Roku’s Peacock Deal and Xbox vs. PlayStation
Roku
Months of talks between Roku and NBC to get NBC’s new streaming service Peacock on Roku seemed hopeless when the two companies publicly butted heads last week. However, they reached a deal yesterday and Peacock will now be accessible on Roku devices.
Roku’s stock jumped nearly 18% yesterday. This was big news not only because of Peacock’s inclusion, but also because it could be a sign that more services will come to Roku. The company is currently negotiating with HBO to get HBO Max to the platform. The Peacock deal is a good sign that Roku will have a wide menu of options for its customers.
Microsoft
Microsoft announced a $7.5 billion acquisition of video game studio Bethesda yesterday, a significant move in the battle with PlayStation for the superior next generation console. Both companies are planning to release new gaming consoles in November, and this deal could give Microsoft a leg up in the competition. The acquisition will bring many new games to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service.
The battle between Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox will be one to keep an eye. Will Microsoft’s strategy with Bethesda’s many games be to keep them exclusive to Xbox so that Xbox sales increase, or will they release the games on many platforms hoping the games themselves drive significant revenue. The success of each console and each company’s business strategy will shape the gaming industry for years to come.
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.