Visa to Move European Headquarters to London’s Canary Wharf 
Amazon and Google Launch New Multicloud Networking Service to Boost High-Speed Cloud Connectivity 
IKEA Launches First New Zealand Store, Marking Expansion Into Its 64th Global Market 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
Norway’s Wealth Fund Backs Shareholder Push for Microsoft Human-Rights Risk Report 
Tesla Faces 19% Drop in UK Registrations as Competition Intensifies 
Coupang Apologizes After Massive Data Breach Affecting 33.7 Million Users 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum 
Anthropic Reportedly Taps Wilson Sonsini as It Prepares for a Potential 2026 IPO 
Netflix Nearing Major Deal to Acquire Warner Bros Discovery Assets 
Hikvision Challenges FCC Rule Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Equipment 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
ExxonMobil to Shut Older Singapore Steam Cracker Amid Global Petrochemical Downturn 
TSMC Accuses Former Executive of Leaking Trade Secrets as Taiwan Prosecutors Launch Investigation 
Momenta Quietly Moves Toward Hong Kong IPO Amid Rising China-U.S. Tensions 
Samsung Launches Galaxy Z TriFold to Elevate Its Position in the Foldable Smartphone Market 
Microsoft made it clear that its acquisition spree will not end with its $68.7 billion deal with Activision Blizzard. Now, Xbox’s parent company is rumored to have reached out to Japanese publishers and studios for a potential buyout.
Gaming journalist Imran Khan reported during a recent episode of the Giant Bombcast that the tech giant had discussions about acquisitions with “major Japanese publishers.” It is unclear if Microsoft is anywhere close to acquiring a Japanese gaming company, but the report is not entirely surprising.
Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer recently confirmed that the company remains open to merger and acquisition opportunities even after several multi-billion transactions over the years. “Minecraft” developer Mojang joined Microsoft in 2014 after a $2.5 billion deal. In 2021, the company purchased ZeniMax, which owns Bethesda Softworks, for $7.5 billion.
While in Japan for the Tokyo Game Show earlier this month, CNBC asked Spencer if Microsoft will remain acquisitive. Taking note of Tencent and Sony’s recent M&A activities, Spencer said Microsoft cannot take a break in this area as well.
“One of the things I love about coming here to Tokyo is the developers I get to meet with, the new partnerships we have with people like Kojima Productions, and going to talk with some of our existing publishing partners and independent creators about games that we want to build,” Spencer said (via VGC). “And if it turns into acquisitive M&A work, we’re active there too.”
Xbox is not acquiring Kojima Productions, but its partnership with Hideo Kojima’s studio shows Microsoft’s growing presence in the Japanese gaming market. During the Xbox showcase last June, Kojima confirmed he is working on a project that uses cloud technology for the Xbox ecosystem.
It remains to be seen if Microsoft will be successful in finding a Japanese gaming company to acquire. For now, though, Xbox is slowly growing the list of titles from Japanese developers that are being added to the Game Pass subscription service. Team Ninja’s upcoming action RPG “Wo Long” will be available on Game Pass at launch in 2023.
Photo by Marco Verch from Flickr under Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0)
