I try to be positive in life, and that includes my work and the things I lead at IGN. I’d rather celebrate a good game than tear down a mistake. I’d rather be waiting for a game that I love more than crying that it hasn’t been made yet. And in the case of Microsoft moving forward against the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), I would rather look ahead to what it would look like for Team Xbox to win the case instead of losing it.
However, since the loss is well within the possibility (you can laugh if you follow this story carefully, because of the wrong trees of the forest that the lawyers of the FTC have been trying to blame the Xbox executives on yes, but strange things have happened), I think it is important to look at how Microsoft’s emergency plan would appear if the US government could successfully prevent Microsoft from acquiring Activision-Blizzard-King (ABK). Obviously, these results are hypothetical, but let’s see what Microsoft can do if this issue doesn’t work.
Option 1: Try to buy Square Enix
If I’ve learned nothing else from these tests, I’ve learned that the King (read: mobile) arm of ABK is a bigger part of this for Microsoft than I, a big gamer who doesn’t care about mobile games, has given credit for. Don’t believe me? Microsoft’s evidence in this case has shown that the company first tried to buy mobile gaming giant Zynga before Take-Two he went inside and I agreed. Microsoft also decided to review the money open Square Enixmainly because of Japan’s strong sports team.
Option 2: Try to buy Capcom
Although Square Enix’s fellow Japanese publishers may not be as strong as mobile phones, it has mobile phones with games like Monster Hunter and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney already on the market. And Capcom’s game franchises probably outweigh the relative weakness in the mobile department with solid IPs like Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Devil May Cry, the aforementioned Monster Hunter, The dormant Dead Rising and Mega Man, and more. Xbox needs, after all, more Japanese talent for its development.
Option 3: Try to buy Ubisoft
The French publisher said they fought trying to find in the past and now, sorry to say, the company seems to be suffering. Ubisoft has a strong mobile reputation and a valuable stockpile of games that Microsoft can either keep for themselves or continue to publish on PlayStation, making a profit for themselves. In addition, Ubisoft is also the largest source of talent in the very fruitful Montreal market, with the company’s Ubisoft Montreal studio mainly responsible for the likes of Assassin’s Creed, Splinter Cell, Rainbow Six, Prince of Persia, and many others. age. If Ubisoft is a little lenient, financially speaking, Microsoft can give them a soft pillow, a blanket, and a bowl of chicken soup to help them feel better, in the short and long term.
Option 4: Invest heavily in new, in-house, mobile-focused studios
Frankly, Microsoft should do this if it hasn’t already, regardless of what it decides and what decision may come from the FTC’s trial. Sure, it takes more time, and the ride isn’t always smooth (see: The Initiative), but home ownership can be profitable and financially rewarding. To put it in a very simple way, expanding its many studios costs all the money, but it takes a long time.
However the FTC’s investigation unfolds, you can bet on this: Microsoft won’t be returning $69 billion in its own pocket if the deal falls through. They may not spend all that money, but they will be quick. What else can Microsoft do? Leave your thoughts on what Team Xbox might do (and not what you expect) in the Comments below, and stay tuned to IGN for Spread to the minute of these past lawsuits against the video game industry, including the verdict expected next week.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s senior preview editor and host of all of IGN’s weekly Xbox shows, The Open Podcastand our monthly(-ish) talk show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Chat with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
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