Is Microsoft already thinking about new acquisitions for 2021?

Among the events that most marked the video game sector in the just ended 2020, in addition to the launch of the new videogame generation with Xbox Series X / S e PlayStation 5, what comes to mind immediately after is definitely the acquisition of ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks by Microsoft products. This $ 7.5 billion deal was certainly a focal point of the Redmond giant's new marketing strategy, which aims to expand their offering of Xbox Game Pass with more and more quality titles available from day one, integrating within Xbox Game Studios some of the most talented software houses on the market. Not even two weeks have passed since the beginning of this new year that Microsoft is already starting to move to acquire other development houses, according to the well-known insider and journalist Brad Sams.

The author of BWW Media Group did not mention specific names on his Twitter profile but, according to a research by WCCFTech, the US multinational has been focusing its eyes on two European teams that in recent years have managed to stand out thanks to their quality games, that is Techland e Asobo Studio. The former are the parents of Dead Island e Dying Light, who are currently dealing with the sequel to the latter and who, however, in many statements in recent months have repeatedly reiterated their desire to remain independent. The latter, on the other hand, have become famous thanks to theirs A Plague Tale: Innocence, which entered the Redmond giant's good graces after helping with the development of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

For now the really hot names remain these two, although many would see the acquisition of IO Interactive, who in the last few have created the new episodic trilogy dedicated to Hitman. On the other hand, the rumors that saw the integration of SEGA inside Xbox Game Studios, while rumors of a negotiation between Microsoft and CD Project Red they seem to have gone out now. For now, therefore, we just have to wait to see how the situation will evolve in this 2021, which promises to be a truly electrifying year!

There's a lot of money flowing around gaming companies right now, several getting multiple bids - not sure when or if any of these will close but gaming IP valuations are soaring

- Brad Sams (@bdsams) January 12, 2021