Microsoft's $69 billion takeover bid of Activision was on track to be the company's largest acquisition to date when it was first announced in January 2022. Almost...
Looks like they’re taking it at a game by game basis. Live games like CoD are definitely going to be on other platforms. I can see them withholding more single player narrative games solely to Xbox/PC.
I'm really curious how some of their acquisitions will go. They have been vague about Elder Scrolls VI since the beginning. People talk about how much money they have, but the end of the day they want to make money. They're not just trying to hurt Sony. So, do they think it will be a big enough "system seller" to justify keeping is system exclusive (GamePass) or will they let Sony have it for the cash?
Lots of relatively smaller games will be system sellers like Doom can bring people over for a fraction of the opportunity costs. Games like COD, Diablo, Elder Scrolls just seem like diminishing returns.
My take is that they'll go exclusive as much as they can because they'll take a short term hit on copies sold if it slowly strangles the competition. Your right there not out to hurt Sony, but they'll do it if it means they grow.
They want people to get on board with Xbox or more key, gamepass and if a big exclusive gets someone to dip in then there all the more likely to stay. This doubles down if the next big exclusive is again an xbox exclusive.
I disagree with your point that smaller titles like Doom will sell systems. I honestly think the "masses" will just not play them if there not available on their chosen platform. What I do think they do is inform your choice of platform and keep you there between the tentpoles and they look even more attractive to the casual if there "free" with your subscription.