WOW, just look at that massive spending on a video company! I think they could just start a company to take on Activision instead of buying up the competition... I don't think the company is worth that much, but then again, it's all these big blue chips buying out other large organizations... Link: New spinal implant allows 3 paralyzed men to stand, walk and swim again (msn.com) This deal was actually announced about 3 weeks ago, I think Microsoft is actively looking to seal this deal. Link: Microsoft Buying Activision Blizzard For Nearly $69 Billion—Will Be 3rd Largest Gaming Company (forbes.com)
They own the company - they own its proprietary technology. That's often the biggest asset in play. Once the buyer has that, their co. can actually "compete" - against others that DON'T have the edge. Then (hopefully) it's like shooting fish in a barrel and the money rolls in. Asset Management 101 "If you got it - monetize it!"
They've proven since last generation that they're not capable anymore. All of their first party titles have been a flop compared to Sony's for the past 9 years. They no longer have the time to build a new IP in 3-5 (or more years) because they need something for the XBOX Series X right now, and buying big time AAA studios with titles ready to go is the best way to do it. But the very reason we're even at this point is because of how they completely botched the reveal and launch of XBOX One as the result made them change the entire course they had planned. They never recovered from the puzzling mistakes of the reveal and launch and they've had to do all they could to keep this thing from going down in flames ever since, even at the expense of their future as a hardware developer given their focus on software-based subscriptions after it was accepted that the XBOX One unit sales would never compete with the PS4.
