If Microsoft starts buying publishers, what company would be the most likely?

Be nice if they bought EA and turned them into an actual company that makes good games and not slot machine gimmicks.

I think next studio being bought will be Sumo Digital. Dont think theyll buy any bigger 3p because those companies will be able to shop around and have the ability to make deals to have its games on various consoles along with streaming services(psnow,gamepass/xcloud, google etc...).

Smaller studios like the ones MS are acquiring make sense since those studios dont have the flexabilty and are maybe paycheck to paycheck.

I think it would be awesome if they bought some studios they lost this generation. Bungie would be obvious, Lionhead would be cool, Epic might be out of their price range. Other than that I think idsoftware, gearbox and Bethesda would be a great fit.

It should totally be EA games. Even if expensive, their licenses in combination with game pass and cloud streaming could be huge.

Publisher you say? They'll likely buy Sony, and get this console business all wrapped up.

They should buy EA then bury it out in the desert.

@zappat: I would like to see MS buy EA just to watch the meltdown on the forums. I also think it would be funny if they bought Blizzard/Activision or Bethesda.

MS just released a slot machine gimmick game.

@NathanDrakeSwag: what game? I haven’t kept up with news.

Are you talking about Horizon 4? Bc that’s an actual game no gimmick.

While I do think Microsoft should swing their dick around at least once or twice, and do something crazy, like CD Project Red, or Insomniac (for the lolz), I think first things first they should focus on talent retention, and focus on snapping up 2nd party developers that they already have a close rapport with.

For instance, I think that buying Playground Games, and investing in and bolstering that studio's posture the way they've done was a very good idea.

However, Letting talented studios like Remedy, for example, slip away from them, was a bad idea.

I dont think Microsoft investing in, say, Remedy, Crytek, or Studio MDHR, would be controversial acquisitions at all. I'll go a step further (and I know im going to rustle jimmies here) and say that I wouldnt even consider buying Creative Assembly (who has already worked on Microsoft exclusive franchises) from sega, to be a far fetched purchase.

I dont want them to just buy up studios for the sake of buying studios, if it isnt beneficial to the brands identity.They should focus on those close to them, and strengthen their own identity.

They'll make another exclusive deal with Burger King and make a sequel to Sneak King.