Microsoft looking to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 Billion

[Sean Gorham]

The best MMORPG I ever played was maintained by Turbine under the Microsoft umbrella. It ran for fifteen years, with monthly content and storyline updates, then another three years in maintenance mode.

Asheron's Call was a heck of a game for its time. I still have fond memories of grinding in the Lugian Fortresses.

 

[Jopsy Pendragon]

I shouldn't be in this thread. Despite the thousands of game hours I've sunk into blizzard titles.... I'm just beyond caring anymore. The stank of activision eventually drove me off. I doubt that MS can scour it off.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

I shouldn't be in this thread. Despite the thousands of game hours I've sunk into blizzard titles.... I'm just beyond caring anymore. The stank of activision eventually drove me off. I doubt that MS can scour it off.

I'm glad for the sake of their employees; but I stopped doing WoW back when they just destroyed my main class, and ruined all my love of crafting in the process. Besides, FFXIV is a much better MMO [imo, its the best out of entirely too many titles I've played].

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

As others have said, Blizzard games have been overrated dogshit for a long time... I suspect the best of their designers and developers are gone and Microsoft is mostly just buying them for the already established IP. ...I'm willing to bet most of their employees will get axed unless they can prove they are linked to classics or able to fit into still open roles at Microsoft. I have mixed feelings about this merger since I hated blizzard even more than I ever hated Microsoft but also see this as another step towards monopolies running everything. I bet most of you agree that the best games have come out of small studios for a long time.... once gaming companies get too big for their britches they seem to stop taking risks...

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Microsoft deal to deliver $390 million payday for Activision's embattled CEO

Most though will come from the 3.95 million Activision shares he owns.

 

[Noodles]

Aww, no Age of Empires?

I think they also made Midtown Madness, which is essentially a precourser ton he GTA/Forza Horizon open world driving concept.

I loved playing that game and just cruising around Chicago.

 

[Noodles]

I really hope they can do something to make Overwatch enjoyable again.

 

[Soen Eber]

Well, so long as Facebook doesn't buy it.
"Our eye tracking program has noticed you like looking at your supply window. Would you like to learn more about prepper supplies and survivalism?"
***an ork hits you for 12 hit points***
"no"
"We are willing to give you a 15% discount on your first $100 purchase from our prepper affiliate, would you like to view the catalog?" (shows pictures of the most popular products).
(clicks to close window, a new popup appears)
"no"
***an ork has killed you***
***rezzing***

 

[Ashiri]

I suspect the best of their designers and developers are gone

Given recent events, it may be the very worst have been shoved out, considering there's a twitter thread claiming that AA (may he burn!) was responsible for a lot of the shit going on in game (as well as outside).

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

As others have said, Blizzard games have been overrated dogshit for a long time... I suspect the best of their designers and developers are gone and Microsoft is mostly just buying them for the already established IP. ...I'm willing to bet most of their employees will get axed unless they can prove they are linked to classics or able to fit into still open roles at Microsoft.

Yes and no?

It's really hard to tell what the future will hold for Blizzard's IPs. Starting with Mohjang and Minecraft 8 years ago, Microsoft is pretty hands-off on its acquired game companies. The XBox lead probably gets a green-light decision for projects, and it's almost certain that Microsoft WILL enforce HR standards like for sexual harassment or whatnot and that's definitely good; but aside from administrative stuff like that, the game studios are pretty much left to run themselves. If the studios do well financially, Microsoft sits back happily and collects its cut. If the studio starts failing, Microsoft will tell it that it needs to stop failing, and if it can't find a way to do that, eventually Microsoft will downsize or close it.

The good thing about this is that Microsoft doesn't "ruin" IPs by buying their studios and then micromanaging or interfering with the games. But the downside (or maybe "neutral" side) is that if Blizzard's stuff is already meh, Microsoft buying them isn't necessarily a sign that the games will improve.

 

[Argent Stonecutter]

Microsoft's version of trying to appeal to their employees' emotion is embarrassing.

I made a gesture out of Ballmer's "developer's dance". IM me in world if you want one.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

Yes and no?

It's really hard to tell what the future will hold for Blizzard's IPs. Starting with Mohjang and Minecraft 8 years ago, Microsoft is pretty hands-off on its acquired game companies. The XBox lead probably gets a green-light decision for projects, and it's almost certain that Microsoft WILL enforce HR standards like for sexual harassment or whatnot and that's definitely good; but aside from administrative stuff like that, the game studios are pretty much left to run themselves. If the studios do well financially, Microsoft sits back happily and collects its cut. If the studio starts failing, Microsoft will tell it that it needs to stop failing, and if it can't find a way to do that, eventually Microsoft will downsize or close it.

The good thing about this is that Microsoft doesn't "ruin" IPs by buying their studios and then micromanaging or interfering with the games. But the downside (or maybe "neutral" side) is that if Blizzard's stuff is already meh, Microsoft buying them isn't necessarily a sign that the games will improve.

Thanks for the reply. In my view blizzard has already mostly been ruined so Microsoft likely can't break it further.... we'll see if anything actually improves. Who knows, maybe they will hire some amazing visionary to run things and turn it around... not that I see this as very likely.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

Thanks for the reply. In my view blizzard has already mostly been ruined so Microsoft likely can't break it further.... we'll see if anything actually improves. Who knows, maybe they will hire some amazing visionary to run things and turn it around... not that I see this as very likely.

I think even just getting rid of the toxic sexism and harassment would be a big improvement.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

I think even just getting rid of the toxic sexism and harassment would be a big improvement.

Yes, that would be great... As I was saying, Blizzard kind of hit rock bottom in maybe all respects, so I just can't imagine Microsoft making it worse!

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Well, so long as Facebook doesn't buy it.
"Our eye tracking program has noticed you like looking at your supply window. Would you like to learn more about prepper supplies and survivalism?"
***an ork hits you for 12 hit points***
"no"
"We are willing to give you a 15% discount on your first $100 purchase from our prepper affiliate, would you like to view the catalog?" (shows pictures of the most popular products).
(clicks to close window, a new popup appears)
"no"
***an ork has killed you***
***rezzing***

 

[Free]

Ugh. You mean this all could have turned out WORSE?!

 

[CronoCloud Creeggan]

These kind of takes confuse me. Do people prefer that these troubled games and publishers die rather have potential to continue making games?

Activision-Blizzard is not in any financial trouble, just executive trouble due to their problems with a culture of sexual harassment. They were never in any danger of folding, all they needed to do was remove kotick and some other problematic people.

I love gaming. I personally would prefer games and IPs to have a chance at success rather than go quietly into history.

So do I, but I do not want Microsoft to do any more "Embracing" and getting even more powerful than it is.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

Activision-Blizzard is not in any financial trouble, just executive trouble due to their problems with a culture of sexual harassment. They were never in any danger of folding, all they needed to do was remove kotick and some other problematic people.



So do I, but I do not want Microsoft to do any more "Embracing" and getting even more powerful than it is.

I'd much rather it were Microsoft than 'Meta'

And I almost feel like they wanted Meta to buy them because they have a lot more tolerance for the sexual and general harassment than Microsoft - reputation-wise, anyway.

 

[Free]

Blizzard is making a survival game in an all-new universe

A newly announced game will be Blizzard's first new IP since the release of Overwatch in 2016.

www.digitaltrends.com

 

[Khamon]

Will it be open map? I hope so. That's a deal breaker for me.