150°

EA's Take-Two Takeover Goes Hostile

So Take-Two won't play nice with EA's buyout offer? That's fine by EA. Playing it nice was a courtesy, an act of politeness on their part, but in light of Take-Two's reluctance (and some would say greed), they've now no other option. It's (apparently) time to go hostile. The Wall Street Journal report that EA's takeover payout to shareholders will be...$26 per share, exactly what was offered to Zelnick & co. the first time around. There's been no comment as of yet from anyone at either Take-Two or EA regarding the matter.

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biz.yahoo.com
Breakfast5877d ago

get ready for ping pong every year now... and considering the popularity of gta, theyll probably make it 3 times an year.

Tempist5877d ago

The Hilarity factor lies in the fact that EA's stock goes down and Take Twos is nearing $26. That means EA would have to pay out like $28 a share. This keeps getting more expensive for them.

masterg5877d ago

The last thing we need is Rockstar under EA control.

Genesis55877d ago

I really don't play a lot of EA games,that looks like it might be changing because I will not have a choice.I don't think we need one big conglomerate running the whole show.

Breakfast5877d ago

omg...think of the sports games...they barely have competition now. If this goes through then 2008 will be the peek of EA's almost obsolete innovation

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5877d ago
InYourMom5877d ago

You are the scum of the gaming industry. I've never been big into the whole boycott EA thing, but I think it might be time to start.

fenderputty5877d ago

enough to willingly give up any chance at having Bioshock 2 come to the PS3. I hope the shareholders don't do this. I would hate to see T2 get swallowed up by whats becoming the WALMART of gaming.

LastDance5877d ago

the worst part is EA is pushing hard to get T2 BEFORE GTA comes out.

Disgusting.

Greedy C***s

bootsielon5877d ago

I think EA is becoming a new company for the better, we don't have to worry much

HarryEtTubMan5877d ago (Edited 5877d ago )

lol all they have to do is make a console with GTA, Mercenaries, Mass Efect, Bioshock, Madden and eerything Exclusive. The competition will be DEAD. I keep telling u guys but EA is looking to make a console and I think with Mircrosoft. The have to literally shut Sony out. They are too powerful. I dont think we will see a PS5.

EA and Micrsoft or EA by themselves are going to take Sony out. Watch its going to happen. Look whats happening now!!! No console EVER comes from behind like this at such a high price and starts beating the console first. Just like Madden is still goin to run at 30 FPS this year on PS3 ON PURPOSE. Just like Peter Moore(un biased corporate employee right?) was bashing PS3 FANS and saying how they were telling people not to like Micrsoft and EA. Just like the had a huge section TOGETHER at GDC. Just like the bought Bioware(which only developed on 360) Just like they are trying to now secure GTA and Take Two(so there will be no other sports teams to compete with)

If Ea MAKES A CONSOLE NEXT GENERATION ITS OVER and gaming is in the hands of an evil empire forever that doesnt strive on innovation, the nest hardware and technology and competition(Sony) but will TELL YOU you have to pay for "Live"(notice it is changing)

Thats what all of this is about. Everyone knows EA doesnt want Sony in the buisness anymore and wants to steal their role. It just either by themselves or with Microsft.

Taco_Waffle5877d ago

Disappointing that EA can't be satisfied until it monopolizes the whole industry.

Lotto5877d ago

well this is how ea makes money. Buy Studio with X great games that ppl know and like. Then milk the great games until they become dust

BigKev455877d ago

This will suck if EA buys them out. No more good GTAs, Bioshocks, NBA 2K
games.

Ghoul5877d ago

biohock 2 wont be bad because EA will publish them EA is a Publisher no developer dont forget that.

But the 2k sports series is most likly to be cut off :(

GutZ315877d ago

EA is a publisher, but you forget they push the developers to time constraints as well as less time for testing and money given to the developers.

EA is a scum sucking company not worth any gamers money.

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70°

What the game industry must do to prevent occupational burnout

Game industry working conditions are improving, but occupational burnout still runs amok. Studios and workers have the power to slow it down.

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gamedeveloper.com
anast1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Quite being abusive to the workers and hold management accountable.

370°

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Has Reportedly Sold About Half of What FF7 Remake Did in the Same Timeframe

The acclaimed open world action RPG is "underperforming" where its sales are concerned, according to industry analyst Daniel Ahmad.

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gamingbolt.com
raWfodog2d ago

“Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Has Reportedly Sold About Half of What FF7 Remake Did in the Same Timeframe”

Makes sense to me since the current PS5 base is about half of what the PS4 base was when FFVII Remake released.

There were about 113 million PS4’s in consumers hands worldwide in 2020 when FFVII Remake was released (towards the beginning of COVID lockdown no less).

PS5 sales currently sits at about half of that (50-something million. We are not in COVID lockdown so many people are not as bored as they were 4 years ago and not in a rush to buy every video game coming out at release. Some PS4 owners may not have upgraded to PS5 yet and therefore can’t buy the sequel yet. And, of course, some who played Remake just might not be interested in Rebirth.

It just seems pretty disingenuous for an analyst to ‘analyze’ a situation when there are so many mitigating and unequal factors involved.

OtterX2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Yes, this and also finishing part 1 of the Final Fantasy Remake trilogy weighs heavily on it too. There's always a huge percentage of gamers who never finish the games they purchase. It's not always due to lack of enjoyment, but also life priorities etc. But factor that into the knowledge that Rebirth is a straight continuation of the story, and enjoyment lies heavily on having finished the first, you can begin to understand why not as many players jumped in. But absolutely too, the lesser install base of the PS5 played a huge role!

jjb19811d 22h ago

I started the game when it came out, played about 2/3 of the way through and finished the rest in the last month before rebirth came out. There are just too many games and too much adulting to do.

Eonjay1d 8h ago

It sold about half... with about half as many PS5s available as PS4 had when it launched in 2020. So... the tie ratio is about the same. As PS5s continue to sale it should eventually match Remake. It's a really good game.

fr0sty1d 7h ago

I think there's going to be another wave of buyers that purchase the game once the third part of the trilogy is released, especially if they release it as a bundle.

jambola2d ago

Excuse me sir
Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad said this 🙄

Obscure_Observer1d 23h ago

"Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad said this 🙄"

That guy is director of research & insights at Niko Partners.

https://nikopartners.com/

But he shouldn´t be trusted according to some "trust me bro" N4G random. Smh

1d 21h ago
Barlos1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 19h ago )

Obscure Observer, so by your logic, we should also trust Pachter? Come on, it's like you're not even trying any more.

MrNinosan1d 12h ago

@Obscure
"We cover China, Chinese Taipei, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam."

Yepp, very trusted and the biggest areas for videogame sales.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 12h ago
Tody_ZA1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 19h ago )

@raWfodog You'd think an analyst would catch these facts, but just goes to show what gaming analysts are made of. We've only in the last year moved to PS5 only games, in addition to the install base cross-gen has been around for years. There are a lot of PS4 players still over there. It's amazing when people compare things whilst isolating all the significant facts.

And Rebirth being a direct sequel is also valid: anecdotally, I've just started FF7 Remake a week ago and I'm loving it, on Chapter 8, but I'm obviously not going to buy Rebirth until I complete the story which will take time.

Ironmike1d 9h ago

But it's hasn't sold as much the articles om Google stating bit so what if it hasn't the game is still great better than remake which tailed of in middle-of-the- game

TheEroica1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h ago )

Apologists always know what to say... 👍
Is it possible to squeeze in one more excuses for FF7 sales? Go for it!

Tody_ZA1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

@TheEroica Understand the meaning of the words you use or don't use them. An apologist argues in defense of something controversial or problematic. Pointing out relevant facts that an analysis or article did not take into account is constructive feedback and discussion. There are great movies, games and other forms of art that don't sell as expected, but later gain financial success.

Example? The Godfather Part 2 underperformed financially compared to its predecessor but is widely hailed as one of the greatest films and sequels of all time and is still influential to this day. And no, I'm not comparing Final Fantasy 7 to the Godfather, before you draw that strawman. There is one loose similarity however in that Rebirth is also overwhelmingly acclaimed and considered superior to the first.

Given the decision to split Final Fantasy VII into three separate games, of which Rebirth released exclusively for PS5 leaving the PS4 install base behind, and the final installment due in 2027, the sales performance is a bit more of a conversation than you're trying to make it out to be.

Crows901d 12h ago

Didn't even mention price increases across the board for all games...this causes all people to be more picky and limit game purchases

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 7h ago
GoodGuy092d ago

Unfortunate but it's the reality of sequels. And I simply just don't hear much people talk about rebirth and even remake as these titles just seem too hard to get into with many newcomers and old fans that are upset with the many changes.

Eonjay1d 8h ago

The games are really good and both acclaimed and Rebirth is even better than Remake with a 90+ metascore but if you don't want to 'hear' the praise... you probably wont.

TheProfessional1d 8h ago (Edited 1d 8h ago )

It's kind of ridiculous how some people here are just making stuff up to explain the low sales. Just because you bought the game and you like it doesn't mean it sold better than it did. Same with FFXVI.

rpvenom23h ago

For me its cause now that i know it releases on pc.. id rather play it with mods on my pc than my ps5

Battlestar232d ago ShowReplies(8)
gold_drake2d ago

well, according to some other reports, it had 2.1 mio. players in the first week.

so, who to believe now.

ZeekQuattro2d ago

It's safe to say if it sold that Square would of made a sales milestone announcement like they did with past FF entries or other IPs in general. They did a FF16 sales update within 2 weeks after it launched for instance.

gold_drake2d ago

there is no way this game hasnt already sold more than remake.

there doesnt need to be an announcement for everything, especially not if they released several updates amd the ultimania.

people are too obsessed with sales

CrimsonWing692d ago

I think there’s a reason we haven’t seen a celebratory tweet from Square on the sales. It came out on Feb. 29th and it’s Apr. 13th right now… that ain’t a good sign. I think this one can reach 3 mill at some point but will be behind Remake, which when it comes to business, that ain’t good.

Show all comments (79)
90°

Josh Sawyer, Pentiment Director, Comments on Industry Burnout Issues

Josh Sawyer tweets: "I believe burnout has already replaced crunch as the primary hazard of the game industry. Managers are setting teams up to fail and devs are getting ground up as collateral damage. I have suffered from burnout myself. It's no joke. Thanks to @thewritegame and @Eeoor for the talk.

As with crunch, it's likely that managers may acknowledge creating the circumstances leading to burnout but will not take the necessary steps to change them. It's important that devs continue to talk to and support each other and to apply pressure until change is effected."

anast3d ago

Typically burnout comes from abusive management.

N3mzor3d ago

"Flood has replaced the faulty dam as the primary hazard of the valley"