Both Microsoft and Sony have spent big money recently to purchase some well-known publishers. Earlier this year, Microsoft spent $68.7 billion acquiring Activision Blizzard in a well-publicized deal. A recent job advertisement by Microsoft suggests more purchases like this may yet be on the horizon.
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The advertisement is for a manager of “Gaming Strategy & Development” for Team Xbox. The function of the role is to manage activity related to seeking out and evaluating growth opportunities for gaming at Microsoft. Mergers and acquisitions, like Microsoft’s 2021 purchase of Bethseda Softworks, seem very much to be a part of the growth strategy for Xbox. With Microsoft actively recruiting for a dedicated manager for merger activity like this, there are those who believe this is an indication Microsoft is intending to pursue more purchases of video game publishers in the near future.
This sort of purchasing of publishers and developers represents big money in the gaming industry. Microsoft’s recent big deals alone have been worth tens of billions of dollars each. If this activity is only going to grow, which it appears may be the case, then it stands to reason companies like Microsoft are looking for a significant return on investing this sort of money.
The return Microsoft seems to be after is growing its catalog of exclusive titles for Xbox and Game Pass. With Game Pass only currently available on Xbox consoles, PC, and mobile devices, this is a roundabout way of Microsoft saying it’s looking to grow its library of Xbox exclusives. With such well-established developers producing content only for Microsoft’s platform, this could be enticing enough to swing consumers away from purchasing competitor consoles and towards Xbox.
Console exclusivity has been a polarizing topic for years. While some gamers like to support their chosen brand within the console marketplace, many push back against the idea of creative gaming output being out of their reach unless they purchase multiple pieces of expensive hardware. Microsoft seems aware of these viewpoints as it was quick to announce that existing contracts for Bethesda and Activision with other console companies would be honored, but if it continues this pattern of acquiring developers it’s unclear whether the outcome will be as beneficial to gamers as it may be for Xbox.
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Source: Video Games Chronicle
