620°

Jim Ryan: $3.6B Bungie Deal "Can Give Us Way More" Than $69B Activision Buyout

The PlayStation brand CEO, Jim Ryan, said that the Bungie deal gives them way more value than the Activision acquisition.

-Foxtrot247d ago

Urm. Yeah if it was literally just Destiny vs Call of Duty but Activision is made up of a fair few other games especially on the Blizzard side of things

Then you have Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, two ex PlayStation mascots from the old days

I feel this is just standard bullshit PR talk since the UK approved the Activision deal

If Destiny was enough then why pursue so many GaaS games…

Nitrowolf2246d ago (Edited 246d ago )

"If Destiny was enough then why pursue so many GaaS games…"

I mean, that's what he's getting at when he says the Bungie deal can give them more than spending $69b. It was never just about Destiny with it, they brought them in to help build their GAAS, and if that ends up working for them, while knowing not all will succeed, then yeah they could get more in the end.

It's def. Pr and a lot of ifs, and personally I feel they are overvaluing what Bungie can deliver, but all they need is one "Fortnite" "COD" mega gaas to be successful and that 3.6B would end up being pennies in the grand picture.

But again, I think they're putting way to much faith in Bungie. I mean, look at what's been going on with their own game this season, tons are upset over it, and this has been going on even before they were bought. That's who they want leading their GAAS? Remember, it's rumored that they're the reason that Faction 2 is delayed since it couldn't apparently work as a GAAS.

-Foxtrot246d ago

“and if that ends up working for them, while knowing not all will succeed, then yeah they could get more in the end”

Well hopefully they fail spectacularly or else PlayStation will forever be changed

Once they get a taste of that kind of money then there’s no going back and it will just get worse slowly over time.

Einhander1972246d ago

They can make more than one type of game... Games are expensive, the multiplayer games can help fund the single player games.

It's not one or the other, and Sony has been telling you this since the start, they still plan to keep making single player games.

And hoping Sony fails spectacularly is basically hoping that the PlayStation brand fails, because with Microsoft doing what they are doing that's what you're going to get.

blackblades246d ago

As what Ein said, the interview was last year. As someone else said there's like over 28 games in development at that time. 10 suppose to be live service and those 10 suppose to be spreaded out over the years. Those 10 suppose to be different genre and some based on already existing IP last of us, horizon are 2 of them. Read the full interview people would get what he is talking about. One point he made was that they will help boost single player games.

Michiel1989245d ago

Destiny was supposed to be their mega gaas success, it's why they left MS (and for some reason sided with activision). This is just straight up bs, there's no way that bungie will ever make even close to anything that actibliz does. also a bit dumb of Ryan to say that Bungie, a single studio, will go head to head against a company made up of 20 studios, 15 highly regarded ips and even their own publishing branch, it's just not happening.

Jin_Sakai245d ago

“I mean, look at what's been going on with their own game this season, tons are upset over it“

People get upset with most live service multiplayer games because you can never please everyone. At least that’s the way I’ve seen it on the internet.

FinalFantasyFanatic245d ago

@Jin_Sakai
Idk if I agree, I think it's more that at least half these games will die and end service with a very short life span, lots of GAAS games die early on and leave players high and dry. Personally, I think the smarter players/buyers will be the ones that sit on the sidelines and wait to see which games take off and maintain support.

blackblades245d ago

@FFF
If the service ends and you enjoyed the game can you sit there and say you had fun and enjoyed the time playing it. Isnt that what matters having fun and enjoying you're time with said game. Its not a waste time when you are enjoying a game that personally enjoy. It doesnt matter if its live service or not if a person enjoyed and had fun with it at least you had that time with it before it ended.

derek245d ago

@Michiel, go look up the definition of "value" b4 ranting.

FinalFantasyFanatic245d ago

@blackblades,

It depends on how much time I got with the game, anything less than a year is a bit of a waste of time and money, I'm still salty Titanfall 2 died as fast as it did, even though I enjoyed my time with it.

OptimusDK245d ago

@Einhander1972
im sorry but you are living in a dream wold. If they get succed with a new money printing model this is what they will continue

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 245d ago
Vengeance1138246d ago

Crash and Spyro barely sell anymore and aren't enough to move any kind of needle. I'd barely count them as having any kind of impact at all.

-Foxtrot246d ago (Edited 246d ago )

My point is it’s still something

If your main meaty part of the deal is COD and Blizzard games then Crash and Spyro are nice little bonuses

DiRtY245d ago

Let me see...

Activision Blizzard:

Blur
Caesar
Call of Duty
Candy Crush
Crash Bandicoot
Diablo
DJ Hero
Empire Earth
Gabriel Knight
Geometry Wars
Guitar Hero
Gun
Hearthstone
Heroes of the Storm
Hexen
Interstate ’76
King’s Quest
Laura Bow Mysteries
The Lost Vikings
Overwatch
Phantasmagoria
Pitfall
Police Quest
Prototype
Quest for Glory
Singularity
Skylanders
Solider of Fortune
Space Quest
Spyro the Dragon
StarCraft
Tenchu (legacy games)
TimeShift
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
True Crime
World of Warcraft
Zork

Bungie:

Destiny.

VariantAEC245d ago

@DiRtY
Let me see...

Activision Blizzard:

Blur - dormant
Caesar - not sure what this is
Call of Duty - MEGATON
Candy Crush - mobile megaton
Crash Bandicoot - did well enough for a 4th entry... that being a continuation of a 25 year old franchise that originated on PS1.
Diablo - PC megaton-lite which does well enough to keep on keeping on.
DJ Hero - dormant
Empire Earth - not sure what this is
Gabriel Knight - almost sounds familiar
Geometry Wars - dormant
Guitar Hero - dormant
Gun - isn't this an RDR spin-off
Hearthstone - mobile card game
Heroes of the Storm - sounds like a phone game
Hexen - not sure what this is
Interstate ’76 - also not sure what this is
King’s Quest - mobile?
Laura Bow Mysteries - mobile?
The Lost Vikings - not sure
Overwatch - GaaS MEGATON
Phantasmagoria - heard of this one
Pitfall - Seriously? Also dormant
Police Quest - no idea
Prototype - dormant
Quest for Glory - mobile?
Singularity - I've at least heard of this
Skylanders - isn't this also dormant?
Solider of Fortune - dormant
Space Quest - no idea sounds mobile?
Spyro the Dragon - Nothing new made since reignited.
StarCraft - One of those overhyped strategy games in the same vein as Diablo with a sci-fi patina.
Tenchu (legacy games) - puzzle game dormant
TimeShift - a Time-Splitters clone?
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater - Another franchise that has come back only to vanish, at least I think something is in the works here.
True Crime - mobile?
World of Warcraft - PC MEGATON
Zork - you think this ancient text adventure game is going to sell anywhere in vast numbers enough to move the needle?

Bungie:

Destiny, Marathon and whatever else they can dream up. We only have Bungie's past and present to go by and their past was good, their present is also good. If they can land a killer Halo-esque game (maybe Marathon) then PS will be very very happy.

Obviously ABK is a major get, but CONSIDERING Xbox's past... I think they'll fumble it like they did with Mojang, Rare and basically every single other acquisition. I don't think this will impact Candy Crush (that is literally MS' type of game) or CoD (the audience is too huge and most will choke down any old slop these days so long as it's CoD-branded).

Eonjay245d ago

I think he means quite literally it gives them ,Sony, more to work with than less (like actual money). In the same Interview he goes on To explain that Spending 69B is a means to an end for Microsoft to pursue its goals with Subscription. However, the 4B Bungie purchase allows them to build their own content without spending untold billions acquiring everything.

He further explains that they are only acquiring where the see they have a need. So, while they are good on the single player front, they had to make a purchase that would allow them to build up their multiplayer and live service front.

You may also be interested to know that the title doesn't reflect the exact context that Jim is speaking in.

Jin_Sakai245d ago

I’m sure the Bungie buyout was to give their first party studios multiplayer expertise which is exactly why Factions got put on the back burner. And Microsoft will probably run Activision in the ground anyhow. They can’t even properly run the studios they have now.

Eonjay245d ago

You are correct. As I said below Bungie is their to teach their teams how to build lasting multiplayer experiences. Even if their games never had any MtX (spoiler: they will) this would still lead to higher profits because of this thing called PSPlus.

S2Killinit245d ago

@Eonjay
Ihad no idea, PS Plus has twice the subscribers than gamepass! 50 million PSPlus to 25 million gamepass.

wiz7191245d ago

@Jin except Activision will still operate independently just like Zenimax

Einhander1972244d ago (Edited 244d ago )

wiz7191

That's sarcasm right?

Like Phil deciding if FO76 gets canceled or rushing Redfall out the door, or just him deciding to pull the plug on all the PlayStation products.

There is nothing independent about Micrsoft's ownership of Zenimax.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 244d ago
cammers1995245d ago

The thing about crash and Spyro is that Microsoft doesn't seem to make platformers anymore. Crash and Spyro will likely sit dead ips once that deal finishes.

FinalFantasyFanatic245d ago

*claps hands* Banjo Kazooie, I miss the rare library, wish that had gotten a pc port at some point.

FinalFantasyFanatic245d ago

I would just love a sci-fi shooter game like the ealier Halo games out of them, might not be what they want to make, but it's what i'm hoping for.

ChasterMies245d ago

$69B -$3.6B = $65.4B that Song doesn’t need to make from Bungie to break even on the deal. Meanwhile, Microsoft has a lot more ground to make up.

S2Killinit245d ago

You are only comparing what is already out there.

S2Killinit245d ago (Edited 245d ago )

@Foxtrot
This has nothing to do with the UK decision because its from 2022 interview.

Also, he never said “Destiny was enough” he said we look at acquisitions as meaningful when it allows us to do something we cant do ourselves without the acquisition.

No doubt Activision has some cash cows. But Ryan points out that MS went on spending spree because publishers are not happy with gamepass model. MS will have to make its own content because it doesnt seem publishers want to cooperat as MS had expected. The gamepass model has hit problems.

Importantly, PS Plus has 50 million subscribers to Gamepass 25 million!!

Informative stuff

neutralgamer1992245d ago

Fox

That’s the point. Bungie will help with GAAS structure that Ryan wants to establish. ND were already advised by bungie on their GAAS. And half of 3.6 billion went towards retaining the talent for next 10 years

zaanan245d ago

While I mostly agree with you, I feel like there is room for both. If they come up with a GAAS that gives them a money stream that they can then reinvest into singleplayer hits, I am all for it!

mjchitown245d ago

call of duty is better then destiny

fr0sty245d ago (Edited 245d ago )

It's more valuable because Bungie can create new IP that turns a profit far faster than Activision's entire portfolio will ever be able to recoup a $69 billion cost. If Bungie created another Halo-level game, and kept Destiny or another similarly successful GaaS game going, within a few games, they've paid for themselves. We have to also keep in mind they are being allowed to remain multi-platform, at least for some games, and that greatly increases the install base they can sell games to, whereas Activision's best will most certainly be held exclusive to GamePass, or at least will heavily favor it via early releases, etc.

So when it comes down to which is going to turn a profit faster, it will undoubtedly be Bungie. It's going to take a decade or more to recoup almost $70 billion, and that's just break-even for MS. Activision Blizzard's annual net income for 2020 was $2.197B. I'll let you do the math on how long, at that annual rate of net income, it would take to make $69 billion.

ChronoJoe245d ago

This interview is one year old Fox. It’s not a reaction to the recent news. Easy to miss that detail though.

franwex244d ago

I think their mobile phone unit is the real cash cow of the deal. But yes you’re correct that there’s more to Activison than COD.

Sharky231244d ago (Edited 244d ago )

The thing that is forgotten is now Sony owns the IP. They can take Destiny and make movies about the lore. It could end up being worth way more in the end. Not to mention all they need is for one of the GAAS to take hold. Then it becomes a cash machine. They can roll that money into new single player games that they are known for. Not to mention they got Bungie for 66B dollars less than the Activision deal. MS over paid for them.

+ Show (13) more repliesLast reply 244d ago
blackblades247d ago

Heres the full interview, this site needs to change. Start posting the full thing not one thing from it making 10 different topic

https://www.reddit.com/r/PS...

-Foxtrot247d ago

Yeah but you can’t just link a Reddit post on here…it has to be an article

S2Killinit245d ago

Thank you.

Also, did anyone else notice that part about PS Plus having 50 million subscribers compared to game pass 25 million? Interesting stuff.

attilayavuzer245d ago (Edited 245d ago )

Playstation has almost triple the player base so not a huge shock.

S2Killinit245d ago

True but its still interesting because I thought MS would have more subscriptions since its literally all their eggs in the subscription basket.

Asplundh245d ago

That number for GP hasn't updated now that Xbox has joined Gold into GP. It's probably a lot closer, but can't see 50 million.

XiNatsuDragnel247d ago (Edited 247d ago )

Dude I get it man but accept Activision was bigger purchase even though it shouldn't have happened regardless but modern gaming these days it's full of cheerleaders imo.

CappyBlack246d ago (Edited 246d ago )

Probably not, but, even so, that would only be because they have a bunch of planned GaaS titles coming down the pipeline, and Bungie's purchase literally was just for them to help direct all the studios in how to best monetize the releases.

Eonjay245d ago

It was to teach their teams how to build multiplayer experiences that focused on increasing the longevity of engagement. It turns out you don't really need to go overboard with monetization. All you have to do is get gamers to keep coming back.

The longevity part is the crux here because even though Sony makes top tier games, they are mostly one and done experiences (that don't require PS Plus to enjoy).

So listening to what he is actually saying and viewing the whole picture, basically all they want to do is make their own multiplayer games that can pull people into PSPlus so the are less dependant on 3rd party to drive their subscptions. That's the biggest prize. Of course we need to be vocal and make sure that they don't get carried away with monetization but anyone who is honestly listening to him and using critical thinkingncan see that this is about replacing 3rd party dependence with 1 party content and driving subs.

246d ago
Show all comments (99)
250°

Neil Druckmann clarifies true intent of new Naughty Dog game comments

Following a recent interview with Sony, Naughty Dog head Neil Druckmann claims the original intent was “unfortunately lost” in the process.

just_looken2d ago

He can take dog shit put it in a oven with seasoning then call it waistland cookies the sony fans will pay $40 a cookie give them a medal of cooking.

No mater what trash this sobs puts out/talks about it will sell.

The true fact in the 8 years sense uncharted 4 his first time in the main seat to a point all this "amazing" team did was get 2 dudes to fuck in a van then destroy a franchise they never created.

But being a port studio they are decent at they should keep in there lane at being just that a glorified port studio.

fr0sty2d ago

Salty Bots... gotta love it.

just_looken2d ago

@frosty

Over what? naught dog under his command is a glorified port team tlou2 was mostly tlou 1 asset's with the same game play loop but forced a trans down your throat.

I would gladly help pay for this blight and his team to get removed from gaming in general.

fr0sty2d ago

Seeing a LGBT person exist in a work of fiction isn't "forcing them down your throat". Nobody is forcing you to play it. Nobody is forcing you to agree with it. If you think that just seeing a LGBT person exist is "force", it sounds like they make you very uncomfortable, and maybe you need to be doing some serious reflecting on exactly why... looks to me like you're suppressing something with all that fear.

just_looken2d ago

@fro

When i think of the last of us i think of a group of survivors crossing the apocalypse wasteland with a growing bond between 2 people that end up with Joel making ellie his new daughter.

Then you fire up the 2nd one bang joel is dead oh that comic series? bang dead

Oh you want to continue all that we grew in the first one? na f that toss it in the trash

Now here is a trans woman so strong superboy would blush go out there kill all what made tlou1 then halfway get a forced sex scene that you can not skip between 2 dudes.

The gameplay? just like the first game the combat/backpack system crafting sytem? 0 changes/improvements.

I could go on but lets face it they copy pasted that tlou 1 assets bin a shit ton of times.

There is nothing on the box or the ads or anything before the game that said you would going to spend most of the game controlling a new trans character that has no ties to anything of the first game the only existence was to kill what the first game made.

Oh but hey there is a mp mode coming out before 2022 wait what is that? oh we made it its own game then cancelled it now go but the game again as we port it a few times.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

mkis0072d ago (Edited 2d ago )

What has Straley or Henig released since they left ND? Not a thing! stop scapegoating! Which of them is credited with co-writing a majorly successful show?

just_looken2d ago

@mkis007

You bring up Bruce Straley really? someone that gave us 4 generations of amazing games and was there in the creation of 4 legendary franchises but was tossed in the trash for the pos niel druckmann not 7? years ago

So yeah in those 7? years you right all he has done is get 2 awards one is a game award for a puzzle game he made oh boy right like for fuck sake's all niel has done is one game that was a overhyped fan boy orgasm underneath all that ps jizz was just a typical 5/10 game.

Then you drag Amy Hennig that poor woman was also kicked out then became this century's Brendan Fraser with her sexual misconduct information coming out.

We all know how horrible people are treated behind the scenes she might have been sexual attacked groped or something.

So yeah all she did after was battlefield hardline forspoken now that new marvel 1945 game but hey Brendan Fraser was a great actor till he also said he was sexually attacked just now he is allowed back in no doubt she also had to take a leave of absence out and or was forced out on ice.

Man there are way to many out there that look at niel at the new gaming jesus when all he had done is some work on uncharted 4 then tlou2

Oh also the tvhshow? for real all they did was use stuff from the 2013 game its like saying GOT was a 10/10 but never watching past season 3

-Foxtrot2d ago

@mkis007

That's highly unfair to them both

Amy Hennig got messed around working on projects that got cancelled by the publishers (EA) and then ended up on a awful game (Forspoken) where you had 4 other writers working on it which is just a recipe for disaster. She is now working on Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. Not her fault she was pushed out of NaughtyDog, something both Nolan North and Richard McGonagle have both said in interviews.

Bruce Straley left after burn out, the rest of the story we don't know and will never know just like what happened with Amy Hennig. He decided to take a break and wasn't sure if he wanted to come back to gaming however he had an idea he wanted to make so he founded Wildflower Interactive, a smaller studio where they are currently working on a new game.

Tacoboto2d ago

@the obvious stain of a commenter

The trans character wasn't Abby. Try playing Part 2 instead of gatekeeping what you think Part 1 was about and meant.

Maybe try watching the show while you're at it, because you're terribly off with your opinion on that too

MajorLazer2d ago

Naughty Dog is better than all the MS studios put together.

derek2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@just he has been behind 2 of the greatest games ever made. Tlou2 was easily the best non-vr game made last gen. Losers just can't get over Joel's death, mixed with the usual console war nonsense. The fact that you so casually call him a sob shows how deranged some gamers have become about Drunkmann.

derek2d ago

@frosty, for people like Just, including anyone that can be categorized as being a minority in any kind of media is "forcing it down his throat " lol. I to don't care for poor "checking box" inclusion for inclusion sake but that was not the case with tlou2.

fr0sty2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

The pathetic part about it is, you can tell just_looken never even played TLOU, because that was the game where Ellie's sexuality was first brought to light... No "that was forced down our throats" to be said about that.

Only terrified folks in the closet that use their hatred as cover from outing themselves fear LGBT people that much. They exist. They will exist in all aspects of life, including popular media. Get over it.

just_looken2d ago

@all

Once again you drag out something like its a big win

Here is my old channel a clip of me playing TLOU on ps3
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Search my channel for more clips

Proof its my channel? look at this profiles banner that is 7yrs old then look at other vids on that channel like my bf3 clips to see my psn id. But knowing this group that is way to much work.

Also elle being a lesbian is another trump card? one dlc is all we got of that a dlc that took over a year to be tossed out.

Rainbowcookie1d 23h ago

Hey at least we have cookies to eat 😄

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 1d 23h ago
Rangerman12083d ago

Glad he clarified it but i'm still somewhat skeptical. Plus, his comments about how Ai will revolutionize storytelling were still pretty iffy.

anast3d ago

No need to bow down, Stan your ground. The AI comments were gross though.

S2Killinit3d ago

Pretty excited as I read these. I just cant wait to see what ND is up to.

Export3d ago

put a chick in it and make her gay !

shadowknight2033d ago

Next they need a diverse couple, and perhaps some climate activists

StormSnooper2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I would love that if only to piss off all the lunatics. Lol

Show all comments (26)
170°

Naughty Dog Boss Neil Druckmann Says AI Will 'Revolutionize' Development

Druckmann claims the tech could 'push the boundaries of storytelling in games.'

Read Full Story >>
gamedeveloper.com
Jin_Sakai4d ago

I’m more interested in what else he said.

“Neil Druckmann says new Naughty Dog title could ‘redefine mainstream perceptions of gaming’

4d ago Replies(6)
H94d ago

It will be something like "we erased gameplay all together it's just a movie now"

purple1014d ago

every time naughty dog make a game, you play it and get the feeling "this is not possible'

from the boulder running towards you in crash, on ps1,
to the massive open world of jak and daxter, on ps2,
to the QuickTime events sequences of uncharted on ps3/4

and now we will see what they do with ps5,

H94d ago

Press X for doubt at "PS5"

-Foxtrot4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Arrogant asshole who sniffs his own farts bigs up next game…sounds like typical PR to me

You know what I find interesting? Almost every site reporting this as the main title where the REAL interesting bit of the interview is Neil praising AI and saying it will be used to help push story, characters, dialogue and more.

It’s super shitty to big up AI especially when it comes to story telling and other creative elements.

senorfartcushion4d ago

Just because someone says this type of stuff, it doesn't mean that it's guaranteed to be good news.

You can say this about microtransactions. MXTs revolutionised the gaming industry.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
Levii_924d ago

Geez how full of themselves are these guys.

Einhander19724d ago

He also said it has "ethical issues we need to address" but of course that doesn't get the clicks.

CrimsonWing694d ago

I’m all for it. Cuts the time to make a game. Look, Hellblade 2 took 5 years to make, if AI can do that in half the time, as a consumer, I support it.

Chard4d ago

Things will get far sloppier brother

Show all comments (24)
70°

The Witcher 3 REDkit Q&A - CDPR & Yigsoft Confirm Steam Workshop Support; Further Changes Planned

CD Projekt RED and Yigsoft have launched The Witcher 3 REDkit on PC. We interviewed both studios to discuss the release of these mod tools.

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wccftech.com