Rumor: MS has purchased Capcom
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Jan 12th 2007 at 2:50PM }
Stick this one under rumor of the day. According to inside sources (speaking to the usually credible Evil Avatar), Microsoft has nearly completed its acquisition of Capcom. Yes, you read that correctly: "nearly completed." Not "Microsoft is considering it," but that they've already done the deed. Frankly, we find it a little suspicious that Capcom would sell just as it's reaping some of the best success it's had in years (Dead Rising, anyone?). Then again, a good chunk of that success can certainly be attributed to Microsoft's platform (Dead Rising again, and Lost Planet). Still, we find it hard to believe that Capcom would give up all the multiplatform cash, but if anyone has enough money to convince them otherwise, it's Microsoft. If true, it would be quite a move by MS, securing them the rights to several of gaming's most popular franchises. The ramifications of having Devil May Cry 4, Resident Evil 5, Onimusha, Street Fighter, and Dead Rising exclusive to one console would be staggering, especially for the competition.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
AJay17 @ Jan 12th 2007 4:23PM
I so hope this is true.
beatngu @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:57AM
damn .
( i mean, what else is there to say ? )
AoE @ Jan 12th 2007 3:37PM
:'(
I hope this isn't true.
fob2000 @ Jan 12th 2007 3:35PM
Since I have a 360, I hope this is true, but in the long run this can't be good for gaming. When you look at MS's aquisition of Rare, it seemed to be good at the time, but limiting development on the Xbox/Xbox360 console really limited Rare's creativity IMO.
If anything, I would rather Capcom maintain its independence and make multiplatform games, including Devil May Cry for Xbox 360. For the time being, they need to work on Street Fighter 4 Hyper Super Killer edition for the arcade.
BklynKid @ Jan 12th 2007 3:35PM
Wow.
I won't really believe it until I see something official but the thought of it excites the fanboy in me.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jan 12th 2007 3:08PM
Amen.. That would be very interesting.
Dancingtosirens @ Jan 12th 2007 6:50PM
I seriously doubt Capcom would allow themselves to be bought out like that.
There's really nothing for them to gain if they did that.
jge @ Jan 12th 2007 5:13PM
Steel Batallion for the 360!!!!
Jason @ Jan 12th 2007 3:18PM
Funny how you forgot to mention Capcom's biggest franchise...Mega Man!
nick @ Jan 12th 2007 3:42PM
resident evil 5 exclusive would be nice, i've been waiting to see what that's like since before the 3-6 came out.
AND, devil may cry - i've never actually played it (i've never owned a sony console), but it always looked pretty kick ass?
anyone out there played devil may cry and think it would be a great game?
moksha @ Jan 12th 2007 7:08PM
Microsoft was running out of games to put beta test passes for their next games in.
Maybe they'll bring back Clover?
EYECANDY @ Jan 12th 2007 3:23PM
Devil may Cry a 360 exclusive? Wow that would hurt Sony if this is true.
I would love to see a Mega man FPS like Metriod. That would be sweet as hell.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jan 12th 2007 3:21PM
I love Mega Man but he's been dead for quite sometime..
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jan 12th 2007 3:22PM
Wait! but I forgot about XBLA and the potential for the old Mega Man games!
Mike @ Jan 12th 2007 3:25PM
If its true ...... Impressive, very impressive. Capcom is a triple A developer, now lets see MS go after Ubisoft. That would be something.
modeps @ Jan 12th 2007 3:48PM
If this is true: holy craps!
DomZ @ Jan 12th 2007 3:40PM
Man am I glad I went with MS this Christmas. The more MS spends on game developers the more consoles they can invade the living room with so I expect to see more news like this in 2007.
jtspanky @ Jan 12th 2007 3:28PM
If this is true, it starts a bad trend in the video game industry. The reason the 360 is as good as it is, is to compete with Sony and Nintendo. If MS buys all of the developers and publishers then they, by default, win the console war since they obviously wouldn't develop for anything but the 360. At that point MS has no need to make better quality products or innovate (see: Windows).
Having a diverse market really benefits us. Without the Wii and PS3, the 360 wouldn't be as good as it is.
John @ Feb 7th 2007 9:37AM
I HOpe its not tru either!!!
Damn Sony!!! Fight back!
Or this will be the last product i'll ever get from you guys!
Measure @ Jan 12th 2007 4:02PM
jtspanky, don't worry. If there's one thing to be learned from the history of the video game console, it's that once one company starts to revel in it's monopolistic success, another company can, and will, come along and remove it from the throne.
giddieon @ Jan 12th 2007 4:26PM
this be shit for gamers all around... Number 8 is right... why compete when you can just buy the number one spot...
Windows for me is shit I have one machine left that runs windows and I will not be getting vista...
Capcom being bought out is scary if Microsoft intent is to by the number one spot we will see a decline in quality once they are top kit...
I would rather see 3 companies competing then one company owning...
Better for the gamers...
Paul @ Jan 12th 2007 4:16PM
I dont buy it... BUT it would be best for MS to do timed exclusives -the many will buy a 360 to have those games 6 months early...
Jason @ Jan 12th 2007 4:17PM
This is indirectly Japan's fault. By thinking an American console is trash, they are forcing MS to acquire franchises that will appeal to Japan's market. When I was in Japan, I saw MS had several Japan-exclusive franchises in the works for the 360 that would appeal to them (e.g., mech battles), but it's not selling well. By acquiring Capcom, MS can get more Japanese to purchase its console. And about Rare, to claim its ability to develop only on the Xbox limits its creativity is ridiculous, considering it originally only developed for Nintendo. MS saw Rare's potential and Nintendo had seemed to lose focus on Rare's abilities.
Stumper @ Jan 12th 2007 4:23PM
Yes nick, Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 3 were PHENOMENAL games. FAR better than God of War, though not as hyped.
I've been on the fence about which next-gen system to buy, but this would seal the deal. Nearly a death-blow the PS3 as well. DMC was about the only reason for me to get a PS3 (I think the Metal Gear Games - while I've owned and beaten all of them - are completely overrated)
xfan @ Jan 12th 2007 4:58PM
This rumor is in the current issue of EGM I believe.
To have a developer based in Japan as a 1st or 2nd party would be a wise move, considering Microsoft is attempting to make inroads there.
Paul R @ Jan 12th 2007 4:50PM
#16
Your right. Bu-bye Sony, was nice avoiding you!!!!
I can't wait to play RE, Devil May Cry, megaman, etc on my beloved 360!! Woot. Cro $ony POS3 fanboys, CRY!!!! Muhahahahahahahahahah!!!
Brian James @ Jan 12th 2007 9:33PM
I'm a 360 fanboy, don't get me wrong, but these exclusives are bad for gamers.
Capcom has so much history... and if all that gaming glory is only available on the 360, millions of gamers will be missing out. (On their Wii's and PS3's)
I would be surprised if Capcom would allow it's library to be only available to MS.
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 12th 2007 4:44PM
:o
DSK UK @ Jan 12th 2007 4:56PM
I personally hope it's more of an "exclusive deal" than an acquisition. Like MS has a deal with them to produce a sequel exclusively (like Ubisoft and Splinter Cell this year)
tacklebox @ Jan 12th 2007 5:27PM
Windows has to be designed to be used by the average idiot. PC nerds arent going to love it. Its not cool to admit windows is #1 for a reason. Its come a long way since the beginning. But how much innovation do we want, what features are you actually looking for? Security? There is no such thing as security when a billion PC's are running the same software.
Strider_J @ Jan 12th 2007 4:19PM
holy smokes.
I know it's just a rumor, but, wow.
I'll agree with a previous poster here; my only worry would be that the quality of Capcom's games would suffer - much like MS's acquisition of Rare. Rare hasn't produced anything recent of grade A quality for me on the 360, or any platform for that matter. Viva Pinata? PDZ??? Come on now. Their best shot for redemption is to bring back Killer Instinct for the 360 in next-gen glory. But, then, that's only a rumor. How sad.
So now I'm thinking maybe the standalone game companies do fine on their own as a creative force for original games.
On a positive note though, if Capcom were still free to produce top notch software with the 800lb gorilla behind them, hey, I think we'd all be happy. Evolving the Street Figther series, maybe putting some of their many classics on XBLA, fresh and new game content, etc. Basically, more more more; is what gamers want.
But then, this is all just a rumor though =/
SlyEcho @ Jan 14th 2007 12:44PM
Objection!
Don't forget Phoenix Wright!
coldcut @ Jan 12th 2007 5:07PM
Not sure I buy the whole "Oh no! The console maker bought all the game developers! Gaming is ruined!" argument. I know I know, you took Econ 101 and learned about monopolies and competition but the issue is not that shallow.
The reality is that an acquisition like this wouldn't necessarily thwart competition in an industry so heavily dependent on creativity. It may lock up some creative talent for some time and it may gain control of popular and lucrative IP but it doesn't necessarily thwart the creativity and developement power of the competition.
If this rumor is actually true, what Microsoft does is lock up some great IP. But the question is if there are other developers out there that can create IP so good that you'll forget about the IP that MS locked up.
Regardless, Sony, Nintendo and EA can play the acquisition game as well. All's fair in love and war.
giddieon @ Jan 12th 2007 5:04PM
The two brothers that started Rare and ended up leaving MS just recently is because MS was more controlling on what happened in there games...
but Rare has been a disappointment for MS I will give them that....
Mikey @ Jan 12th 2007 5:06PM
I call bull on this one. Sorry but if ms actually did that. It would be incredibly bad for the industry as a whole. And as a fact Capcom is a profitable company and has been for years. They always come up with new and creative IP's everytime we see new systems coming, and they will continue to do so. Capcom as it stands is worth billions, its properties are worth billions, to potenially absorb a company like that and limit it to just one system would seriously undermine the way the company works. Capcom has always been a multi platform company, its within there best interests. Locking themselves to just one console and limiting sales wouldn't make their investors happy in the long run
Shamma Banks Jr. @ Jan 12th 2007 5:28PM
Wouldn't they have to keep all deals and contracts they made with Sony? Just because the owner changed I don't see it changing any of their current obligations, only future ones.
Jason @ Jan 12th 2007 6:19PM
Next stop, Square-Enix and MS has the console war in the bag.
Giddieon @ Jan 12th 2007 5:04PM
X fan is right this is a smart move or the only move MS has not tried yet to break into the Japaness Market...
Scott @ Jan 12th 2007 5:25PM
I would not be surprised considering how well CAPCOM has done on the 360. With Dead Rising and now Lost Planet. Microsoft can just take those two games for keeps and i will be happy.
coalhalo @ Jan 13th 2007 1:54PM
Holy Freakin Pant Loading! If it's true that is. I've noticed this little rumour making the rounds today, and when I first heard it I quickly dismissed it. If it turns out to be true it does make alot of sense. MS has very, very deep pockets, and they are well known for buying companies that have better ideas than it's own. Capcom has enjoyed both financial and critical success with it's 360 releases, and jumping in bed with MS will make their bank accounts very fat. The more I think about this rumour the more plausible it seems to me.
Richard @ Jan 12th 2007 6:26PM
I dont beleive it, but crazier stuff has happenend. I just want Resident Evil ASAP on the 360. RE4 was one of my all time favorites, I cant wait till 2008 for more.
Josh @ Jan 12th 2007 7:54PM
Sony has bought out entire game houses before, too. How do you think they ended up with Lemmings?
tony @ Jan 12th 2007 5:58PM
Wait. We need to stop for a second. Stop bringing up Rare and how MS "ruined" them.
The Stamper Brothers did not leave Rare because they suddenly felt suffocated by MS. They wanted to leave years before that, when the company was sold to begin with. There's a difference.
Second, are we forgetting Rare's anemic GameCube output? Donkey Kong 64? They were having problems for years.
Third, Viva Pinata is an excellent game and arguably the best released by the company since the early-to-mid N64 days. Reviews side with this heavily.
Giddeon or whatever is name is consistently posts anti-MS flamebait on this site every single week. If people are siding with his stuff, I don't know what to say.
You can be just as worried that Rare or Capcom would have poor quality titles in the future on the track they were in to begin with. There's nothing to substantiate the claims that MS being involved would suddenly make things worse.
Ninegauger @ Jan 12th 2007 7:39PM
I'd be totally cool with Devil May Cry on the 360 and it would certainly give Microsoft a Grade A First Party developer (Sorry Bungie) as I consider Capcom the 2nd best developer overall (behind Nintendo of course).
I don't know if I believe this is going to happen though. Sounds crazy, though I guess so did the acquisition of Rare who were definitely among the top reasons to own a Nintendo 64.
If only Square-Enix would defect then Sony would be totally screwed (I have little faith in Metal Gear Solid 4).
killr0y @ Jan 13th 2007 9:12AM
Yeah, Capcom would no longer make good games if MS bought them out... Just like Bungie Studios
Giddieon @ Jan 12th 2007 7:59PM
#34 Tony, I am not Anti MS at all, in fact I have a 360 and enjoy it very much. I also play Viva Pinata a lot because it is an excellent game.... I am a gamer and a person and I am sorry if I have an opinion that sometimes does not cheer ra ra for the home team...
I am just saying that the reason that the two brothers that founded Rare left because MS had too much of a say in the game... I am sure they had some ideas that would have made the game better but most importantly I think that MS half Heartedly publicized this game....
It is really too bad that any gamer who has anything negative or disagrees with an action of what the parent company does, you are painted with a brush that you are a Fan Boy or a Anti MS person...
Sorry Tony... but I am a Gamer that is the Team I cheer for .... GAMERS....
Premo @ Jan 12th 2007 8:11PM
http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=25304105&sid=6164175&tag=latestnews;title;0
Rumor. Apparently three years old.
Mark @ Jan 12th 2007 8:07PM
As long as my phoenix wright is safe...
jeremy saunders @ Jan 12th 2007 8:27PM
According to Gamespot, Capcom says 'No'.
"...While Microsoft quickly raised its boilerplate defense shields (Q: "Is the world flat?" A: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."), Capcom was more forthcoming. "It's a 3-year-old rumor, most likely refueled by our recent spate of 360 titles," a rep told GameSpot."
GRRiMREEAPeR @ Jan 12th 2007 8:25PM
finally!microsoft presently owns the rights to Marvel, and if they buy Capcom we better see an online version of MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3!!!!!!!
anyway once they buy capcom, get them to get off their lazy asses and continue streetfighter! mortal Kombat is leaving street fighter in the dust! (and keep it 2-d!) and make a brand new (easier) Viewtiful Joe! and ill be happy! Oh... and release a brand new fighting controller!