Consumers win here in many ways. Why is “consolidation” in this specific case a bad thing?
Because Microsoft now controls even more of the gaming landscape. For instance, who is going to enter the console space when all of the games needed are either locked to Sony or locked to Microsoft? When Google briefly tried to launch Stadia they could at least get big third party games on there, even if they couldn’t get Microsoft / Sony games, that’s out the window after MS / Sony’s buying spree.
Who has tried to enter the console gaming space in the last 20 years as it is? Microsoft are the last one to try lol.
When Google briefly tried to launch Stadia they could at least get big third party games on there
They didn’t though, even when Microsoft didn’t own Activision.
If a new console competitor entered the market you can bet your arse that microsoft would want minecraft and COD on it, for example, because more players = more money. Why do you think Microsoft have been agreeing to put COD on everything under the sun, and are still releasing minecraft games on other consoles?
You also act like there are a limited number of IPs to go around. There aren’t, you can make as many IPs as you want.
It’s not automatically a bad thing either.
Consumers win here in many ways. Why is “consolidation” in this specific case a bad thing?
In the long run it is always a bad thing.
Because Microsoft now controls even more of the gaming landscape. For instance, who is going to enter the console space when all of the games needed are either locked to Sony or locked to Microsoft? When Google briefly tried to launch Stadia they could at least get big third party games on there, even if they couldn’t get Microsoft / Sony games, that’s out the window after MS / Sony’s buying spree.
Who has tried to enter the console gaming space in the last 20 years as it is? Microsoft are the last one to try lol.
They didn’t though, even when Microsoft didn’t own Activision.
If a new console competitor entered the market you can bet your arse that microsoft would want minecraft and COD on it, for example, because more players = more money. Why do you think Microsoft have been agreeing to put COD on everything under the sun, and are still releasing minecraft games on other consoles?
You also act like there are a limited number of IPs to go around. There aren’t, you can make as many IPs as you want.