The recently finalized Microsoft purchase of some of the most popular games of our time, such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, has been big tech news. The most recent buy of Activision and Blizzard is one of the biggest acquisitions of our time in the video game industry, making Microsoft the third biggest gaming company in the world. They’ve been slowly buying up other studios, and this purchase of Activision and Blizzard seems to be the final move towards dominating the games sector. It’s also a form of validation for the other players in the industry as they see what can be achieved, even as a small games developer, if you produce the type of games that a globalized audience will want to play.
Is this the start of a gaming and entertainment monopoly?
The immediate aftermath of the announcement of the purchase has been fraught with talk of monopoly and anti-trust laws, and many have seen it as a terrible thing for the gaming industry. However, there are a number of positives that can be derived from the coming together of the skills and market power that this deal has done. Yes, Microsoft is now one of the biggest console makers, and they will now also own some of the most popular games of all time., but there are so many other developers out there, and tech is moving so fast. There is no reason another business is not able to disrupt the sector by releasing the next best thing, and as soon as that occurs, the Microsoft monopoly discussion is over. Tech develops too fast, and gaming needs to change with it just as fast, and as such, Microsoft may be on or near the top, but it won’t be for long. Technology development will see to this.
What’s next?
The argument in gaming circles is that the next big aspect or acquisition is going to be in the realm of online casinos. The number of people playing has soared in recent times, and the market is looking to simply continue to grow. The question being asked is whether the next step and whether the same kind of interest from the big entertainment players may be the online casino world with concerns such as online casino Ireland and the many others around the world looking like possibilities.
With the move online, entertainment and media are now accessed in this manner more than any other means. This has given the big tech players such as Microsoft an unfair advantage in terms of what they control and how they add to the basket of services they provide. The current acquisition could simply be viewed as organic growth as the company looks to increase market share in a space where they hope to become an even bigger player. This continued Microsoft expansion into gaming and entertainment will affect Nintendo and Sony more than it will the smaller developers and studios. However, the warning shots have been fired, and anyone involved in online entertainment must be aware that they could be bought next as the big players look to get even bigger.
