Microsoft completes $69bn takeover of Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard::It comes after the UK approved the $69bn takeover of Activision Blizzard, which makes Call of Duty.

    • zecg@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      ActiBlizz haven’t made anything I’ve been interested in for some time. MS got some amazingly shitty games out of Bethesda tho, Redfall and Starfield are just case studies in despising your audience.

      • hazelnot@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        I’m not interested in their games either, my issue with it is that a lot of people are, and MS is trying their hardest to get a monopoly in the industry and/or turn everything into streaming-only subscription crap

    • LemmyIsFantastic@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It’s never been a better time to be a gamer. Fantastic games are a dime a dozen and consoles have never been nearly as powerful for low end games. It’s a fantastic time to be gaming.

      • hazelnot@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        Except Microsoft is building up a monopoly on gaming, buying what they can, consolidating its properties so they can then transition to a streaming-only model where nobody owns anything (I know you don’t technically “own” the games you buy either but at least you can have them on physical media to keep, back up or sell) and the only way to play anything is to pay a monthly subscription fee and to use only what Microsoft allows you to use (i.e. no more Linux gaming)

        • LemmyIsFantastic@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          What a fantastic imagination.

          If you want to blame physical media going away and scream about monopoly you should go complain to papa Gaben.

              • hazelnot@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                1 year ago

                I don’t exclusively mean piracy. You can still buy big budget games on disc, and you can buy most games from any other platform, including GOG and Itch which don’t implement DRM. I only care about physical media in the sense that nobody can take it away from you, and DRM-free media achieves the same goal.

                Not to mention that piracy isn’t theft because you’re not taking anything away from anyone, you’re making a copy of some files 🤷‍♀️

                The notion that piracy is theft is capitalist bullshit designed to manipulate people’s emotions by equating a company not making as much profits as they theoretically could have to theft lol

    • NOT_RICK@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Eh, I’m of the opinion when the old giants get stale or acquired into a grand corporate strategy new studios will spring up to fill the vacancy in the market.

      • hazelnot@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        That’s not what I meant and you’re literally wrong lol, incredible games are made every year. My problem with this is that Microsoft is trying to turn gaming into its corporate cloud-only monopoly.

        • theherk@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Good games are still made, but the top shops, with respect to size and funding have priorities that aren’t aligned directly with enjoyment and story telling. There is a lot of requirement to be online, gambling addiction based mechanics, unfinished releases, MRR goals, and strong arm tactics by publishers for platform exclusivity. Perhaps I am literally wrong about my view, but it is my opinion nevertheless; wasn’t trying to start a debate.

          User satisfaction is regularly an afterthought to profit, as is expected in capitalism but not always ideal for the consumer. And less competition doesn’t help.