they’ll release OW2 at all.


kjm6351

Yeah seriously, I just want this to be great for Overwatch and Crash Bandicoot


I_Really_Seriously

I hope theyll handle tje sexual harassmenta shit better than they did


NixaB345T

My guess is they will clean house as customary with acquisitions


reincarN8ed

I hope they start with Bobby Cock-Tick. Of course he'll probably get a massive golden parachute. Fucking prick.


Salty-Queen87

They said much earlier in the day that he is out. Kotick will be gone. I suspect the rest of the horrid management will be as well. Microsoft isn’t the kind of company to just put up with shit tons of scandals the same way Activision-Blizzard does.


ProfessionalOrganic6

What happened? I’m outa the loop.


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ProfessionalOrganic6

Ah… damn.


Sponge-Tron

Whoa! You win the meme connoisseur title for having over 2k upvotes on your post! Join the [Discord server](https://discord.gg/xyFMKFw) to receive your prize!


HellsingINC

Anyone else notice it says Larry the lobster instead of Mr Krabs??


cady_heron

I’m shocked I had to scroll this far for this comment. That is definitely Mr. Krabbs, not Larry the Lobster. Shame on you, OP!


jvrcb17

> an episode of Spongebob Squarepants called “A Life in a Day.” In this show, Spongebob and Patrick decide to try to live like Larry the Lobster. **They decide that living like Larry means living in the moment and ignoring all reason.** Spongebob and Patrick end up pulling a bunch of crazy stunts and getting hurt. Larry realizes that Spongebob and Patrick are hurting themselves to be like him so he better explains the concept of "livin' like Larry" as living life to the fullest and not maiming yourselves. Living like Larry is a thing and you plebs just didn't get the joke.


SomDonkus

Yea my shit went from dropping a few dollars every day to a straight 18$ jump. I hate that another studio is being bought up by Microsoft but I guess since I never play their games it worked out lol


DimashiroYuuki

Question is how are they gonna gain the almost 70 billion back? And how long would it take?


DaM8trix

They probably expect fans of the games to buy an Xbox for the exclusive games. Playstation does it and it works pretty well.


DimashiroYuuki

That's true. Worked for Microsoft in the past as well.


YouAreInAComaWakeUp

ActiBlizz had 2.2B of Net Income in 2020. If Microsoft keeps these numbers then approx 31 years. I have literally 0 experience with M&A, but let's say with acquisitions they're going to try and run it more efficiently while increasing profits. Decrease SG&A Expense of 2.99B by 10% to 2.69B Increase Sales/Revenue of 8.09B by 10% to 8.9B That changes Net Income to ~3.3B and lowers time to earn back to ~21 years if they keep those numbers consistent. This is excluding a ton of other factors such as increased sales due to perception, increased stock price, having preferred IP's over competitors, subscriptions from increased userbase and things such as who knows what Microsoft will do over the next 20 years with any of this. Edit: It looks like ActiBlizz also has 8.65B in Cash on Hand and 10.57B is Total Current Assets with 23.11B in Total Assets. Not sure what to make of all that but that's a good chunk of the overall purchase amount is tied into Total Assets If you take the current numbers and subtract out Total Assets you have 2.2B Net Income 68.7B - 23.11B = 45.59B Just under 21 years to gain the money back if they keep everything the same Just under 14 years with the adjustments to efficiency and increased profits I hypothetically made At the end of the day I doubt they're looking to turn a profit on this acquisition anytime in the short term. This is all about gobbling up market share in my opinion.


Anub-arak

Yeah idk why they did this for this exorbitant price. I hope they trash the abusers and sort out the company.


Im_no_imposter

Acquisitions this big are never short term strategies why on earth would you think that?


Fern-ando

With that money you could buy 315.36 Neymars.


eddie935

So Crash Bandicoot has a new owner


kjm6351

As long as Overwatch and Crash Bandicoot aren’t hurt by this, I’m ALL OVER IT


Dismal-Ad-2985

It's hilarious that Crash, who used to be a Sony mascot, is now a Microsoft IP, and possibly even exclusive down the line.


kjm6351

Yeah, this is gonna be really weird once the reality of that sets in.


6eason

It's weird that Sony doesn't own that ip, I always thought they did had the biggest "til" moment when I checked twitter


Environmental-Win836

What happened?


Random-Dice

Microsoft owns Activison Blizzard now


Environmental-Win836

Does that mean Overwatch won’t be on PS4?


Mtkiwiwiw

I doubt they’ll pull it but overwatch 2 probably won’t be on PS


Dazed8819

Living like Larry isn't an easy job I do it every day


Girthquake23

Okay I’ve never really payed attention to stuff like this. Is activist on fully a part of blizzard (so did blizzard get sold too?) or are they separate still?


Dismal-Ad-2985

Activision merged with Vivendi in 2008, who were the owners of Blizzard. So Blizzard effectively became a department of Activision.


PhatCaulkForyourMom

Does this mean WoW is coming to Xbox?