Новые детали в ходе суда между ФТК и майкрософт. А, ещё выяснилось что работают над сиквелом DayZ.
Все, что стало известно с опубликованных сегодня утром в результате продолжающегося суда с FTC документов Microsoft и переписок глав Xbox и Bethesda:
- Список всех издателей и студий, которые Microsoft РАССМАТРИВАЛА для приобретения, т.е. даже до переговоров дело не доходило. Исключением являются Sega, Bungie, Scopely, IO Interactive, Zynga, Thunderful, Supergiant Games, Niantic, Playrix и Zynga, которые были ключевыми для приобретения. Не ясно, велись ли со всеми переговоры, но про Zynga это точно можно сказать со слов Фила Спенсера.
- Подтвердились древние слухи от Джеза Кордена и Джефф Грабба: Project Dragon от IO Interactive действительно существует, является РПГ шутером, издателем проекта выступит Xbox Game Studios Publishing и выйдет эксклюзивно на консолях Xbox и ПК (по крайней мере эта информация была валидна в 2021 году).
- Microsoft пожертвовали поставками Xbox Series X|S на запуске ради инвестициями в инфраструктуру Xbox Cloud Gaming, которая по словам Фила Спенсера "имеет решающее значение для реализации нашего потенциала в игровом секторе" и использует те самые консоли Xbox Series X.
- Игра по франшизе Индиана Джонс - это то, что Тодд Говард мечтал сделать в течении 10 лет (он очень большой гик). По словам Пита Хайнса, любой, кто видел питч этого проекта, сразу сказал: «Боже мой, я должен сыграть в эту игру прямо сейчас».
- Пит Хайнс был в недоумении, когда Microsoft объявила о том, что после покупки Activision Blizzard игры Call Of Duty продолжат выходить на PlayStation, что противоречит стратегии компании в отношении таких игр ZeniMax, как Starfield и The Elder Scrolls 6. Кстати, по этому вопросу его спросили на слушаниях, на что он ответил, что Microsoft принимает решения по эксклюзивности игр ZeniMax/Bethesda в индивидуальном порядке.
- Покупка Ninja Theory стоила компании Microsoft 117 миллионов долларов.
- В 2019 году руководство Microsoft рассматривало закрытие/продажу всего подразделения ради создания отдельной компании мобильных видеоигр, что по их словам пытался делать Бобби Котик с Activision Blizzard.
- В ответ на предложение руководства Microsoft закрыть Xbox и создать мобильную компанию, Фил Спенсер сравнил Xbox с Polaroid, а также то, что консольный бизнес похож на аналоговую фотографию, которая почти не растет, а мобильные игры, как цифровая фотография, стремительно развиваются. Он говорит, что внутри Microsoft должна быть компания, занимающаяся мобильными играми, как то, что пытается сделать Activision (и уже сделала King).
- В 2022 году руководство Microsoft планировало увеличить операционную прибыль подразделения Xbox к 2030 году в два раза и стать лидером отрасли по доходам.
- Microsoft в 2019 году могла отказаться от практики выпуска своих игр в Xbox Game Pass на релизе, но руководителю Xbox Game Studios Мэтту Бути это не понравилось. Он говорил, что если отказаться от подобного, то будет трудно убедить людей пользоваться xCloud и прочими сервисами.
- Бути призывал финансового директора Xbox Тима Стюарта потратить больше денег на приобретение игрового контента в 2019 году, чтобы компания могла конкурировать с Sony в сегменте подписок. Он считал, что Microsoft находится в уникальном положении, позволяющем вывести Sony из бизнеса, аргументируя тем, что в 2020 году компания в состоянии потратить 2-3 миллиарда долларов на контент, чтобы не допустить лидерство конкурентов в этом плане на более позднем этапе.
![From: Pete Hines
Sent: Thursday, January 7, 2021 3:23 PM
; Jerret West
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Project Relic Announce Update [Confidential - Please do not circulate internally]
Spoke with Aaron earlier today and updated him on this topic. We decided it was best to start with this small group.](http://img2.reactor.cc/pics/post/full/Microsoft-xbox-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%BA%D0%B0-Activision-Blizzard-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8-8008772.jpeg "Microsoft,Майкрософт,xbox,консоли,Покупка Activision Blizzard майками,Activision Blizzard")
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1. Consideration Set 100+ companies sourced through: • Xbox Game Pass data - top 250 companies in PC and Console, by cumulated hours (last 6 months) • Steam stats - top 100 games by concurrent users • Existing development partners currently working with Xbox; Industry relationships Developers Publishers 11 bit studios • Deck13 • Harmonix Music Systems • No Brakes Games • Striking Distance Studios • 505 Games 4A Games • Digital Extremes • Hazelight Studios • Oxide Games • Stoic Studio • Annapurna Interactive • A44 • Dontnod Entertainment • Heart Machine • Paladin Studios • Studio MDHR • Devolver Digital • Asobo Studio • Dovetail Games • Hello Games • Peral Abyss • Supergiant Games • Focus Home Interactive • Avalanche Studios • DrinkBox Studios • Hidden Path Entertainment • People Can Fly • Supermassive Games • Media Indie Exchange • Axolot Games • Dreamhaven • Hinterland Studio ♦ Playdead • System Era Softworks • Paradox Interactive • Behaviour Interactive • Ember Lab • Hi-Rez Studios • Playful Studios • TaleWorlds Entertainment • Raw Fury • Blackbird Interactive • Facepunch Studios • Housemarque • Playtonic Games • Tantalus Media • SEGA ■ Bloober Team • Fatshark • IO Interactive • Proletariat • Tarsier Studios • Team17 ■ Bohemia Interactive • Final Strike Games • Iron Gate Studio • Rebellion Developments • Team Cherry ■ Bonfire Studios * Finji • Jackbox Games • Redhill Games • Techland ■ BonusXP • Fireproof Studios • JP GAMES • Reflector Entertainment • Tequila Works a Bossa Studios • Fluffy Fairy Games • Larian Studios • Relic Entertainment • Thatgamecompany • Bungie • From Software • Level-5 • Remedy Entertainment • The Behemoth • Capybara Games • Frontier Developments • Lizardcube • Roblox Corporation • The Molasses Flood ■ CD Projekt Red • Funcom • Manticore Games • SCS Software • Thunder Lotus Games ■ Certain Affinity • Gearbox Software • Midwinter Entertainment • Second Dinner • Thunderful Coldwood Interactive • gen DESIGN • MercurySteam • Sharkmob • tinyBuild Colossal Order • Ghost Ship Games • Moon Studios • Splash Damage • Toca Boca Counterplay Games • Giant Squid • Mundfish • Starbreeze Studios • Typhoon Studios Crytek • GIANTS Software • Night School Studio • Stardock Corporation • ustwo Microsoft Confidential | 9
XGS M&A Final Watchlist I XGS Gap Company Assets Audience Expansion Thunderful Expertise in cross-gen casual mobile games Audience Exoansion Supergiant Games Developer of top indie titles inducing Hodet (2020) Niantic very strong technology infrastructure, focus on xR and innovative mobile experiences Playrix Strong franchises and content breadth, world-class in designing, making and running successful games Zynga Strong franchises and content breadth; world-class in designing, making and running successful games Gap Company Assets Engagement & Social interaction Audipnrp Fxoancion Bungie Owner of AAA franchises with an established ability to ship and scale games 10 Interactive Owner of AAA franchises with specialized expertise m regional IP game launches Scopely Very strong tech infrastructure to support non-owned IP; opportunity to complement XGS' IP Microsoft Confidential I 20
From: Phil Spencer | Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 8:11 AM To: Amy Hood| Cc: Anna Chen I Satya Nadella ; Bill Duff Damon Baker Greg Sivinski (CELA) Jerret West Matt Booty Paul Lee (XBOX) ; Ryan Cooper (CORPDEV) Tim Stuart Christian Staples (CORPDEV) David Hampton Haiyan Zhang ; Linda Norman (CELA) Michael Wetter (CORPDEV) Rod Chang ________Sarah Bond Xuan Liu I Subject: Request for Strategy Approval: Sega I'm writing to request Strategy Approval to approach Sega Sammy regarding a potential acquisition of their Sega gaming studios. For context. Bill and I have reviewed the business case for acquiring Sega and are both supportive. We believe that Sega has built a well-balanced portfolio of games across segments with global geographic appeal, and will help us accelerate Xbox Game Pass both on and off-console. Please find the attached memo and bullets below for additional detail on our strategy to prioritize our next acquisition target, a brief overview of Sega's gaming portfolio, and the value drivers for the potential acquisition. As the Sega gaming studios are owned by Sega Sammy, a publicly-traded Japanese company, we have called out a few deal complexities in the memo. Sega's gaming has represented roughly half of Sega Sammy’s revenue and operating income, or ~$900M of revenue and S60-90M of operating income, in each of Sega Sammy’s last three fiscal years. The team is coordinating closely with CELA on next steps, if we were to receive SA. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns, or would like us to schedule time to discuss live. Thanks. Phil Prioritizing Acquisition Targets To help inform our next strategic acquisition target, we have identified top priority segment and geographic combinations for Xbox, in order: • PC in North America and Europe • Mobile in North America and Europe • Console and PC in APAC Keeping in mind these leading priorities, we evaluated a set of targets, both individually and in combination of our own studios, to determine the best strategic fit. Sega is the most attractive next acquisition target due to its global PC catalog, presence on mobile in Asia, and global brand affinity on console through its classic IP.
10 Interactive A/S Company Overview Founded: 1998 | Location: Copenhagen, Denmark | Size: 117 Overview: IOI has dedicated 30 years to making Hitman into the franchise that it is today. What started as a game concept inspired by John Woo films has gone to becoming a franchise that defines the stealth genre within the gaming industry. IOI was acquired by Eidos Interactive in 2004 (for up to 28M GBP), then Eidos was acquired by Square Enix in 2009 (for 84.3M GBP) to become Square Enix Europe. In 2017, Square Enix announced that it had withdrawn funding from IOI, and IOI performed a management buyout. In 2021, company released its latest game, a conclusion to the Hitman World of Assassination trilogy. IOI is currently developing Project 007 as well as Project Dragon for XGS Publishing. Expected Release & Previously Shipped Games Title Release Platforms Genre Metacritic Rating Project Dragon TBD PC, X|S RPG Shooter TBD Project 007 TBD TBD Shooter TBD Hitman 3 2021 PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, NSW, XI. X|S Stealth 87% Hitman 2 2018 PC, PS4, Stadia, X1 Stealth 84% Hitman 2016 PC, PS4, Stadia, X1 Stealth 84% Hitman: Absolution 2012 PC, PS3, X360 Stealth 83% Hitman: Blood Money 2006 PC, PS2, Xbox, X360 Stealth 83% Hitman: Contracts 2004 PC, PS2, Xbox Stealth 80% Hitman 2: Silent Assassin 2002 PC, PS2, Xbox, GameCube Stealth 87% Hitman: Codename 47 2000 PC Stealth 73% Microsoft Con Strategic Rationale 20+ year, established AAA studio that can ship every 2 years Owns proprietary technology, Glacier engine, that will add value to XGS Transformed themselves into a GaaS developer Currently developing Project Dragon with XGS Publishing Notable IP Ownership: Hitman, Freedom Fighters Risks Square Enix maintains minority stake in company Repeated pattern of overextending company size then downsizing Company has not been able to ship a successful new original IP since Hitman and has not been able to repeat its success through its other games such as Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas Reason behind Square Enix pulling away from 10 is uncertain; is the leadership at 10 difficult to manage? Additional Information Hitman 3 is the first Hitman game that 101 self-published after MBO 2019, IOI opened subsidiary studio, IOI Malmo (Sweden) 2021, IOI opened subsidiary studio, IOI Barcelona (Spain) Community Development Indicators: Game Steam (all-time PCCU) Steam (last 30 days PCCU) Steam (last 24-hour PCCU) Game Pass (console hours, last 6 months) Game Pass (PC hours, last 6 months) Twitch (official game channel followers) Twitch (all-time peak viewers) Hitman 3 N/A (Epic) N/A (Epic) N/A (Epic) N/A N/A 70,000 207,557 Hitman 2 356,867 1,988 1,327 N/A N/A 396,000 78,835
So when the question comes up about why don’t we have more Xbox consoles right now’ there are many factors but I think we aren’t really focusing on the right issue if we are focusing on the yield miss for Scarlett or the Halo launch date miss (both are execution issues, not ducking those, they are just not the main factors in our console scarcity). Gaming makes sense for MS. imo. as the focus on consumer. 1 can see no other clear consumer category with this TAM where Microsoft has the product truth today and customer demand that we have in Gaming and where the disruption that is happening in the business plays to some of Microsoft’s long term strengths (cloud and subs). On the capital allocation that we are making in Gaming, I believe our investments in content and xcloud are critical to realizing our potential in Gaming. Amazon Luna and Google Stadia do not have the console strength we have From a strategy perspective I believe in our tradeoffs for Cloud and Content in Gaming over console volume. I would obviously love to invest in all unconstrained but I completely support the tradeoffs we are making. With hardware timelines we can’t be as agile on supply when our revenue or AM targets exceed budgets as we are seeing in FY21 (even without Halo). We are making Q2 and Q3 decisions to airfreight consoles this FY which will pull some volume forward given how our P&L is tracking but this is more of a timing fix than a volume fix. We need to plan our FY22 hardware volumes now. With oir strategy and opportunity console volume will still be the thing we constrain to grow our long term ambition. So while we talk about yield as our issue with Xbox Series S|X today, there is some small truth to that but in reality if our yield was on plan right now we'd feel the same constraints and customer sentiment. We could sell more consoles this year and next year, there is demand. I’m happy to go deeper on the P&L investments if there is a desire. I realize there are a ton of decisions on spend. C19 impact on gaming release dates, XGP content investments etc. I believe in the tradeoffs we are making for our long term goals but there are near a mid-terms consumer engagement and console unit volume tradeoffs. I just wanted to ensure we were all aligned. Phil
From: Pete Hines Sent: Thursday, January 7, 2021 3:23 PM ; Jerret West Subject: [EXTERNAL] Project Relic Announce Update [Confidential - Please do not circulate internally] Spoke with Aaron earlier today and updated him on this topic. We decided it was best to start with this small group. First, just an ask not share this information with others, at least not unless Phil gives the ok. I’d prefer to keep it to as small a group as possible to avoid leaks and have done the same here at Bethesda. We are planning to announce Project Relic next Tuesday. As a reminder, Project Relic is an original Indiana Jones CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. § 18a(h) MSFT-2R-00375791 game (not tied to films) developed by Machinegames and executive produced by Todd Howard, who has been trying to get this game made for over a decade. If you don’t know, Todd might be the biggest Indiana Jones fan on the planet. I’m not exaggerating even a little. Anyone who has seen the pitch has immediately said “oh my god, I have to play that game right now.” It’s going to be amazing and we think reaction to the announcement is going to be terrific. PX4391-001
From: To: Sent: Subject: Jamie Leder; Todd Howard; Todd Vaughn 2/10/2022 3:28:31 PM Xbox blog post I’m confused. Is the below not the opposite of what we were just asked (told) to do with our own titles? What’s the difference? Emphasis in bold is mine. From this bloa post yesterday. First, some commentators have asked whether we will continue to make popular content like Activision’s Call of Duty available on competing platforms like Sony’s PlayStation. The obvious concern is that Microsoft could make this title available exclusively on the Xbox console, undermining opportunities for Sony PlayStation users. To be clear, Microsoft will continue to make Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles available on PlayStation through the term of any existing agreement with Activision. And we have committed to Sony that we will also make them available on PlayStation beyond the existing agreement and into the future so that Sony fans can continue to enjoy the games they love. We are also interested in taking similar steps to support Nintendo’s successful platform. We believe this is the right thing for the industry, for gamers and for our business. Did anyone at Xbox think about giving us a heads-up on this? Todd’s going to DICE in a couple weeks, you don’t think a journo might find him and press him on why the below is ok for COD or any Activision Blizzard games, but not TES6 or Starfield? Or at any/every future interview he does? Pete Hines SVP, Global Marketing and Communications Bethesda Softworks
From: Phil Spencer Sent: Friday, February 15, 2019 6:55 PM_ To: Catherine Gluckstein^^^^^^^^^^^^j Subject: RE: xCloud (Strategy and GDC) I don’t find it frustrating at you, these conversations help me think it through. I get frustrated that I’m not clear. My points inline: From: Catherine Gluckstein| Sent: Friday, February 15, 2019 6:04 PM To: Phil Spencer Subject: RE: xCloud (Strategy and GDC) Really thank you for taking the time to lay this out - I find that helpful. Also, let me clear I’m not looking to frustrate you by talking past each other. I am happy to stop this push if you find it unhelpful. As I read your email I find myself agreeing with you 95% of our email, it’s the final 5% that I do think perhaps I see a little differently. »» We have no strategy to win organically in mobile gaming. I can’t come up with one. The only thing we could do is close all the Xbox stuff and with the same OPEX try to start a mobile gaming company inside of MS. This is kind of what BobbyK is trying to do at ATVI. Agree. To me this is the definition of winning on mobile as mobile content exists today and you’re right we can’t play in that game. I assume Forza Streets and Gears Pop are our plays but hard to see how they are scale plays -Genoa could have larger impact. PHILSP> Totally agree I feel ill equipped to make the next point as you know more about content than I ever will so forgive me - aren’t we seeing a content evolution even on console. In January on our console Fortnite was 550M+ of playing hours, RDR2 90M hours (total hours on Xbox 1.9M. Perhaps the mobile gaming market today is the early YT video market and it then developed to a more sophisticated YT market and premium with Netflix content- watched more on a mobile than any other device.
From: Phil Spencer| Sent: Friday, February 15, 2019 12:06 PM To: Catherine Gluckstein^^^BMMI Subject: RE: xCloud (Strategy and GDC) I think you and I talk past each other on this one a lot so I'll try to write up my pov so we can align. First, we are exactly like Polaroid. We are core gaming which isn’t growing it’s TAM (analogous to film photographers) while mobile gaming MAU is growing WW at a significant rate (like digital photography was growing). We have no strategy to win organically in mobile gaming. I can’t come up with one. The only thing we could do is close all the Xbox stuff and with the same OPEX try to start a mobile gaming company inside of MS. This is kind of what BobbyK is trying to do at ATVI.
Microsoft,Майкрософт,xbox,консоли,Покупка Activision Blizzard майками,Activision Blizzard
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