We live in a strange new world, my friends. Back in 2020, I thought Microsoft buying up Bethesda for $7.5 billion and making the likes of Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI Xbox exclusive was as big an industry story we were ever going to see.
What a fool I was.
Earlier this week, a ravenous Microsoft opened up its wallet once again, this time forking out neatly $69 billion for Call Of Duty publisher Activision. Microsoft is essentially collecting hugely popular franchises like Infinity Stones at this point, and like Thanos, there's no stopping them.
The dust from the Microsoft/Activision deal hasn't even settled yet, but experts are already warning that there are more acquisitions to come. At this point, it's very much a question of when, not if.
The Financial Times (paywalled) believes that Electronic Arts could be the next publisher to be swooped up. With a number of major franchises under its belt, including Battlefield, The Sims, Apex Legends, and a ton of sports games, EA would certainly be a tidy purchase for any hungry company looking to consolidate.
With an enterprise value of $38 billion, Sony - a much smaller company than Microsoft in the grand scheme of things - would struggle to find the cash to make an EA buyout happen. With that said, the Financial Times suggests “on the lookout to build up its portfolio of exclusive games."
Given that the Microsoft/Activision news wiped $20 billion from the Sony's market value in a day, I'd be surprised if the Japanese gaming giant weren't looking to make some moves in regards to acquisitions.
For now, we just don't know. And it's just as likely that a surprise contender like Netflix, Apple, Amazon, or Facebook could come in swinging with a surprise bid for a publisher of EA's value. Watch this space, and be aware that this war of acquisitions is far from over.
Featured Image Credit: SonyTopics: PlayStation, Sony, Xbox, Microsoft