*This article is a user contribution and does not represent the views of campfire
At the beginning of 2022, Microsoft and Sony made a big job for everyone: first Microsoft blizzard acquired Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, and then Sony "responded" with a 3.6 billion Bungie acquisition on the day of Chinese New Year's Eve. Both sides have posed as "I am rich", which has really burned a fire for the new generation of console wars.
Although both acquisitions are a bit of a surprise, they are also reasonable. Since the middle of the last generation, Microsoft has been building XGP services, collecting studios that can be included in the account to maintain the quality and quantity of XGP services. Under Microsoft's money offensive, Sony is also actively preparing to deal with the strategy, including the acquisition of Blue Dot Games, Housemarque and Bungie, with the intention of consolidating its first-party game strength against Microsoft. Both sides are waving tickets to expand their own game genre reserves, and it can be said that two medium-sized development companies that have almost bought the most on the market.
Not long ago, TGA founder Geoff Keighley also revealed in a tweet that there will be several large acquisitions in the future: "I heard from multiple sources that there are now several large acquisition plans in the late stages. It's going to be a very interesting year!"
So since Geoff is talking about "big acquisitions", let's take a big guess, what big game companies will be acquired next?
Japan
Let's start with One of the most important markets for the game industry, Japan.
In fact, the existence of the Jinglian Association has always given Japanese game manufacturers an exclusive tradition. Long before Microsoft began to enter the game industry and choose to buy well-known game companies directly, this is a place it has never conquered. However, Sony, which has a complex relationship background, has supported many small and medium-sized Japanese manufacturers, and even helped them tide over the difficulties by investing in se economies, and even has extraordinary influence throughout Southeast Asia. So let's take a look at which studios are likely to be acquired.
Sega Samei Holdings
In 2004, Sega and Same merged to form The Japanese holding company Sega Samei Holdings, which currently has a market capitalization of about 3.6 billion.
Although the holding has other businesses such as Bai QingGe and resorts, games are still the main business. Sega not only has well-known IPs such as "Like Dragon", "Sonic", "Dream Star", but also has creative Assembly, Sports Interactive, Atlus, Amplitude Studios and other powerful studios and a ticket of well-known games. Buying so much content for a single Bungie is definitely a great deal. But Sega, once a major platform overlord, never seems to have the idea of attributing it to others, and even if DC stops production and withdraws from the hardware market, it has not been able to defeat it. For now, acquired? inexistent.
▲ Spoof it, maybe it can be done
Capcom
The strong technical strength of RE Engine has enabled Capcom to improve its culinary skills by leaps and bounds. Resident Evil not only had a good reputation and sales, but the remake was also nominated for Game of the Year. As one of the few japanese companies that rely solely on games, Capcom has stepped on the right rhythm after developing a new engine, which can also be confirmed in the better and better financial reports in the past two years.
Because of this, it has found a delicate balance in the Mizoya, and may not be in a hurry to be acquired by any party, but prefers to talk about the sale of a single game just like Devil May Cry 5 enters the XGP or "Monster Hunter: Rise" limited time exclusive on XGP or Switch.
Bandai Namco Palace
In the eyes of many people, Bandai Namco is not so much a game company as a toy company: sitting on the world's largest rubber production resources, games are more like an accessory. Bandai Namco excels in an industry that Microsoft and Sony rarely touch. But for both the acquirers, if the game industry is spun off separately, it also means that there is no blessing from well-known anime IP such as "Gundam", which is obviously not a good choice. However, if you want to go a little deeper, FromSoftware, with which it cooperates in depth, is worth the money of Sony and Microsoft, but the parent company Kadokawa Group seems to have no reason to let go of this delicious food.
Glorious Tekumo
This once well-known factory has gradually lost its former glory. In recent years, games have been complained about the price of expensive, DLC is too much, their own games are not as good as outsourcing other games and other negative situations. The historical strategy and action game magnate is increasingly moving in the direction of the niche. Meat thighs can not become a shining point on the financial report, a good production of "Peerless" and "Ninja Dragon" series to gain applause and banknotes from players and the market, and then continue, it is difficult to say whether it will become the prey of Microsoft and Sony low-cost bottom, after all, in the field of mobile games, the glorious Three Kingdoms IP is really fragrant, and these two families are willing to try it in the field of mobile games.
▲ "Beach Volleyball" is done well, and it is not impossible
Square Enix
Se, which hosts the two major national game series of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, has long been accustomed to repeated jumps between major platforms. From the epoch-making Final Fantasy 7 for PS1 to the shoulder-tapping door at the Xbox E3 launch in 2008, final fantasy has almost all the series logged on to XGP, while Final Fantasy 7 Remake is exclusive to PS4, and you can never guess which side of se is closer. At this time, I just want to exclaim, "There really is you, SE!"
Final Fantasy 16 will still be Sony's monopoly, and SE's games may also enter XGP, but I think neither of them may be able to buy SE until the next bankruptcy crisis. When there is such a crisis, perhaps SE will find a merger with a large factory of the same level as Sega or Capcom, as it did last time, instead of becoming a subsidiary of someone else.
North America
North America in the past two generations gradually become the leader of the single-player game market, and at the same time sitting on the North American home of Microsoft, after the acquisition of Bethesda (Bethesda) and Activision Blizzard is to further consolidate its influence in North America, for now, Microsoft in North America for the acquisition of large, medium and small game companies have a lot of favorable advantages.
At the same time, the unique trust corporate culture on the North American continent, after experiencing the acquisition and dissolution of large companies such as Activision and EA, the game manufacturers in North America have divided their own areas of expertise and opened a new year money model. Buying them will have a good return at least in terms of making money and earnings data. In the North American market, what are the companies that could be acquired? Let's take stock.
SHE
Regardless of EA's recent wind reviews, we have to admit that it is very good at making money. EA now has FIFA, which sells more than 20 million a year by changing the posters, which means that even if the Battlefield series pulls its crotch again, it is not vain. Is it really necessary for such an EA to sell itself to others? Before Activision Blizzard was acquired by Microsoft, I also wanted Activision Blizzard, and microsoft let you see what trench inhumanity is. But on the other hand, before fully digesting Activision Blizzard, I don't think Microsoft will easily open a tens of billions of acquisitions, and perhaps Sony can follow the advice of analysts at research company Enders and try to buy EA against Microsoft.
Take-Two Interactive
I believe that before Rockstar Games has set a release date for GTA 6, it is the best time to start Take-Two Interactive. Because once the offering date is officially determined, its stock price will definitely soar, making the acquisition case extremely complicated. But Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, may have been the biggest obstacle to the company's acquisition. Strauss Zelnick is not a pure businessman like Bobby Kotick, and for Microsoft and Sony, having him as his employee or stepping out of management is the key to the success or failure of the acquisition.
Warner Bros. interactive entertainment
Warner's parent company AT&T is already well known to be interested in selling Warner Interactive Entertainment, and the game giant with Rocksteady Games actually has a good development strength and many Warner's IP, which can be said to be a high-quality product with high cost performance. Before there were reports and rumors, Microsoft, EA and other companies have been very interested in Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, but in the past few years there has been no acquisition trend, it is likely that Warner for their own valuation is too high, scared off Spencer and Jim Ryan, after all, understand Warner urine understand, grind the price, Warner Interactive Entertainment is definitely a high-quality commodity.
Valve
This big factory that grasps the lifeblood of the PC stand-alone machine industry has always had its own corporate culture, considering that G fat is about to reach the statutory retirement age, how much energy does he have to control this huge enterprise? And the future successor is still a mystery. Is it possible for Fat to package the entire V Society and sell it to the former owner Microsoft? It's hard to say, but at least for now, V and Microsoft are getting closer.
Europe
There are many game studios with unique personalities in Europe, but most of them have been acquired by major manufacturers as subsidiaries. In addition to a few large factories, many small and medium-sized manufacturers have their own unique and good projects, becoming leaders in a single field, such as Paradox, CCP, etc., which are good enough but not large enough. So below I will pick some of the larger companies to analyze.
Ubisoft
The company, which has its own unique culture, has let go of its independent intentions after resisting Vivendi's hostile takeover, and CEO Yves Guillemot recently said that it is willing to listen to the acquisition opinion and will review it from the interests of all stakeholders. I think that this big manufacturer with tens of millions of sales IP, if it opens its mouth to acquire, it will definitely be a fragrant bun that Microsoft and Sony are competing for, the offer is just a number, and the potential behind it will be unlimited.
Embracer Group
Since THQ went bankrupt and was acquired by Embracer, the Swedish giant has owned a number of well-known companies such as Koch Media, Gearbox, Saber Interactive and more than 200 simultaneous game development projects. Its games are mostly about 80 points of high-quality games, although it is difficult to achieve the gods, but for Microsoft and Sony, which are eager to expand the number and type of first-party games, it will be a very cost-effective deal to exchange a market value of less than $10 billion for such a huge game library, and even to ensure that there is a 2A-level first-party release every two months.
Nacon
Nacon, a French company with a modest reputation but 16 independent studios, midgar Studio ("Eternal Edge"), Ishtar Games ("The Last Spell"), Bigben Interactive ("Sunken City") and other teams have a considerable development strength, is a large game company to be reckoned with. And the market capitalization of more than 500 million euros is a reason to try for microsoft and Sony, which are well-funded.
CD Project
Although there are only two series of games in the "The Witcher" and "Cyberpunk 2077", cd Projekt has the specifications of a large factory and even a little too high in terms of personnel size and market value. However, with the disastrous performance and market public relations after the release of "Cyberpunk 2077", the stock price that has dived several times is currently controlled at a relatively stable level. At present, the popularity of the "The Witcher" series has also made the company develop towards a more diversified entertainment industry, becoming another track mouth for CD Projekt. But in any case, a market capitalization of about $4 billion may not be the target that Microsoft and Sony chose, at least I think the deal is a loss.
Of course, in addition to the above types of big manufacturers, companies with distinct game types such as Platinum, Focus Home Interactive, TinyBuild, Hitman, Paradox, etc. can expand the limitations of Microsoft and Sony game types to improve the lineup of first-party studios, and the price will not be very exaggerated. So again, who will be the next target for Microsoft and Sony? It's really hard to say. The next jaw-dropping acquisition news could be to bombard your phone late one night and get pushed all the way to the top of the hot search. After all, today's overheated markets can't help but stop.